The hardest golf courses in Rhode Island

The hardest 18-hole golf courses in Rhode Island, ranked by USGA slope rating from each course's longest men's tees, with course rating as the tiebreaker. 29 courses have complete, verified tee data.

  1. Orchard

    Orchard

    Newport National Golf Club

    Middletown, RI, USA
    8.1

    Slope rating 139, 74.1 course rating, Black tees, 7,244 yds

    PublicArthur Hills

    • 4.8Conditions
    • 4.4Layout
    • 3.5Value
    • 4.4Scenery
    • 3.0Facilities

    As long as you have decent distance off the tee and a good mid-iron game you can tear this place up. Greens are pure and hold the ball exceptionally well. Lots of subtle ridges and break in the greens. Fun hazards and well placed bunkers make approach shots important.

    Written by

    @ekgage

    • Must play
    • Pristine
    • Views
  2. Newport

    Newport Country Club

    Newport, RI, USA
    8.8

    Slope rating 135, 75.4 course rating, Black tees, 6,945 yds

    PrivateWilliam Davis

    • 4.5Conditions
    • 4.7Layout
    • 5.0Scenery
    • 4.7Facilities

    The 4th hole is a par 3 along Ocean Avenue. My buddy hit driver and I hit a hybrid and we were both short. The wind was whipping.

    Written by

    @JTC

    • Must play
    • Walkable
    • Views
  3. Main

    Main

    Shelter Harbor Golf Club

    Charlestown, RI, USA
    8.8

    Slope rating 135, 73.9 course rating, Black tees, 7,029 yds

    PrivateDr. Michael Hurdzan

    • 4.0Conditions
    • 4.3Layout
    • 4.7Scenery
    • 4.6Facilities
    • Pristine
    • Must play
    • Challenging
  4. Wannamoisett

    Wannamoisett Country Club

    Rumford, RI, USA
    8.5

    Slope rating 135, 72.8 course rating, Blue tees, 6,732 yds

    PrivateDonald Ross

    • 4.7Conditions
    • 4.6Layout
    • 3.6Scenery
    • 3.9Facilities
    • Must play
    • Pristine
    • Walkable
  5. Point Judith

    Point Judith Country Club

    Narragansett, RI, USA
    7.5

    Slope rating 133, 72.5 course rating, Black tees, 6,717 yds

    PrivateWilliam Davis

    • 4.5Conditions
    • 4.0Layout
    • 5.0Scenery
    • 4.3Facilities
    • Driving range
    • Restaurant
    • Bar
  6. Meadow Brook Golf Club

    Wyoming, RI, USA

    Slope rating 132, 75.4 course rating, Black tees, 7,468 yds

    7.9
  7. Triggs Memorial Golf Course

    Providence, RI, USA

    Slope rating 132, 72.3 course rating, Blue tees, 6,588 yds

    6.9
  8. Fenner Hill Golf Club

    Hope Valley, RI, USA

    Slope rating 132, 71.4 course rating, Blue tees, 6,636 yds

    6.6
  9. Cranston Country Club

    Cranston, RI, USA

    Slope rating 131, 74.0 course rating, Black tees, 6,914 yds

    6.4
  10. Valley Country Club

    Warwick, RI, USA

    Slope rating 130, 72.7 course rating, Black tees, 6,679 yds

    7.6
  11. Alpine Country Club

    Cranston, RI, USA

    Slope rating 129, 73.1 course rating, Gold tees, 6,864 yds

    6.1
  12. Kirkbrae Country Club

    Lincoln, RI, USA

    Slope rating 128, 73.1 course rating, Gold tees, 6,549 yds

    7.6
  13. Green Valley Country Club

    Portsmouth, RI, USA

    Slope rating 128, 72.6 course rating, Championship tees, 6,830 yds

    6.5
  14. Warwick Country Club

    Warwick, RI, USA

    Slope rating 128, 72.3 course rating, Black tees, 6,527 yds

    7.7
  15. Potowomut Golf Club

    Warwick, RI, USA

    Slope rating 128, 70.6 course rating, Blue tees, 6,380 yds

    7.7

How we rank

This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. State pages include courses across Rhode Island. Rankings refresh about hourly.

FAQ

Orchard at Newport National Golf Club is #1 on Course Vaults in Rhode Island at Slope 139 (74.1 course rating · Black tees · 7,244 yds). 29 courses qualify for this list.

This ranking uses published scorecard data from each course’s longest men’s tees, the same tee set for every course. Only 18-hole courses with a yardage for every hole, a total that matches the hole-by-hole sum, and a par between 54 and 80 are included, and the tees must carry a single slope rating (55–155) and course rating. Courses whose scorecard duplicates another course’s are left out until the data is fixed. Courses are ordered by slope rating, then course rating, then Course Vaults score. Only open courses with a published Course Vaults score (at least 5 explicit ratings) are eligible, and a page is published only when at least 5 courses qualify. State pages include courses across Rhode Island. Rankings refresh about hourly.

Slope rating is the USGA measure of how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer, from 55 to 155 (113 is average). Course rating is the expected score for a scratch golfer from the same tees.

This page was last generated Nov 12, 2026, 3:41 AM EST. Scores and eligibility are recomputed about every hour.

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