In spite of the hard Winters here in Boston, golf is a popular outdoor activity and there are golf courses of all shapes and sizes just steps away from the city.    
With over 20 amazing courses right at your fingertips you will find the entire range form simple public courses to upscale country clubs with all the amenities like tennis, olympic size pools, and fine dining

Many of the Boston area golf courses go back to the very early days of golf.  For example the Oakley Country Club in Watertown started in 1898 and was the first course designed by Donald Ross when he came to America

When it comes to world-class golf courses “The Country Club” located in Brookline, MA is considered the best course in Massachusetts and is one of the oldest country clubs in the United States. It has played an important role in the history of Golf and has hosted 15 USGA events including three U.S. Opens and the 1999 'Ryder Cup’

Bellevue Golf Club Bellevue Golf Club in Melrose is a private, member-owned golf club only eight miles from Boston. Members enjoy one of the best groomed course and putting surfaces. The club also provides a five lane, a 25-yard heated and lighted pool as well as four tennis courts. Fine dining is also available. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Rentals, ennis, Pool, Functions, Functions, Dining Price: $53.- Green Fee, Address: 320 Porter St Melrose, MA 02176 (781) 665-9733

Belmont Country Club Belmont Country Club is a private club, only steps away from Boston in Belmont, MA. It has an 18 hole golf course and is known for its well-manicured course and generaous access policies for its members. Besides golf, the club offers a number of other amenities like clay-court tennis and a large pool. During season, dining for 6 days a week is available Features: Proshop, Driving Range, Tennis, Pool, Lessons, Functions Price: Membership only, Address: 181 Winter St Belmont, MA 02478 617) 484-5360

Charles River Country Club Charles River Country Club is over a hundred years old in is one of the premier country clubs inthe Boston area. It features a Donald Ross designed golf course that opened in 1921. Although set across rugged terrain, members find it the perfect balance between fun and challenge. In 2006, the Massachusetts Open was held at Charles River. Only one player broke par for the tournament and it was winner Geoff Sisk at 1 under. Complementary to golf, the club also offers tennis courts, attractive pool facilities and an elegant clubhouse Features: Proshop, Lessons, Driving Range, Putting Green, Tennis, Pool Price: Membership, Address: 483 Dedham St Newton Centre, Massachusetts, 02459 (617)527-8300

Furnace Brook Golf Club Furnace Brook Golf Club is a 9 hole semi-private club in Wollaston Massachusetts. The club offers its members access during prime golfing hours and 4 hour rounds on weekend mornings with no set tee-times. The club is open year-round and offers several tournaments for both men and women as well as weekly men's and women's leagues. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Tournaments, Functions Price: $49.- Green fee , Address: 74 Reservoir Ave Quincy, Massachusetts, 02169 (617) 472-8466

Granite Links Golf Club Granite Links Golf Club is a Public, 27 hole golf course located in Quincy, Massachusetts. The course was designed by John Sanford and it first opened for play in 2003. There are three set of nines that can be combined to form three different 18-hole combinations. This is a links style course characterized by its challenging roughs, sparsely vegetated fairways. The views on the course are spectacular with the Boston Skyline most prominent. The course is rated four stars(Best Places to Play) by Golf Digest. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Driving Range, Putting Green, Tavern, Bar, Functions Price: $125.- With Cart , $150.- With Cart Thu+Fri Address: 100 Quarry Hills Dr Quincy, Massachusetts, 02169 (617)296-7600

Oakley Country Club The Oakley Country Club is a venerable tradition in the Boston Area. Its beautiful 18 hole golf course was the first courses designed by Donald Ross when he came to America. The club looks back to a long and accomplished tradition, starting in 1898. Oakley was founded in the very early days of golf in this country and had a prominent role in many stages of golf's development. Complementary to golf, the club provides many other amenities such as clay Tennis courts, a heated pool and dining. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Tennis, Pool, Functions Price: Membership, Address: 410 Belmont St Watertown, Massachusetts, 02472 (617) 484-7748

The Country Club, Brookline The Country Club located in Brookline, MA, is considered the best golf course in Massachusetts and is one of the oldest country clubs in the United States. It has taken an important role in the history of Golf and has hosted 15 USGA events including three U.S. Opens and the 1999 Ryder Cup. The club has nearly 1300 members and has extensive facilities that include several indoor and outdoor tennis courts, squash courts, a skeet shooting area, skating/hockey facilities, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Driving Range, Tennis, Skeet Shooting, Skating, Olympic Sized Pool Price: Membership only, Address: 191 Clyde St Brookline, Massachusetts, 02147 (617) 566-0240

Wellesley Country Club Wellesley Country Club is a Private 18 holes golf course located in Wellesley Hills. The course was originally designed by Donald Ross and later modified by Geoffrey Cornish, Brian Silva and Craig Schreiner. The course offers an exceptionally challenging layout yet has flexibility to be enjoyed by all levels. In addition to the golf course, the club has a practice tee, two putting greens, a short game practice area and an indoor practice facility. The club is family-oriented with a variety of amenities like year-round tennis with two indoor courts and eight outdoor clay courts a heated pool. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Championships, Tennis, Indoo Pool, Functions Price: Membership, Address: 294 Wellesley Ave Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, 02481 (781)235-7333

Wollaston Golf Club Wollaston Golf Club is a private, member owned 18-hole golf club comfortably situated in the Blue Hills. The course was founded 1893 and was designed by golf architects George and Tom Fazio. It hosted many championships over the years. The golf club features dining facilities, function rooms, 18 hole golf course, swimming pool and four outdoor tennis courts. The club is open year-round. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Rentals, Tounaments, Tennis, Pool Price: $90.- Green Fee, Weekdays, $100,- Green Fees Weekends Address: 999 Randolph Ave Milton, Massachusetts, 02186 617-698-0800

Winthrop Golf Club The Winthrop Golf Club is semi-private 9-hole golf club located in Winthrop, Massachusetts. The club has been founded in 1817 and is one of the oldest Clubs in the area. The club promotes golf as neighborhood activity and supports community events. The clubhouse features two bars and a large dining room that is available to members for private events. Features: Proshop, Driving Range, Putting Green, Instructions, Price: , Address: 453 Main St Winthrop, Massachusetts, 02152 (617) 846-9713

Braintree Municipal Golf Course The Braintree Municipal Golf Course is a public course owned by the town of Braintree. It offers great golfing at some of the lowest and most competitive rates on the South Shore. The course has a lot of water features, somewhat small fairways and mostly large greens in good condition. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Driving Range Price: $19-$42 Mon-Thu, $19-$52 Fri-Sun Address: 101 Jefferson St, Braintree Massachusetts, 02184 781-843-6513

Fresh Pond Golf Course Fresh Pond is a 9 hole, public golf course designed by Donald Ross. Located at the Fresh Pond Reservation in Cambridge, it is just minutes away from Boston. The course challenges players of all abilities with well defined hazards, some water and gentle greens. There are Ladies Leagues on Monday and Thursday evenings. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Tournaments, Season Passes, Rentals Price: $35.- 18 Holes walking Mon-Fri, $40.- 18 Holes walking Sat-Sun Address: 691 Huron Ave Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138 (617) 349-6282

Gannon Municipal Golf Course Gannon Municipal Golf Course is an 18-Hole Championship golf course located in the Lynn Woods Reservation. Designed by Donald Ross disciple Wayne Stiles it offers golfers a challenging yet fair layout. Golfers also appreciate the great views of the city and the good condition of the course. The classic Tudor-style designed clubhouse is open to the public and has a function room to accommodate large events such as birthdays, retirement parties and weddings. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Rentals, League, Tournaments, Functions Price: $39.- 18 Hole Walking Mon-Fri, $47.- 18 Hole walking Sat-Sun Address: 60 Great Woods Rd Lynn, Massachusetts, 01904 (781) 592-8238

George Wright Golf Course George Wright Golf Course is a municipal 18 hole golf course owned by the city of Boston. It was designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1938. The course features spectacular views and rugged terrain and includes significant hills. The fairways are pretty narrow with many mature trees which makes the course very challenging. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Tournaments, Season Passes, Rentals Price: $39.- 18 Holes walking Mon-Thu, $45.- 18 Holes, Walking Fri-Sun Address: 420 W St, Hyde Park Massachusetts, 02136 617-361-8313

Mount Hood Golf Course Mount Hood is an 18 hole golf club located in Melrose, MA. Built in the thirties and upgraded to modern conditions, Mount Hood offers challenge and variety unique in the Boston area. The course is situated in a wooded and hilly 300 acre park that once served as a local ski area. Generous fairways, smallish greens and natural topography make Mount Hood a unique and challenging course reminiscent from the classic era of golf. Although playable for golfers of all abilities, many tees are on higher elevation with commanding views of the Boston area and beyond Features: Proshop, Lessons, Practice Green, Rentals, Price: $45.- 18 Holes Mon-Fri, $53.- 18 Holes Sat-Sun Address: 60 Slayton Rd Melrose, Massachusetts, 02176 (781)665-8139

Newton Commonwealth Course Newton Commonwealth Golf Course is an 18 hole public course located just minutes from downtown Boston. The clubs was founded in 1997 and was redesigned in 1920 by the renowned architect, Donald Ross. It is a beautiful course and well groomed and offers a short, but challenging round of golf featuring quick greens and relatively narrow fairways.. The Newton Commonwealth Golf Course is open to the public seven days a week and is available for outings to accommodate company groups, clubs and family gatherings. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Grill, Functions Price: $32,- 18 Holes Mon-Thu, $39.- 18 Holes Fri-Sun Address: 212 Kenrick St Newton, Massachusetts, 02458 (617) 630-1971

Olde Scotland Links, Bridgewater Public 18 hole links-style championship course in Braintree, MA. Offers great views and challenging play for every skill level. Well-groomed fairways and greens keep Olde Scotland Links difficult. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Tournaments, Driving Range, Season Passes, Functions Price: $35.- 18 holes riding, Mon-Thu, $40.- 18 holes riding, Fri-Sun Address: 690 Pine St, Bridgewater Massachusetts, 02324 (508)279-3344

Presidents Golf Course Presidents Golf Course is a Public 18 hole golf course located in North Quincy, Massachusetts. The course offers dramatic views of the Boston skyline, Neponset River, and the Blue Hills Reservation. Presidents Golf Course first opened for play in 1885 and is onsidered one of the first 100 Clubs in America. The course has been modified a number of times by Wayne Stiles, William F. Mitchell, and George and Tom Fazio. It is built on hilly terrain, but has wide-open fairways. Reading the greens is an important factor to scoring well on this course. There are water hazards on two holes. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Rentals, Tounaments, Restaurant, Functions Price: $39.- Walking Mon-Thu, $48,- Walking Fri-Sun Address: 357 W Squantum St North Quincy, Massachusetts, 02171 (617)328-3444

Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course This course is a public golf course located in Brookline, MA. It is right next door to its famous cousin “The Country Club” and it is in fact possible to catch glimpses of one of the oldest and most exclusive country clubs in the US. However, this club can rest on its own venerable traditions as it was designed and built by Stiles and Van Kleek as the Putterham Meadows in 1933. Its clubhouse is almost original and many additions an improvements have been made to the course over the years. Features: Price: $32.- Walking Mon-Thu, $43.- Walking Fri-Sun Address: 1281 W Roxbury Pkwy, Brookline Massachusetts, 02467 (617)730-2078

William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park is owned by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department wit the goal to provide an affordable, enjoyable recreational experience for golfers of all skill levels. The course was established in 1896 and is the second oldest public golf course in the nation. The course is unique in other ways being embedded in parkland dating from 1896. Famous golf course designer Donald Ross re-designed the layout. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Tournaments, Season Passes, Rentals Price: $39.- 18 Holes walking Mon-Thu, $45.- 18 Holes, Walking Fri-Sun Address: 1 Circuit Dr Dorchester, Massachusetts 02121>br>(617) 265-4084

Ponkapoag Golf Course Ponkapoag Golf Course is a 36-hole public facility incorporating two 18-hole courses. It has all the facilities such as Driving Range, Proshop, Putting Green and a snack bar. The golf course is over 80 years old and was once considered one of the premier courses in the country. After years of neglect it has been extensively restored by the DCR with the help of course architect Brian Silva. The course is very beautiful with amazing nature views and green fees are very reasonable with rates for Seniors as low $17.- on weekdays. Features: Proshop, Driving Range, Putting Green, Instructions, Snack Bar, Electric Carts, Senior Discounts Price: $27.- Weekdays Walking, $30.- Weekends Address: 2167 Washington Street

Winchester Country Club Winchester Country Club is a Private 18 hole golf course located in Winchester, Massachusetts. It first t opened for play in 1902 as a 9-hole course. In 1916 the nine-hole course became an eighteen-hole course designed by Donald Ross. The course is built on hilly terrain, and greens are average-sized and surrounded by numerous sand bunkers. Features: Proshop, Lessons, Price: Membership, Address: 468 MyStic St Winchester, Massachusetts, 01890 (781)729-4085