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Portland Golf Trip Planning Guide

Portland packs more restaurants, breweries, and bars per capita than almost any US city, with quality coastal golf minutes from the Old Port. Play links-style courses with ocean views, then dive into one of America's best food scenes — lobster rolls, oyster bars, and James Beard-winning restaurants everywhere. The bar crawl potential is elite.

4 courses · 6 restaurants · 4 bars · 5 activities

Quick Facts

Best Time to Visit

Summer, Fall

Nearest Airport

PWM (10 min drive)

Green Fees

$38–$140

Lodging From

$600/night

Walkable Courses

4 of 4

Budget Est. (8 guys, 3 nights)

~$421/person

Sample 3-Day Itinerary

Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Portland. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.

Day 1

Morning — Golf

Purpoodock Club coastal, $85–$140 · 4.5★

Cape Elizabeth beauty with ocean glimpses — semi-private with limited public tee times

Dinner

Eventide Oyster Co.seafood, $$$

James Beard Award-winning oyster bar — brown butter lobster roll is a bucket-list meal

After Dark

Novare Res Bier Cafebrewpub · Open late

Hidden courtyard beer bar with 500+ bottles and 33 taps — the beer nerd holy grail

Day 2

Morning — Golf

Val Halla Golf Course parkland, $38–$60 · 4.5★

Cumberland municipal course ranked among Maine's best public tracks — outstanding value

Afternoon — Activity

Portland Brewery Trailhalf day, $20–$50/pp

20+ breweries in Greater Portland including Allagash, Bissell Brothers, Foundation, and Austin Street

Dinner

Fore Streetfarm to-table, $$$$

Sam Hayward's wood-fired kitchen — the restaurant that put Portland on the national food map

After Dark

Portland Hunt + Alpine Clubcocktail · Open late

Scandinavian-inspired cocktail bar with creative drinks and aquavit flights

Day 3

Morning — Golf

Sable Oaks Golf Club parkland, $55–$89 · 4.4★

South Portland's best public course — tight fairways through mature pines, challenging for all levels

Afternoon — Activity

Casco Bay Island Ferryhalf day, $15–$35/pp

Ferry to Peaks Island for a bike ride and beers at the Inn — classic Maine day trip

Dinner

Scalesseafood, $$$

Waterfront seafood on Maine Wharf with raw bar, whole fish, and harbor views

After Dark

Gritty McDuff'sdive · Open late

Maine's original brewpub since 1988 — no-frills pub with house ales and a local crowd

Course-by-Course Guide

Portland has 4 courses worth playing. 4 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.

Purpoodock Club

Premium

Cape Elizabeth beauty with ocean glimpses — semi-private with limited public tee times

$85–$140coastalPar 71 · 6,346 ydsWalkable4.5 (340)

Sable Oaks Golf Club

Solid

South Portland's best public course — tight fairways through mature pines, challenging for all levels

$55–$89parklandPar 70 · 6,359 ydsWalkable4.4 (280)

Nonesuch River Golf Club

Solid

Well-maintained Scarborough course with water features and a fair test of golf at a good price

$49–$79parklandPar 70 · 6,208 ydsWalkable4.3 (220)

Val Halla Golf Course

Solid

Cumberland municipal course ranked among Maine's best public tracks — outstanding value

$38–$60parklandPar 72 · 6,574 ydsWalkable4.5 (360)

Where to Stay

Portland has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $600/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.

house

$600–$2200/night

Sleeps 1016 · West End / East End waterfront

ocean viewsdeckoutdoor grillparkingwalkable to Old Port
house

$800–$2800/night

Sleeps 1218 · Cape Elizabeth / Scarborough coast

waterfrontprivate dockhot tubfire pitkayaks

Group Dining Guide

6 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.

Eventide Oyster Co.

$$$
seafood

James Beard Award-winning oyster bar — brown butter lobster roll is a bucket-list meal

$30-60/personReservation needed

Fore Street

$$$$
farm to-table

Sam Hayward's wood-fired kitchen — the restaurant that put Portland on the national food map

$60+/personReservation needed

Scales

$$$
seafood

Waterfront seafood on Maine Wharf with raw bar, whole fish, and harbor views

$30-60/personReservation needed

Duckfat

$
casual

Belgian frites, paninis, and duck fat milkshakes — cult lunch spot in the Old Port

Under $15/person

Holy Donut

$
casual

Maine potato donuts in wild flavors — essential hangover cure breakfast

Under $15/person

The Grill Room & Bar

$$$$
steakhouse

Urban steakhouse with an open wood-fired grill, rustic high-ceilinged dining room, and group-friendly reservations

4.5$60+/personReservation needed

Nightlife

4 bars curated for groups. 4 stay open past midnight.

Novare Res Bier Cafe

Late Night
brewpub

Hidden courtyard beer bar with 500+ bottles and 33 taps — the beer nerd holy grail

Portland Hunt + Alpine Club

Late Night
cocktail

Scandinavian-inspired cocktail bar with creative drinks and aquavit flights

Gritty McDuff's

Late Night
dive

Maine's original brewpub since 1988 — no-frills pub with house ales and a local crowd

Liquid Riot Bottling Company

Late Night
brewpub

Waterfront brewery + distillery combo — beer, spirits, and food all made in-house

Activities Beyond Golf

5 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.

Portland Brewery Trail

breweryhalf day$20–$50/pp

20+ breweries in Greater Portland including Allagash, Bissell Brothers, Foundation, and Austin Street

Casco Bay Island Ferry

boat rentalhalf day$15–$35/pp

Ferry to Peaks Island for a bike ride and beers at the Inn — classic Maine day trip

Deep Sea Fishing Charter

fishinghalf day$100–$175/pp

Charter out of Portland Harbor for striped bass, bluefish, and mackerel

Portland Food Tour

brewery2-3 hours$50–$85/pp

Guided walking tour of Old Port restaurants — lobster, oysters, donuts, and craft beer included

Sea Kayaking Casco Bay

kayaking2-3 hours$50–$80/pp

Paddle around Portland Harbor islands with views of lighthouses and lobster boats

Getting There

Fly into Portland International Jetport (PWM) — it's a 10-minute drive to Portland. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include VIP Tour Bus Maine and Northeast Charter & Tour). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.

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