Sandwiched improbably between a lake they call Great Pond and another they call Long Pond in the west of Maine, Belgrade Lakes was built in 2000 by British golf architect Clive Clark, his first American design. In eight years it has quickly earned the reputation as one of the most coveted rounds of golf in Maine.
What's notable about the golf course is what it doesn't have: There's no clubhouse. No bar. No driving range. No twilight rate (and not really any off-peak rates in general to speak of). There's no hotel, no condos, no gated communities.
Belgrade Lakes is about one thing: Golf - 18 holes of it.
Belgrade Lakes is not that long: It plays to 6,723 yards and a 135 slope rating from the tips. The yellow tees, a better bet for most golfers, drops down to 6,249 yards and a 131 slope rating.
The golf course is in excellent condition, and there's nothing so penal - deep rough, dense forest - on most holes that you can't recover from. Holes are well laid out, with a lot of natural mounding. Boulders do more work than bunkers. There are plenty of holes to score on.
It's also a remarkably un-crowded golf course, thanks to tee times at standard 15-minute intervals.
Belgrade Lakes GC
The green at Belgrade Lakes' No. 14.
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Belgrade Lakes Golf Course in Maine
Belgrade Lakes Golf Course in Maine
Jeffrey White/GolfPublisher.com
Belgrade Lakes Golf Course
Belgrade Lakes Golf Course in Maine
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Belgrade Lakes Golf Course
A view of Big Pond from the putting green at Belgrade Lakes
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Belgrade Lakes: The clubhouse
The clubhouse at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course
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Belgrade Lakes: 1st fairway
Looking down the first fairway at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course.
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Belgrade Lakes: no. 3
No. 3 at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course
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Belgrade Lakes: no. 5
No. 5 at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course
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Belgrade Lakes: 9th hole
The approach to the par-4 ninth at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course.
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Belgrade Lakes: no. 10
Looking down at the fairway of No. 10 at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course.
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Belgrade Lakes: no. 5
No. 5 at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course, a par 3.
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Belgrade Lakes: no. 13
No. 13 at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course in Maine
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Belgrade Lakes: no. 17
No. 17, a par 3, at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course in Maine
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Belgrade Lakes Golf Course in Maine
The home hole at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course.
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Belgrade Lakes: no. 9
No. 9 at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course.
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Belgrade Lakes: 18th hole
The uphill approach to No. 18 at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course.
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Belgrade Lakes: no. 9
No. 9 at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course in Maine.
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