3 favorite courses our writers played last month (June 2024)

At GOLF.com, writing about the game you love is our job. But that's how to play it. Here are three lessons our writers stumbled upon (and loved) last month.

Wentworth By The Sea Country Club (Rye, NH)

Just under 5,800 yards from the back tees, Wentworth By-The-Sea (private; open to hotel guests) may not look like much on the scorecard, but it's a good thing the course is more than a card. The first 13 holes of the course – worked on by George Wright, Alexander Findlay, Donald Ross and Geoffrey Cornish – go through the trees and reveal the gravel at Little Harbor and Witch Creek. But the final five-hole loop around the edge of the area has four spectacular links holes and a unique and short par-4 finish over water. Wentworth includes two prominent capes with stunning views of the Harbour, the Whaleback Light, the famous Wentworth Hotel and its grand homes (but don't enter) the building. A series of short par-4s, four par-5s and six par-3s (one playing directly over the bay!) checked almost every shot in the bag. – Jack Hirsh

Lehman 18, Cragun Legacy Studies (Brainerd, Minn.)

I played Minnesota's Tom Lehman's latest design, the Lehman 18 at Cragun's Resort, in the rain back in April, but a few weeks ago I returned and was greeted with better weather and an equally beautiful golf course. Cragun already has two excellent 18-hole courses (both designs by Robert Trent Jones Jr.) but recently spent $14 million to make them even better. Each hole was designed in a specific way, and at least a dozen were designed or reversed. There are now Lehman 18 and Dutch 27 with three nines, with the final nine holes set to open this fall. The Lehman 18 ($189 premium, with discounts for resort guests) is everything you want in resort golf. Large, rolling fairways with extensive greenery, beautiful views of the Northwoods and award-winning photography. It's forgiving enough for the average player and challenging enough for better players. It plays somewhat like a hilly links course at times, with speed gaps on the fairways and runoffs or around the greens. My new favorite course in an area rich in great golf. – Josh Behow

Glasgow Hills (Cavendish, PEI, Canada)

Last month my wife and I visited Prince Edward Island and combined it with several courses in the Cavendish region of Canada, and the Glasgow Hills were a highlight. The hilly fairways provided playable conditions for all handicaps while providing a challenging test when played on the right yard. The par-3s featured dramatic elevation changes and, thanks to the firm ground and large greens, Glasgow Hills allowed for more creativity in shot selection and shot placement. It should be noted that beyond the golf, the restaurant was also fantastic. With highs at just $102, it's high on my list to play again soon. – Ryan Barath