East Providence, Rhode Island, August 28, 2025
News Summary
The Met Links Golf Course has reopened in East Providence, reviving the historic design by Donald Ross. This public 9-hole course offers a blend of classic charm and modern accessibility, inviting golfers of all abilities. The redesign maintains the course’s storied heritage while catering to contemporary players. With a focus on strategic play, this community-focused facility emphasizes walkability and affordability, revitalizing Rhode Island’s golf scene.
East Providence: Met Links Golf Course Opens, Reviving a Storied Donald Ross Design
Golf fans in Rhode Island have something to talk about. The new Met Links — a compact, public 9-hole course — opened in East Providence in the summer of 2024, bringing back a slice of golf history and reworking it for today’s players. The story is equal parts heritage and reinvention: a once-private jewel reborn with an eye toward the classic Golden Age style that so many enthusiasts love.
From Metacomet to Met Links: a quick, juicy timeline
The course began life as the Metacomet Golf Club, a club founded in the early 1900s and moved to its current grounds in 1919. Early records suggest the original layout might have been the work of the club pro Leonard Byles, or the two-time Open Champion Willie Park Jr., or some blend of both. Whatever the exact story, it was Donald Ross who later stamped the course with his signature moves — fresh greens and strategically contoured bunkers that became the track’s calling cards.
At roughly 6,500 yards in its original configuration, the layout offered narrow corridors and rumpled putting surfaces that could chew up a scorecard. For decades it operated as a private country club and was widely regarded as one of the state’s finest layouts.
Storm clouds, sale fights and a comeback
Financial trouble hit in 2019. A buyer group that included a well-known local professional stepped in, and a legal dispute followed between the club’s membership and the buyer group. That lawsuit was settled in 2024. The club closed in 2020 and changed hands again, this time to a Providence-area development firm with a hybrid redevelopment plan that aimed to preserve the course’s soul while making it playable and approachable for a wider public.
The redesign work, led by local architect Robert McNeil and the Northeast Golf Company team, revived seven of the original holes and introduced two new holes crafted to feel like they belong — matching the contours, sightlines and strategic intent of the old Ross-influenced design. The result is a compact course that wears its history proudly but asks less of the modern golfer’s schedule and wallet.
What you’ll find on the property
Met Links is now a public-access course open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting, with tee times bookable online. The course aims to welcome golfers of all ages and abilities, emphasizing walkability, pace of play, and the kind of thoughtful shot-making that Ross-style greens and bunkers reward. There’s a special discount for local residents, too, making the course a neighborhood-friendly option rather than an exclusive retreat.
Architecturally, fans will appreciate the narrow corridors that demand accurate tee shots, the reworked bunkering, and green complexes that nod to the original rumpled putting surfaces. The two new holes were designed to blend in with the historic character, so the overall experience feels cohesive: part Golden Age charm, part modern public course practicality.
Why this matters to golfers
Courses rooted in early 20th-century design — especially those touched by Donald Ross — have a way of teaching players about strategy, shot selection, and speed control. Met Links doesn’t try to be a long, brutal test. Instead, it offers a compact, strategic challenge where placement and short-game creativity matter more than sheer length. For local players, it’s a chance to play a piece of Rhode Island golf history without membership barriers.
What to expect on your first visit
Expect a tidy, walkable layout with classic bunkering and green complexes. Play will be available via online tee times. Hours are subject to weather, and the team encourages players to check availability before heading out. The course launched as an inviting, community-focused facility — one that puts historic design back in play for a broader audience.
Bottom line
Met Links is an example of preservation through thoughtful reinvention: old Ross-era DNA preserved and reinterpreted for public use. For golfers who love strategy over distance and character over bling, this new nine-hole layout is worth a look. It keeps a piece of the past alive while opening the doors to anyone who wants to experience it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Met Links open to the public?
Yes. Met Links operates as a public-access golf course and welcomes golfers of all ages and abilities.
What are the daily hours?
The course is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting. Hours can change seasonally or in response to conditions, so check online before visiting.
Do I need to book a tee time?
Tee times can be booked online and doing so is recommended to secure your preferred starting time.
Is there a resident discount?
Yes. Local residents are offered a discount to encourage community play.
Who designed the new course?
The redevelopment was led by local architect Robert McNeil and the Northeast Golf Company team, who revived seven original holes and added two new holes in keeping with the historic style influenced by Donald Ross.
How long is the course and what style of golf can I expect?
Met Links is a 9-hole course that revives the feel of the original 6,500-yard layout in a more compact form. Expect strategic routing, narrow corridors, and greens that reward thought and touch rather than brute length.
Quick Facts Table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | East Providence, Rhode Island |
| Course Name | Met Links (revival of Metacomet Golf Club) |
| Holes | 9 |
| Historic Yardage (original) | Approximately 6,500 yards |
| Design Influences | Originally Leonard Byles / Willie Park Jr. possibilities; later Donald Ross redesign; recent work by Robert McNeil & Northeast Golf Company |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Hours | 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (subject to weather) |
| Tee Times | Available online |
| Resident Discount | Available for local residents |
| Reopening | Summer 2024 |
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Additional Resources
- Golf.com: Met Links Golf Course Opens
- What’sUpNewp: Met Links Public Golf Course Opening
- WPRI: Met Links 2025 Season
- The Fried Egg: Design Notebook – Met Links
- PBN: Metacomet Phase 2 Plans
- Wikipedia: Golf
- Google Search: Met Links Golf Course
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf
- Google Scholar: Met Links Golf Course
- Google News: Met Links Golf Course
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