Designer: Geoffrey Cornish (1967)
Location: Warwick, Rhode Island
History: Formerly known as Seaview Country Club, Harbor Lights was renovated in 2010 and is now a semi-private yachting, social, and golf club.
Conditions: 5/10, while some parts of the course are in good shape, others are swampy or barren. I would say the conditions at Harbor Lights are a bit below average compared to other public courses in the state.
Value: 4/10, $18 to walk 9 for a student and $21 for an adult to walk is not really a great discount for a course like Harbor Lights.
Scorecard:
Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope
Blue 36 2777 33.5 118
White 36 2488 32.8 113
Red 36 2152 32.9 114
Hole Descriptions: At just 2777 yards from the tips, you would assume that there are some tricked out holes at Harbor Lights. This assumption would be correct and can be seen on the opening hole, a 329 yard uphill par 4. A creek runs through this fairway at 220 yards, forcing many players to hit iron off the tee. At just 270 yards, the 2nd hole is another very short par 4 with a creek draining into a small pond about 150 yards out. The 3rd hole here is one of the worst in the state in my opinion. At just 248 yards, this par 4 plays essentially as a glorified long par 3. From the women’s tees, this par 4 is only 175 yards and eagles here don’t feel like eagles. The 4th hole is the hardest hole on the course as a dogleg right par 5. This tee shot is downhill and quite narrow, with houses and OB on the left side.
The 5th hole is the first par 3 as a straightforward unremarkable 143 yarder. This green is well-protected by four bunkers at the corners. The 6th hole is the second par 3 in a row, but this one is much more difficult at 206 yards. A creek drains into a small pond just right of this green while the end of the driving range guards the left. The par 4 7th is only 310 yards made difficult by a ridiculous large tree in the middle of the fairway. Another extremely short par 4 at 303 yards, the 8th hole is so tight it’s not even clear where you should be aiming off the tee box. A large bunker guards the front of this green and makes driving the green pretty much impossible. The finishing hole at Harbor Lights is the best designed hole on the course but is unfortunately a par 5 at just under 450 yards. Had this dogleg left been a long par 4, it would have been a great hole. As a par 5, however, players can go iron – wedge -wedge, making it a fairly weak hole. This green opens up to the Bay and marina, offering a fairly picturesque approach shot.
General Comments: There is a tiny range, and the workers in the proshop have been nothing but friendly. This course is usually not super busy, making it a quick 9 holes.
Verdict: While in a beautiful location right on the bay, this course is one of the poorest designs in the state. Coupled with the mediocre conditions and average value, Harbor Lights is not a must-play.
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