Goddard Park Golf Course

Goddard Memorial State Park Golf Course is the only state-run golf course in Rhode Island: a 9-hole, par-36 course of 3,021 yards that opened in 1939 inside the park in Warwick. A round costs $15 on weekdays and $20 on weekends, and every tee time must be booked by phone, up to two days ahead, at (401) 884-9834 — there are no walk-ins. RI DEM closed the course early for 2026 to repair the greens and has not yet posted 2027 dates.

2026 Closure and the 2027 Season

DEM closed the course for the season on Monday, September 21, 2026, to deal with significant turf die-off from crabgrass and drought; the last day of golf in 2026 was Sunday, September 20. DEM says it expects to welcome golfers back in the spring with healthier, better-established greens. As of October 2026 the course page says "Stay tuned for 2027 Season Updates", so check DEM's golf page or call (401) 884-9834 before planning your first round of 2027.

Rates

Rates are set in Rhode Island's state park regulations and posted by DEM:

• Weekdays: $15 for nine holes; $10 for seniors (65 and over) and juniors (12 and under).
• Weekends and holidays: $20; $12 for seniors and juniors.
• Golfers with a disability, or with RIPAE documentation: $0. Carts are regular price.
• Carts: $15 each.

On-site payment is cash or credit card only, with a 3% convenience fee on cards. DEM says Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo and other mobile payments are not accepted.

How Tee Times Work

• No walk-ins. All tee times are booked in advance by phone at (401) 884-9834, up to two days ahead.
• Calls are taken from 7 a.m.; DEM says to call back if the line is busy.
• Tee times run in 10-minute intervals, with a maximum of four players. You must give the names of everyone in your group.
• If you book fewer than four players, expect to be paired with other golfers.
• First tee time is 7:30 a.m. and the last is 2 p.m., weather and staffing permitting.
• Arrive within 10 minutes of your start time or you forfeit it.
• If you cannot make it, call to cancel; DEM points out that no-shows keep others off the course.

Carts

Carts cost $15 and are first come, first served; you cannot reserve one by phone. To rent a cart you must be 18 or older, sign a liability waiver and show a valid driver's licence. The last cart goes out at noon, so DEM recommends an early tee time if you cannot play without one.

The Course

DEM lists the course as nine holes, 3,021 yards from the longest tees, par 36. It sits in the middle of the park, with the park road looping around it and picnic fields and areas around it (see the park map). It opened in 1939, a few years after the park itself, and DEM's park history lists golf among the reasons Goddard was such an addition to the state's park system. DEM's golf page embeds a hole-by-hole Google map of all nine holes.

Good For / Maybe Skip If

Good for: a quick nine before work (first tee time 7:30 a.m.), beginners and juniors learning the game at low prices, and seniors on weekday rates.

Maybe skip if: you want to walk on without calling ahead — Goddard has no walk-ins — or you need a cart for an afternoon round, since the last cart rental is at noon.

Making a Day of It

Combine a round with a swim at the beach or a picnic: from April 1 to October 31, picnic sites need a permit, but the Oak and Maple groves rent sites the same day (picnic areas). For a full day nearby, see things to do in Warwick.