The Rehoboth Beach Golf Trail: Planning a Trip to Play the Top Public Golf Courses in Rehoboth Beach

If you can’t escape spending time with the family on your beach weekend, why not schedule another weekend getaway to play golf? Rehoboth Beach is only a two-and-a-half hour drive from Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania and just a little more from New York and New Jersey metro areas. With two or three days, you can take a relaxing few days and play some of the top public golf courses in Rehoboth Beach and surrounding southern Delaware beaches, along with having some great food. The Rehoboth Beach area consists of 16 courses within a 15-mile radius, 12 public and four private. These are what I call the Rehoboth Beach Golf Trail.

There are several private clubs that require you to know a member to play, however the public courses are just as good. This list consists of the top public courses. My recommendation is to play the courses within some of the planned communities. They are some of the best kept since they are funded by member dues.

Here are the best public golf courses (in no particular order) in the Rehoboth Beach and Delaware Beach areas making up the Rehoboth Beach Golf Trail:

1. Baywood Greens (Long Neck, Deleware) - Once named best in Delaware by Golf Digest and still is one of the best. You cannot beat the scenery of this course. The course is comprised of two different nine-hole courses to make an 18-hole course. Woodside Nine is a more traditional nine-hole course, while Waterside Nine is a more challenging course, which has man-made ponds on eight of the nine holes. Don't forget to grab a bite to eat at the Clubhouse. The Baywood Club house is managed by SoDel Concepts, a well-known restaurant group in southern Delaware. The General Tsao's cauliflower is a must-try.

2. Bear Trap Dunes (Ocean View/Bethany) – Courses (Black Bear, Kodiak, Grizzly) – Voted by Golfweek as the “top five best courses you can play in Delaware." Bear Trap consists of 27 holes (three nine-hole courses). The course is designed by a former associate of Jack Nicklaus, Rick Jacobson. Like many of the courses, it is designed to mimic the coastal area's natural terrain with sand dunes, grassy hollows, bunks and water hazards.

3. Plantation Lakes Golf and Country Club (Millsboro, Deleware) – Another one of Golfweek’s 2024 Best in State Award. This is an Arthur Hills Championship Golf Course. This is a 6,661-yard course rating 72.3 and a slope of 139 from the back tees. It is challenging and will test golfers of all levels.

4. Salt Pond Golf Club (Bethany Beach) – Another golf club nestled in a community in Bethany Beach. This is an 18-hole course that is well-kept and playable all year-around. It is challenging for all levels and the 18 holes can be finished in less than three hours due to its mid-length course.

5. The Rookery (Milton, Deleware) – The Rookery is an 18-hole Championship golf course. Rated four Stars by Golf Digest. The course was designed by 2004 Senior British Open Champion Pete Oakley and Golf Course Superintendent Chris Adkins. It is a well-conditioned bentgrass, tees and fairways.

6. The Peninsula Golf and Country Club (Millsboro, Deleware) – The Peninsula is a private golf course. One of the best-kept secrets in the Delaware Beaches area. It is one of the top courses in the area. Although it is private, you can play the course if you are able to stay at a property, by renting a property. It is a test for beginners but still a challenging course for experienced golfers. The course is a Jack Nicklaus course set inside the community and along the Indian River Bay.

If you are interested in planning a golf trip in the Rehoboth Beach and surrounding areas, email me and I will get back to you as soon as possible. I am happy to assist with getting tee times and planning your trip, including accommodation and making recommendations for restaurants.

With a weekend stay, you can play about two and a half courses (one course for nine holes and two for 18 holes).

The Delaware Beach is surround by what I call coastal food and American Italian food.

Heirloom - Creates seasonally orchestrated dishes inspired by the farm and garden, I've never had a bad meal here.

Touch of Italy - The best Chicken Parmesan you will ever have. If you are looking for Italian in Rehoboth, this is the place.

Drift Seafood and Raw Bar - Innovative food for a coastal area.

Stingray - Sushi