Golf in Massachusetts
Overview
Golf in Massachusetts
What golf looks like for retirement in Massachusetts: where to do it, what the state costs, and the towns that fit.
Golf in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation operates two state-owned public courses, Ponkapoag Golf Course and Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course, with senior weekday green fees of $17 for 18 holes and a 5-day senior season ticket available for $475. Both courses serve the Greater Boston area and accept walk-in and advance tee times.
Published local price
DCR Ponkapoag Golf Course and Leo J. Martin Golf Course (state-operated public courses) weekday 18-hole adult rate; senior (62+) weekday $17; rates vary by day and season
Published range: $17 to $35.
Massachusetts DCR - Green Fees · as of 2026Where to go
What Massachusetts costs
Cost of living
106
BEA index, U.S. = 100
State income tax
~5.0% state income-tax planning rate
Social Security
Not taxed
How people start
- 1
Map the public and municipal courses nearby
Most metros list city-run courses with published fee schedules. Those set the affordable floor before any private club enters the picture.
- 2
Ask about senior and resident rates
Many courses post a reduced weekday senior rate and a season pass. The difference between pay-per-round and a pass is the number that usually drives the yearly cost.
- 3
Price the season, not the round
In warm states the season runs most of the year; in cold ones it is a few months. The yearly cost is rounds-per-year times rate, plus cart and equipment.
Towns in Massachusetts
Where to do it, town by town.
The City of Boston operates George Wright Golf Course (420 W St., Hyde Park), a Donald Ross-designed 18-hole municipal course, and William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park (1 Circuit Dr., Dorchester); 2026 rates list senior resident 18-hole weekday rounds at $40, compared to $46 for standard residents. The Massachusetts DCR also runs Ponkapoag Golf Course in Canton with senior weekday rates as low as $17 for 18 holes.
City of Boston Golf / Mass.gov DCRCommon questions
Is Massachusetts a good place to retire for golf?
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation operates two state-owned public courses, Ponkapoag Golf Course and Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course, with senior weekday green fees of $17 for 18 holes and a 5-day senior season ticket available for $475. Both courses serve the Greater Boston area and accept walk-in and advance tee times. Towns like Boston have their own local options.
What does it cost to retire in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a cost-of-living index near 106 (U.S. = 100), about a 5.0% state income-tax planning rate, and does not tax Social Security. The full state guide breaks down property tax, sales tax, and long-term-care costs, each sourced.
Sources
The life your money is for