Bangor Municipal Golf Course

Bangor Municipal Golf Course is a 27-hole public facility designed by Geoffrey Cornish that opened in 1964, operated by the City of Bangor and a standout played course in central Maine. The original 18-hole layout opened in two phases in the summer of 1964, with a third nine — named the Kelly Nine in honor of the course's first professional, Austin Kelly — added in 1989 in collaboration with Cornish and Brian Silva. The course offers a welcoming experience for golfers of all levels on bentgrass greens with multiple tee options.

Bangor Municipal Golf Course came into being through the vision of the City of Bangor and the design expertise of Geoffrey S. Cornish, the Vermont-based architect who had already become synonymous with public and municipal golf development across New England. The first ball was struck on the original nine holes on July 9, 1964, and just over two months later — on September 19, 1964 — an additional nine holes were ready for play, completing the 18-hole layout within a single season. The rapid two-phase opening was a testament to the city's commitment to delivering an affordable, accessible golf facility to the residents of the greater Bangor area.

Geoffrey Cornish's design at Bangor Municipal reflected his characteristic approach to public golf: generous fairways that welcoming developing golfers without sacrificing the strategic interest that experienced players expected, bentgrass greens of moderate size and subtle contour, and a routing that made efficient use of the available land without resorting to gimmicks. The course sits within the City of Bangor, making it easily accessible from downtown and from the surrounding Penobscot County communities. The first head professional at Bangor Municipal Golf Course was Austin Kelly, who built a career at the facility that became central to golf life in central Maine. Kelly's tenure and contributions to the club were honored when the third nine-hole layout was named the Kelly Nine in his memory.

That additional nine opened in 1989, designed through a collaboration between Cornish and Brian Silva, expanding the facility to its current 27-hole configuration. The Kelly Nine at 3,155 yards and par 36 provides a slightly tighter and more forgiving playing experience, making it particularly suitable for developing golfers and casual rounds. The primary 18-hole course plays to 6,345 yards from the Blue tees with a course rating of 70.6 and slope of 128. Four tee options — Blue, White, Gold, and Green — allow the full range of Bangor's golfing public to find an appropriate challenge.

Women's ratings are available on the White, Gold, and Green tees, reflecting the course's commitment to inclusive programming. Owned and operated by the City of Bangor, the course has served as the primary municipal golf facility for one of Maine's largest cities for more than sixty years. In 2024, Bangor Municipal celebrated its sixtieth anniversary of continuous operation, an occasion that highlighted the enduring role the facility has played in making golf accessible to multiple generations of central Maine golfers. The course remains among the most frequented public facilities north of Portland, its city-owned character ensuring that green fees remain among the most affordable in the state.