New Hampshire is home to some spectacular golf courses, from classic New England layouts tucked into the mountains to scenic daily-fee courses overlooking lakes, forests and rivers.
But not every course gets rave reviews.
After looking at current ratings and golfer feedback on GolfPass and Tripadvisor — while also making sure the courses are still operating — three names stand out for particularly poor ratings and recurring complaints about conditions, pace of play, value and the overall experience.
It is worth noting that online ratings can be imperfect. Review totals vary considerably from course to course, and a bad season can dramatically influence a smaller sample size. So consider this a look at three of New Hampshire's lowest-rated currently operating golf courses with meaningful review histories, rather than a definitive judgment on the quality of every course in the state.
1. Granite Fields Golf Club — Kingston
If you're looking strictly at GolfPass, Granite Fields has perhaps the most eye-catching rating of the bunch.
The Kingston course carries a 1.5 rating on GolfPass from 97 reviews, with only 15.1% of reviewers recommending it. GolfPass users rate the course particularly poorly for conditions, value, layout, friendliness, pace and amenities.
Tripadvisor is considerably less harsh, but the rating is still low: 2.6 out of five from 10 reviews.
And the complaints are remarkably consistent.
One Tripadvisor golfer who played in May 2024 complained about the course's routing and said numerous holes were difficult to navigate. The reviewer also criticized the presence of maintenance equipment during the round and said the experience wasn't worth the price.
Another golfer was even more critical, describing the fairways as being in poor condition and complaining that several tee areas were difficult to find.
That said, Granite Fields isn't universally disliked. Tripadvisor includes older reviews praising the condition of the fairways and greens, while GolfPass reviews also include golfers who enjoyed the layout and considered it a good value.
And there's an important reason not to write the course off entirely: Granite Fields is very much still open for business. Its official website says the course is open seven days a week and currently lists 2026 greens fees, including $78 for an 18-hole weekend round with a cart.
So the golfer looking for a cheap round may still find Granite Fields worth considering. Just don't expect the experience to match the course's own description of being one of southern New Hampshire's finest.
2. Jack O'Lantern Resort Golf Course — Woodstock
The Jack O'Lantern Resort Golf Course has one of the lowest Tripadvisor ratings among New Hampshire's better-known resort courses, currently sitting at 2.9 out of five from 37 reviews.
The course's reputation is complicated, however, because the reviews tell the story of a property in transition.
Recent golfers have complained about course conditions, flooding damage, slow play and large golf groups. One July 2026 Tripadvisor reviewer went so far as to say the course should be closed for renovation, citing widespread areas marked as ground under repair and poor playing conditions.
Another reviewer in October 2024 complained about flooding damage and argued that the course should have remained closed while renovations were being completed.
But there is another side to the story.
A June 2025 reviewer acknowledged the course had suffered significant flood damage but said the new owners were working hard to restore it. That golfer praised the staff but complained about large groups, slow play and loud music from golf carts.
Other Tripadvisor golfers have been much more positive, praising the new ownership, clubhouse improvements, staff and overall atmosphere. One 2023 reviewer described the property as being in the midst of a "rebirth" and said the owners were making noticeable progress.
That makes The Jack an especially interesting case.
The course isn't simply a bad course that golfers have abandoned. It's a course with a poor current reputation that appears to be undergoing a significant rebuilding effort.
And it is still operating. Current business information lists Jack O'Lantern as an operating golf course and resort, while Tripadvisor has reviews from golfers who played there as recently as July 2026.
For golfers considering a round, the lesson may be simple: Check the most recent conditions before booking. The course appears to be changing, but the reviews suggest that the transformation isn't finished.
3. Atkinson Resort & Country Club — Atkinson
Atkinson is perhaps the most surprising course on this list.
The resort itself is well regarded on Tripadvisor, with an overall 4.1 rating from 70 reviews. But that rating covers the entire resort — including lodging, dining and events — rather than the golf course alone.
On GolfPass, however, the Atkinson Resort & Country Club Championship Course has a 3.27 rating from 51 reviews.
That puts it toward the bottom among the more established New Hampshire courses with a substantial GolfPass review history.
The complaints aren't necessarily about the layout. In fact, golfers frequently acknowledge that Atkinson is scenic and challenging.
Instead, the biggest criticisms involve value, pace of play and customer service.
One recent Tripadvisor reviewer who spent $150 to play the course complained after leaving a range finder behind and said staff wouldn't allow him back onto the course to look for it. His conclusion was blunt: "Don't golf here."
Another Tripadvisor reviewer who stayed at the resort complained about slow golf, saying the course's scheduling contributed to frustratingly long rounds.
But, again, the reviews aren't uniformly negative.
Tripadvisor includes golfers who describe the course as beautiful and well maintained, with one reviewer specifically praising the back nine. Another called it a "very challenging, beautiful course."
That's why Atkinson might be better described as a disappointing experience for some golfers rather than a universally bad golf course.
The facility remains open and actively operating, with current business listings showing the golf course, practice facilities, restaurant and other resort amenities.
So, which is the worst?
If we judge strictly by the numbers found during this review, Granite Fields Golf Club has the lowest GolfPass rating by a considerable margin, at 1.5 out of five.
The Jack O'Lantern Resort Golf Course has the lowest Tripadvisor rating of the three at 2.9, although its recent reviews also suggest that new ownership is working to improve the property.
Atkinson's GolfPass rating of roughly 3.3 is considerably better, but its customer-service and pace-of-play complaints keep it in the conversation when looking at New Hampshire courses that golfers have rated poorly.
There's also a bigger lesson here: online ratings don't always tell the whole story.
Granite Fields has a remarkably low GolfPass rating despite some golfers praising its value and conditions. The Jack has some brutal recent reviews but also golfers who say the course is improving dramatically. And Atkinson's golf course has mediocre GolfPass reviews even though the resort as a whole maintains a strong Tripadvisor rating.
For golfers planning a New Hampshire trip, the best strategy may be to look beyond the star rating and read the most recent reviews, particularly when it comes to course conditions. That's especially important in New England, where weather, flooding and seasonal maintenance can make one year's experience dramatically different from the next.
The bottom line
- Lowest GolfPass rating: Granite Fields Golf Club — 1.5/5
- Lowest Tripadvisor rating of these three: Jack O'Lantern Resort Golf Course — 2.9/5
- Most mixed reputation: Atkinson Resort & Country Club
None of the three should necessarily be considered a permanent "avoid at all costs" course. In fact, the evidence suggests that at least two — Granite Fields and Jack O'Lantern — are actively operating and trying to improve the golfer experience.
But if you're looking for the safest bet for your next New Hampshire golf trip, these are three courses where checking the latest conditions and reviews before paying your greens fee would be particularly wise.












