Belgrade Lakes Golf Club in Belgrade and Sugarloaf Golf Club in Carrabassett Valley are consistently vying for top ranking among the state’s public golf courses.

Belgrade Lakes was named one of a dozen five-star public-access clubs in the country by Golf Digest magazine, and Sugarloaf was named by New England Journal of Golf as the top place the public can play in New England.

People might think there could be a little rivalry going on between the two clubs.

And they would be wrong.

“We actually have a stay-and-play package with them,” said Kyle Evans, managing partner at Belgrade Lakes. “We’re tickled pink to be working with them.”

While the pairing might seem an unusual one because of the distance between them, Evans doesn’t see it that way.

“In Maine, an hour apart, that’s pretty close,” said Evans. “And, you know, when people go someplace, they like to play more than one place.”

Both clubs are reaping the benefits of the high marks they received from people in the golf community.

“We’ve had people who like to play the top golf courses around the country,” said Sugarloaf Director of Golf Scott Hoisington. “They like to play the top 100, the best in each state, the top five in each state…. It’s one of their goals.”

Evans said, “We’ve had calls from all over the country, all because of that article [in the May issue].”

Evans recalled two recent examples.

“A guy from Oregon was at Bates for graduation. He read the article on the plane and snuck away and played,” said Evans. “And there was another guy from Delaware [who popped in].

“It’s crazy. And that’s just the last couple of days.”

Hoisington was unsure how many people are playing because of the rankings.

“Sometimes we’re able to engage the guests, ask what brought them here,” said Hoisington. “Plus we have the survey card.”

Golf Digest based its rankings on the ballots of more than 20,000 readers who have played the courses they ranked.

Courses were judged on overall golf experience, value, standard of service, overall conditioning, and pace of play.

“Most of these places are full-scale resorts with multiple courses and hotels,” said Evans. “We’re totally different.”

Included among the 12 five-star clubs are Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links and Pinehurst (N.C.) Country Club (No. 2 course).

“There’s some pretty big hitters on that list,” said Evans.

Sugarloaf and The Ledges Golf Club in York received 41/2 stars.

The New England Journal of Golf, based in Falmouth and formerly Golf of Maine, ranked the top 100 courses that the public can play in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Consideration was limited to 18-hole courses, but that list still constituted more than 700 daily-fee, resort, and municipal courses.

Other Maine courses to make the top 25 were Belgrade Lakes at No. 10, Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor at No. 14, Samoset Resort Golf Club in Rockport at No. 19, and The Ledges at No. 25.

Courses were judged on overall design, test of golf/difficulty, variety of challenge and design, scenic value/environmental factors, course conditioning, and enjoyability.

“The reason we got what we’ve got is the work originally done by Peter Webber and [designer] Robert Trent Jones II,” said Hoisington. “They did a hell of a job conjuring up the plan.”

Playability, including pace of play, is a high priority for Belgrade Lakes.

“People look at it and say, ‘I can shoot a number here,'” said Evans.

Evans said that the recognition the courses receive – and the draw that ensues – will help all of the state’s courses.

“The more people that play golf in Maine, the better it is for all of us,” he said.

‘Tin Mountain Roundup’

Sugarloaf/USA Resort in Carrabassett Valley is expanding a popular winter skiing special to start an annual summer “Tin Mountain Roundup” involving its oft-honored Sugarloaf Golf Club.

On Sunday and Monday, guests who bring three canned food items to donate to the local food bank can play 18 holes of golf for $25, cart included. The standard price, through Monday, is $69 with the cart included.

Reservations are required for taking part in the golf course benefit. Call 237-6806.

Dave Barber can be reached at 990-8170, 1-800-310-8600, or by e-mail at dbarber@bangordailynews.net.