Bangor area golf ranked 52nd in country

Greater Bangor ranks 52nd in the country and tops in Maine for good, affordable public golf, according to the November issue of Golf Digest magazine.

The rankings of the 314 largest metropolitan areas were based on population, average cost, value, the magazine’s Places to Play star ranking, and access, then added a weather modifier. Resort areas’ access scores were adjusted because of the increased play from visitors.

Jamestown, N.Y., ranked No. 1 with Jersey City, N.J., 314th.

Lewiston-Auburn ranked second in Maine and 75th overall, and Portland, which was linked with Portsmouth, N.H., ranked third in Maine and 227th overall.

Bangor – which was also rated third in New England behind Barnstable-Yarmouth, Mass., and Pittsfield, Mass. – ranked 48th in value overall, 92nd in star ranking, and 145th in population per course, and the average green fee was $31. Lewiston-Auburn was 117th in value, 201st in star ranking, and 113th in population per course, and had an average green fee of $29.25. Portland-Portsmouth was 246th, 205th, and 197th, respectively, with an average fee of $51.58.