William J. Devine Golf Course opened October 26, 1896 – making it the second oldest public golf course in America, behind only Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. It sits inside Franklin Park, which Frederick Law Olmsted designed in 1878. Donald Ross redesigned the course in 1922 and it has barely changed since. That is over a century of public golf on the same layout, in the same park, four miles from downtown Boston.
Devine's wide parkland fairways make it the most beginner-accessible 18-hole muni in the city.
The layout: what Ross built and how it plays
The original 9-hole course was designed by an architect named Campbell on the “Country Park” section of Franklin Park. Ross turned it into a full 18 in 1922. His version is described as “virtually an original Donald Ross design” by historians – the bones are intact.
From the blue tees, Devine plays par 70 at 6,013 yards. Course rating is 69.5 with a slope of 126. The white tees drop to 5,688 yards (slope 122). Gold tees play 4,924 yards (slope 114). Red tees run par 71 at 4,676 yards (slope 112). Bentgrass fairways and greens throughout.
The terrain is flat to gently rolling. That sets it apart from George Wright, which has real elevation changes and a slope of 133. Devine is walkable by almost anyone. Pace of play is relaxed. There's a chill vibe here that you won't find at Boston's more demanding tracks.
One quirk worth knowing: one fairway has a bell that players ring to signal the group ahead at the next tee. It dates to the original 1896 routing. You won't see that at many courses built in the last hundred years.
Green fees and booking
Boston residents pay $39 to walk on weekdays. Non-residents can pay up to $72 on weekends with a cart – confirm current rates at cityofbostongolf.com since they vary by day and residency.
The Boston Parks season permit covers both Devine and George Wright for $50. Permit holders get a 5-day advance booking window. Without a permit, the window is 4 days, opening at 7am on the CPS Golf platform at williamjdevine.cps.golf.
Weekend prime morning slots fill fast, but not as instantly as George Wright. Devine is easier to get onto – particularly on weekday mornings and weekday afternoons, where availability is usually solid without needing to rush the booking window.
Devine vs. George Wright: who should play which one
These two courses share the same operator (CPS Golf), the same permit program, and the same booking system. The differences are in the golf.
George Wright opened in 1938 – 42 years after Devine. It has a slope of 133, undulating terrain, crowned Donald Ross greens, and a national ranking as one of the top municipal courses in America. Devine's slope is 126 and the layout is forgiving. If you're a mid-to-high handicapper or a beginner looking for a real 18-hole round close to the city, Devine is the right call. It's also featured in our guide to beginner golf courses near Boston.
George Wright gets more press and more demand. Devine is often overlooked despite being the older course with deeper history. That works in your favor. You get a Donald Ross design in a Frederick Law Olmsted park at a price most city courses can't touch.
The one honest caveat: conditions at Devine are solid but not at the same renovation level as George Wright, which has seen recent bunker and tee box upgrades. If conditions are your primary concern, George Wright edges it. If you want history, walkability, and a genuinely relaxed round near downtown, Devine is the pick.
Getting there
Devine is at 1 Circuit Dr in Dorchester, inside Franklin Park. It's 4.4 miles from downtown Boston– the closest full 18-hole public course to the city. You can reach it by MBTA: take the Orange Line to Forest Hills, then walk through the park (15–20 minutes) or catch a bus from Forest Hills. Pro shop phone: 617-265-4084. On-site practice putting green and chipping green are available.
The 4-day booking window opens at 7am and prime weekend slots move fast – same problem as George Wright, same platform. And singles pairings that could get you out on a busy Saturday morning don't always surface on the public tee sheet. Text Carl your day and preferred window. Carl checks the CPS Golf calendar and calls the pro shop to find real openings, including singles pairings that never show up in the online system.