Author Archives: mingonef

Manchester Country Club

Another Top 10 course.  The beauty of this course is seen right when you check in at the pro shop. Holes 1 and 18 sit right on the lake along with the putting green. Hole 1’s tee box is adjacent to the outdoor dining area and reminds me of Merion. Being a short hole and water on the left I suggest not using your driver and starting off on the right foot. You can break out the big stick on #2 which is a decent length downhill left breaking par 4. Now you need to cross a busy main road that’s actually called Main St to play #3 and #4 before crossing back over the road to play the rest of the front 9. You get a nice break on the downhill short par 3 before playing the hardest hole on the course. #6 is a dogleg right with an elevated green and if you let your drive get away right its all but gone. Rounding out the front 9 is a decent length par 4 with a creek, a par 3 that requires you to hit the green and a tough hole that is protected by that same creek but grew and sits at the bottom of a large hill in front of the green. Before taking on the second half of the day there is a nice halfway house to refuel at. 10 ,11, and 13 are somewhat short quirky par 4s with another short downhill par 3 jammed in between. To get to #14 which is my favorite hole there, you need to cross the street again and this time its on the top of a hill and can be somewhat blind. From this elevated tee box you can see all of the hole except the green. Its nestled in the back left behind a large pond. Even if you lay up here(which most will need to) there is a lone tree in front of the pond that can block your third shot in. 15 is a dogleg left par 5 that brings you to the home stretch, 16 and 17 are straight away simple 4s but for some reason I really enjoy them. Onceeee again you need to cross the road for the finishing hole which is a long 3 with water long and left. As you could tell I do not like the fact that you need to cross a busy road often but I’m sure that road probably wasn’t there when the course was built.The only other thing I do not love about MCC is that the par 5s are both back to back on the front and then back. Besides that I love this course and will be going there often.  When I do I  will prob warm up at Minnechaug or use MCC’s range which is located in the middle of the course.

Tee times can be made on their site

http://www.mancc.com/

  • layout-8
  • condition-9
  • food- 8
  • staff- 8

Indian Springs Golf Club

This is a family run course located in Middlefield and they take pride in it. The course is constantly improving and always in great shape. The clubhouse was recently updated and so was the practice green and driving range. There are many hills and blind shots here including your second  shot on the par 5 5th. If I could make one change here I would make hole 6’s dogleg less sharp especially since the left is just woods and can easily be widened. #9 is my favorite hole there as it is a downhill wide open short par 4 with a large green and sends you home happy every time.

Tee times can be made by calling  860-349-8109 and are on EZLinks

http://www.indiansprings-golf.com/index.html

Give it a 7.5 and is perfect if you only have time for 9. If other local courses are packed check in here and use their full length range and chipping/bunker practice area.

  • layout-7
  • condition-8
  • food- 8
  • staff- 8

Hunter Golf Club

Hunter is a very scenic course located in Meriden.  It is a classic hilly parkland style course with tree lined fairways and some ponds down in the valley where the pro shop sits.  The first hole is an uphill dog leg and its my least favorite there so its nice to get it out of the way. From then on you are brought through medium sized fairways and bunker protected greens. There is a nice Italian restaurant there and which would be perfect  if you plan on hosting a golf outing.

Tee times can be made by calling  (203) 634-3366

http://huntergolfclub.com/     Has a hole by hole graphic section

Overall I  give Hunter an 7.5

  • layout-8
  • condition-7
  • food- 8
  • staff- 8

Laurel View Country Club

Laurel View, located in Hamden, is a decent course with some very good holes and with a little effort can be a great course.  Hole 1 is very short so you can go for it or if you feel rusty can use a fairway wood and still be left with a mid iron shot in. Next up is a pretty short par 3 with a large green so you should be even through 2 at worst. The large lake on #3 requires you to lay up but then be left with a long approach shot to the green. Holes 4 and 5  are pars 5 and 4 and go back and forth and are pretty much the same distance so par bogey is not that bad here.  Hole 6 is a quirky hole which does not require a driver  and hole 7 is a long uphill par 3 that does. My favorite hole is probably the 8th. It requires an accurate drive, has a open flat landing zone for your second shot, then a shallow green. I hate the 9th but like how it shares it’s green with the par 3 #7 that you just bogeyed.

The back starts off with a short but tough dogleg that you DEF should not use anything more than an iron on.  Next up is  a very hard par 5(hardest hole here). The fairway slants right the hole way and everything runs off of it into big trouble(almost OB). #12 is a picturesque par 3 over a lake.  After a short easy par 4 you arrive at another great hole here at Laurel View.  If you smash your drive the ball can catch the downhill slope and leave you with a get there in 2 shot.  15 and 16 are both tough; 15 plays up hill and long while 16 plays downhill but is narrow and curves hard left.  17 is a traditionally par 3 and 18 has a tree that needs to be knocked down.

Some cheap tee times on Golf Now. The course needs a heavy make over and then would be an 8

  • layout-8
  • condition-6
  • food- 6
  • staff- 6

Hottest girl on tour

While the Koreans dominate on the course, the Hispanics/Latin Americans dominate anywhere they go. My top 4 are all from Spain or South America(Sorry Paula and Natalie you guys tie for 5th)

Here is my favorite on the LPGA .Veronica Felibert

I took this pic while watching her on the range on Pro-am day at the Shop Rite shootout in Atlantic City. It was my first LPGA event and I didn’t know that I would be the only fan there haha. My one piece of advice would be lose the visor, its too big and hides your gorgeous face.

IMG-20130529-00099

pic from the web

Hotchkiss School Golf Course

The Hotchkiss course is located in the Northwest part of the state at the foothills of the Berkshires. This beautiful nine holer sits  on top of a hill and circles right around and through the campus. The school is in a very small quiet town called Lakeville(the lake being Wononskopomuc….good luck saying that). Upon arriving at the course the driveway takes you right by their new synthetic turf football field(2009).  This is the only course I have played  on a school campus and its was pretty cool that the football field was so close to the course itself. Being that the holes are not on top of eachother and spread out through the campus, there is a map on the back of the scorecard which was very helpful. Although hole #5 provides the best view(see below), I do not have one favorite hole here. I love holes 2-6 as I can only imagine during school days how many students are not paying attention to their professors but rather seeing if you stick the green or go up and down.

Check out the view from hole 5. My favorite part of this course is if you are lazy,I played 27 already that day, you can take a cart and they are all drop tops!!!! Nothing better than riding and still getting tan.

IMG-20130828-00216

If your son or daughter likes hockey and golf and is looking at prep schools this is a no brainer.

http://www.hotchkiss.org/athletics/facilities/the-hotchkiss-golf-course/index.aspx

Overall a solid 8 and if they had all nine holes on the school side somehow without crossing a main road, this course would make my top 10.  LOVE this place and can’t wait to go back.

  • layout-8
  • condition-8
  • food- NA
  • staff- 9

Keney Park Golf Course

UPDATE

About 3 to 4  years ago I  heard rumors that this course was being renovated but I thought to myself, I’ve heard that plenty of times before. It’s very expensive to upgrade a course due to the sheer size and the time and effort it takes to grow in grasses etc. Usually a course throws in a new bunker or two, moves a tee box and you can barely notice. When I first heard about Keney, I said to myself, there is no way of saving this course but boy was I wrong. My first friend to play it was Mike aka GMR. He is a member at a private club known for the best greens in the area and when he came back and told me Keney’s greens may be the best in the state, I was shocked. So thanks to COVID19 I finally got some free time, got back into golf, and drove up to Hartford to see for myself. I hit a small bucket at the range there which isn’t the best in the world but its grass which is key and gets the job done. Hole 1 tee box is pretty much on the patio so good thing its a non driver hole. Slap a 5 iron out there, look good for the onlookers and get on your way. Holes 1 thru 4 are very easy and hole 5 favors my fade! Then after the downhill par 3 6 the course gets a little tougher. 7 and 8 go back and forth and are pretty similar and of decent length. I found myself pin high in the “church pews” on 8. With the 7th tee box being so close, the foursome there  let me hit first and I hit my best shot of the day, holeing out from the bunker! Hole 9 brings you  home after seeing your 8th false front on 9 greens. The back 9 has 2 par 5s but also longer tougher 3s so plays about the same. Some of the fairways still need some cosmetic work especially 15 and 16 but they are fine in the frequently visited areas.  I was not a fan of the closing par 3 18 but now that I think of it, it would be fun during a tight match walking up to the green not knowing who’s ball is closer on the hidden punch bowl green. I am not going to give it the most improved course award cause that to me always meant you got better but you still aren’t good. Instead I am putting it in my top 5, which coming from dead last speaks for itself.  I will be playing here very often, meeting up with my old friend TC and my old new friend Manoli!!!

 

Overall it now gets a 9 which is a little high but they deserve it and its walk-able and I played well! Wheres my fox though?

  • layout-8
  • condition-10 a little over rated but the shape it was in during the driest June on record deserves a 10
  • food- 9
  • staff- 10

 

 

 

 

UNPLAYABLE

a MDM ran course(see Goodwin review for more details)

The greens are all crab grass. Dirt patches in the fairways and the list goes on and on

A rabid fox followed me hole by hole

If you are really new to golf do not go here and get the wrong impression of the game

tee times on golfnow and at  http://www.keneyparkgolf.com/tee-times.html

gets a 1 and is the worst course in the state

  • layout-3
  • condition-1
  • food- NA
  • staff- NA

Highland Greens Golf Course

Highland Greens is a  nine hole par 3 course that is lighted, yes lighted, so you can play at night. Its the only night golf facility in CT. There is not much to say about the course as the holes are all relatively the same. Playing under the lights sounds cooler than it is.  At address your club face’s shadow blocks out the ball and makes it a “blind” shot. It is also tough to find your ball when you miss a shot.  It is definitely worth trying once or as a pregame for a guys  night out……beers on this course just feel normal.

IMG_4250

Interesting tidbit- The property was once owned and farmed by Revolutionary War Captain Ambrose Hine Jr. Captain Hine served with General Washington’s Continental Army in the Battle of Long Island. Later, he served defending the Hudson River.His handiwork can be seen in many stonewalls located on the property. His home, where he raised his 9 children, is the red house located across the driveway from the 3rd tee.

http://www.highlandgreens.com/    Call to make tee times or just walk on (203)758-4022

Overall a weak 6 just cause it has lights.

  • layout-6
  • condition-6
  • food- NA
  • staff- 6

Hop Brook Golf Course

Hop Brook is a slightly below average nine hole course in Naugatuck. The course had some real rough spots on the first couple holes but that was not the case for holes 6-9. These holes however were really tight and “winedy” . Overall not much to talk about here and you get what you pay for.

http://www.naugatuck-ct.gov/content/77/441/3932.aspx

  • layout-6
  • condition-5
  • food- NA
  • staff- 7

Griffith E Harris Golf Course

The “Griff” is a Robert Trent Jones designed course in the upper class town of Greenwich. Being in Greenwich you would expect them to have the best muni in the state and they provide just that. The Griff is a beautiful classic parkland style course that competes with the local private clubs as far as layout/style go. Hole one is a tough dog leg left but with a downhill second shot you shld be able to get near the green, if not on it. Hole 2 is tough to find; its not the tee box right next to the 1st green seperated by a chain link fence(which needs to go). You need to stay right and go down the hill and across the street. Stay away from the fairway bunker on the right and you should be able to get par on this hole who shares its fairway with the par 3 5th. #3 is a tight par 5 followed by an open par 4 then the par 3 5th I mentioned. Handicap 1 is next, 451yd  par 4 with a tricky green. If you bogey that one look to get a stroke back on the next hole as its the shortest there (132yd). The gorgeous par 5 8th and short par 4 9th send you back to the clubhouse hopefully with a smile on your face. The back nine starts with a long tough par 4 then a 200 yd par 3 with a narrow green(be thrilled with one over through those two). If your driver has been erratic today I suggest laying up on the short par 4 12th. #13 and 14 are totally carved out of the woods and require strategic shots as you can find yourself OB quick. 15,16, and 17 are a blur as I walked this course carrying my bag in the 90 degree heat. I DO remember my birdie on the short dogleg left 18, making me wanting to visit the GRIFF again soon.

Being on the NY border I recommend this course to all my fellow Westchester golfers since the # of public courses in Westchester is low and are always packed. With its close proximity to Westchester airport I suggest playing it before picking someone up there or if that person flies with his or her clubs book a twosome!

Overall it gets an 8

Call the starter for reservations  (203) 531-8253. Full length range on site.

  • layout-8
  • condition-8
  • food- NA
  • staff- 8

Green Woods Country Club

Green Woods is a nice nine hole course just minutes North of Torrington in Winstead. As you pull into the course, make sure you look both ways as you drive right through the second fairway(unusual). Hole 3 is a downhill par 3 then comes the challenging dog leg right #4 that looks carved out of the “green” woods. The fifth hole is very unique…it has two different greens. The fairway forks and if you go left it plays as a par 4 but if you play 18 it plays as a par 5 to the right. Holes 6 and 7 mirror each other going back and forth and sending you to a generic par 3 over a lake. The ninth is a driveable 4 so wait for the group in front of you to clear before teeing off. My one suggestion is to put in a net or some shrubs blocking the parking lot from the ninth fairway. Hard to believe many cars don’t get dinged up over there.

They have a range and are semi private so weekends before noon are off limits.

http://www.greenwoodscc.net/

Overall it gets a 7.5 and one of the top 5 nine hole courses in state.

  • layout-7
  • condition-8
  • food- NA
  • staff- 8

Hawk’s Landing Country Club

Hawk’s Landing is an 18 hole par 70 course minutes off of I-84 in Southington. The course plays very short(5800) but has lots of water and some holes are tight so you need to play smart golf here and club down often. Hole 1 is a perfect example, downhill 300 yds but OB left and blocking trees right. Hole 3 is another one where you may want to not use your driver. 440 yd par 5 with I-84 collecting dozens of drives a day. Holes 4 and 5 go back and forth and are pretty open but have a stream snaking through it and some high grasses that leads to a back up. Hole 6 adds to that delay having 3 large lakes that are tough to avoid. Hole 7 is as tough a par 3 as they come(235 uphill). Hole 8 is an easy par 4 sandwiched in between yet another 235 par 3 with a pond in front of the green and bunkers everywhere. I don’t like courses that have short 4s and then try to make up yards with the par 3s. To find hole 10 you need to drive through the parking lot and across the street.  Unlike the front there is no water on the back until hole 17. After the dogleg left #10 holes 11 and 12 are very nice and wide open. Next up are the two toughest holes there besides the front par 3s; 13 and 14 go out and in along side the highway and are tight(handicaps 3 and 5). #15 is my favorite hole there, probably cause I eagled it! 16 is a downhill par 3 and 17 is where the water comes back, runs all along the left side of the hole. The final hole is very similar to #9 but thankfully is shorter and has a little bit of fairway on the other side of the pond.

There is a huge grass tee driving range there so if you live nearby you should take advantage of it. The outdoor patio bar is great(almost too good to be on a golf course).

Tee times can be made on their site or on Golf Now

http://www.hawkslandingcc.com/index.php

Overall it gets a 7

  • layout-7
  • condition-6
  • food- 9
  • staff- 8

Great River Golf Club

Over priced! This course is located in my town of Milford, running along side the Housatonic River across from Sikorsky and the sports center of CT. It is semi private and has an extraordinary club house,pro shop, and restaurant(all the best in state). The course itself was designed by Tom Fazio, whom I am not a big fan of, and opened in 2001. You start out on a par 3 which I have never seen before. I was told that the par 3 was originally #10 and  the front and back flip flopped; they should flip back. The rest of the front nine feels jammed in between the river and the Waterbury line train tracks(luckily that line doesn’t run too often and breaks down once a week). The back nine layout is nicer and has water on almost every hole. The 10th is a dog leg right with a pond and bunkers on the right so make sure you stay left which will make your second shot longer. The picturesque par 3 11th plays pretty long and has a nice rock waterfall behind the green. Then there is a long par 5 with an elevated green that some find rather silly. Next up is my favorite hole there. If you are Bubba long you may need to club down as the fairway gets narrow at around 250 and the pond comes into play. Your approach shot has to be perfect with the green sitting on a lake and a miss to the left leaves a downhill chip. Hole 14 is somewhat easy but then you go back to back with two of the hardest holes there followed by the toughest par 3 around. 18 is a pretty finishing hole with the clubhouse in the background(why they prob flipped the front and the back). It has a great range and practice facility which is included with your round so I would get there early and make use of it; you will need it on this slope 146/142.

I suggest not biting off more than you can  chew here…don’t be embarrassed by playing the whites because the blues can play very tough and make that $140 round taste even worse at the bar.

Overall it gets a 9 and is def a top 10 course  but tough to dish out top dollar to play it when there are other courses just as good for a third of the price.

http://greatrivergolfclub.com/

  • layout-8
  • condition-10
  • food- 10
  • staff- 7

Harrisville Golf Course

Harrisville is a short par 36 located in Woodstock CT. The course is rough around the edges as is the town itself.  The first 3 holes are traditional holes (par 4,3,5 in that order) followed by a driveable par 4 that plays about 260. Next up is a cool elevated tee box that helps you carry the large pond on the toughest hole there. #7 is my favorite; it is not that long but it gets narrow before the green which feels smothered by pines. Keep your approach shot left as everything will funnel down and to the right.

Tee times can be made by calling  860-928-6098

http://www.harrisvillegolfcourse.com/

Overall it gets a 5.5 and can improve on its fairways and greens.

  • layout-6
  • condition-5
  • food- NA
  • staff- 8

Hottest girl in Golf……HOLLY SONDERS

Starting a new category on Saturdays that will display pics of  hot female golfers, reporters, cart girls etc. Hope some of you will post pics as well.  Why not start if off with the hottest girl in the game. Holly is the reason why many guys like myself watch the Morning Drive.

Guilford Lakes Golf Course

Guilford Lakes was originally a 2 hole course that was expanded to 9 holes in the 1930s; shut down in 1989, and reopened in ’99. With not many golf courses on the shoreline I am sure many are happy it reopened. Its better to have a 9 hole par 3 than nothing at all.  Doesn’t hurt that it is the nicest manicured par 3 in the state. Not much to talk about with a short track like this but like I said its in great shape so not a bad spot to work on your short game. I would say that #4 is my favorite; with it’s firm green nestled between a bed of rocks and water to the right.

Rates are 15/17 for  non residents so why not go walk it with your buddies and get a cash game going.

Tee times can be made on their site or on Golf Now.

http://www.guilfordlakesgc.com/

  • layout-6
  • condition-8
  • food- NA
  • staff- 8