Author Archives: mingonef

Grassy Hill Country Club

Grassy Hill is an average course with above average greens. The course consists of three bunches of holes. Holes 1-2 and 8-9  go back and forth and are behind the pro shop. Hole 3 is a down hill par 3 that sends you to the “lower” holes(4-7, and ,17-18). My favorite group of holes are 11-16 which are across the road. 11 requires a good drive to clear the stream and 12 has two ponds on it so you really need to choose the correct club. After an uphill par 3 and a downhill short 4 you come to what I think is the toughest hole there(#15). The par 5 #16 is protected by a large wetland so you may need to lay up with your second shot or if you do go for it, stay left!  17 is a downhill par 3 with a huge green so hit it and give yourself a chance at par. Not a huge fan of the finishing hole here. If you miss your tee shot right you end up in their iron only range and your approach shot needs to stay right or your ball will end up down a steep hill.

Of the 4 similiar courses in Orange/Woodbridge, I play Grassy the least due to them not having any deals or tee times online.

Call the Pro Shop for Tee Times 203-795-1422

http://www.grassyhillcountryclub.com/

Overall a 7

  • layout-7
  • condition-7
  • food- NA
  • staff- 9

Gainfield Farms Golf Course

I was shocked to learn that this course was only nine years old. This par 28 has a classic New England feel and a cute little club house that gives it old character; the town of Southbury helps with that too. First couple holes are of decent length then you can make back strokes on 4,5,and 6 which are sub 120 holes that go back and forth . 7th is the longest par 3 there, then a challenging uphill #8 leads you to a cool downhill ending hole who’s green is the clubhouse’s backyard. My favorite hole is #3; tee box is tucked back away from the path and has a mulch lined tree hazard on the left side. I suggest playing Pomperaug right after since this is just a warm up and its pretty much connected via Heritage. Tee times can be made  by phone only 203-262-1100

http://www.gainfieldfarmsgolf.com/Pages/default.aspx

  • layout-5
  • condition-7
  • food-NA
  • staff- 8

Fox Hopyard Golf Club

Fox Hopyard is a semi private course on my top 3 list. The Roger Rulewich designed course is in East Haddam which is about 20 minutes inland from Old Lyme. The entrance takes you in along side their 5 acre pond with a glimpse of the 18th green. A classic New England style clubhouse sits atop a 30ft rock ledge over looking the 9th/18th greens and the range. Wedged between holes 9 and 18 is the best range in the state which is enclosed by dense fescue lined hills. The fox starts you out with the easiest par 4 all day. After that you will face a tricky uphill slanted par 4 then a tight uphill par 5 both requiring carries over wetlands. Hole 4 is a par 3 that drops 90 feet onto a huge green. With 7 tee boxes club selection is crucial as being long will leave you on a downhill slope  above a downhill sloped green- good luck. I suggest you lay up twice on the par 5 5th and then get aggressive with your tee shot on 6. With more hazards than fairway, hole 7 fits the 1 handicap perfectly. The 8th is a beautiful par 3 that is all carry over the lake onto a wide yet narrow green. Rounding out the front is a short 4 with a multi tiered green. After your hot dog at the turn its off to hole 10 which is almost identical to #1. 11 and 12 are both protected by wetlands in front of the green. Hole 15 is a long dogleg right par 5 that would challenge players on the tour. The 16th is a long par 3, keep it to the left and hope you get a nice kick onto the green. 17 sends you out, setting you up for the BEST hole in the state. The score card says 528 from the blues but if the tee box is up and you get a good roll on your drive it leaves you with a tough choice. Either way you will need a precise shot, as that large lake you saw coming in looks even bigger now.

FoxHop gets a 10 and I suggest checking out their sister course Crumpin Fox in Mass(very similiar but more difficult)

http://golfthefox.com/fox-hopyard/about/

  • layout-10
  • condition-9
  • food- 9
  • staff- 9

Cool logo

Grassmere Country Club

Grassmere is a nicely landscaped nine hole course in Enfield. Surrounded by large farms, it is a perfect place for a casual outing. It plays relatively short but does have a decent amount of brooks running through it that can cause your strokes to add up. I am not a fan of the severely sloped par 3 ninth but besides that the course is fun and you can see they take pride in keeping it clean.

For a hole by hole walk through see their website below

http://www.grassmerecountryclub.com/tour_the_course.jsp

Tee times can be made by calling  (860) 749-7740

Overall it gets a 6.5 and is a great value.

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

Fenwick Golf Course

The course with no website. A day or two before playing a course I would look it up to scope it out, find the best rate and book a tee time. With a nickname “Mr Google” I thought I would get some dirt on this course but the only thing I came across was the fact that it was pretty much on its own island. My GPS took me through the beautiful downtown Old Saybrook (stop in to Essex Golf if you have time) and then over a long low bridge to Fenwick. Although Fenwick is connected by land, taking  bridge street makes it feel like an island. After checking in at the starter shed, it was time to tee off. Hole 1 is a straight away par 4 and is the worst hole there so don’t worry. To get to hole 2 you need to walk through a neighborhood block which will then open up to views of the sound. Hole 2 is my favorite hole there. Its a decent length par 3 surrounded by bunkers, a mansion behind the green, and Katherine Hepburn’s home on the right. Although not right on the sound, the tee box provides a view of it over the lake and marshlands on the right. Hole 3 is another par 3 with an infinity green(pic below-birdie). Next up is another great hole, closing out what I think is the best trio of holes in the state. The tee box is on the edge of the “island” and forces you to carry the sound to hit the fairway. Overall this is a great course on CT’s shore and fun for low and high handicappers alike. Great late afternoon date spot before an early seafood dinner al fresco.

If I wasn’t on my way to Pequot I would have played it again. Overall it gets a 7.5 which is high for a 9 hole course and I tell everyone they need to check it out on a nice summer day.

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

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Goodwin Park Golf Course

Goodwin is a 27 hole course located at the very beginning of the Berlin Tpk in Hartford and is falling apart…..9 holes are totally unplayable and the other 18 are barely hanging on. I was walking off after 9 but randomly ran into a friend who I met on this summer “tour” so decided to join him. His name is Jeff and I had a blast playing about 5 rounds with him this summer pushing him to play 27 one day(a first for him).  Check out his website if you need a DJ ever  http://www.jeffladddjplus.com/.  The course was shockingly busy(think a tournament was going on) so I chatted with the starter, who was from Italy and still goes back in the winters. I heard the course has been slipping over the years and  once MDM took it over that only accelerated the pace(same for Keney and Longhill). There are a couple really nice holes here especially farthest from the clubhouse near the ponds and the shady parking lots. I don’t blame the grounds crew at all, the blame lies with the management company. I have seen articles online and segments on News12 about MDM failing an audit where by they did not fulfill their capital improvements obligations. According to these reports, the city has exercised their cancellation options and hopefully these courses get better….which will take time.

Overall a 4.5

Tee times can be made on their website or on GolfNow

http://www.goodwinparkgolf.com/

  • layout-6
  • condition-3
  • food- 5
  • staff- 9 starter was a great guy

Farmingbury Hills Golf Course

Farmingbury Hills is a 9 hole muni located in Wolcott. Tee box 1 is a chip shot away from the grill rooms terrace so expect onlookers as you take your breakfast ball. Hole 2 doglegs right and will play easy if you hit a fade drive. Hole 3 entices you to go for it and I don’t see why you wouldn’t. The next hole is pretty weird as the tee box makes you hit over a road and requires you to lay up or hit a power fade. The approach shot is tight as the road on the right and the trees on the left come to a point right behind the green. Hole 5 has a elevated green that is reachable but I suggest laying up. Hole 6 is a very short par 3 so you better stick it. Next is my favorite hole there. The tee box jets into a nice little lake and if you keep your drive left you will be left with a short wedge shot in. 8 is a decent length par 3 and if you hit a good drive on 9 you should be able to give it a go in 2 on this par 5. The food was pretty good so if you are hungry I suggest grabbing something there as I didn’t see many other places nearby.

http://www.farmingburyhillsgolf.com/

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

Gillette Ridge Golf Club

One word for you….shame. This course could easily make my top 10 but it looks like it hasn’t seen a grounds crew all year. Many of the tee boxes are unhittable, fairways don’t get watered, bunkers are a mess, and greens are covered with ball marks. So enough with the talk about what terrible shape its in as I am sure you heard it all before. The course itself is a great layout and very challenging (74.8/135 from the tips). Hole one is a dogleg right with a big green so is an easy par if you play a slight fade. Hole 2 is one of the better risk/reward par 5s in the state. With a good drive on this downhill tee shot, you should find yourself with around 180 left of all carry over a lake with no room for error(esp right). The next 6 holes bring you around the outskirt of a new condo complex and then to #9 which ends with a stop at the halfway house. The back nine starts out with a beautiful tee shot over the clubhouse lake and #11 is a par 3, again carrying water. I suggest laying up on the dogleg right #12 as it plays over 600yds and the ninth fairway runs along side it causing an illusion. 13 is a driveable par 4 followed by two pretty plain holes. You will most likely need to layup again on #16 as there is a huge hazard in between the fairway and the green. My favorite hole is the closing hole who’s green jets out into that big clubhouse lake.

Tee times can be made on their site or on GolfNow

Overall it gets a 7.5 and I hope that it gets the attention it needs and turns into a course nice enough to bare the Palmer name.

http://gilletteridge.phantomgolf.com/

  • layout-9
  • condition-5
  • food-8
  • staff- 7

Fairview Farm Golf Course

Here is my sleeper pick. This course gets even less talk than CT National and is on my top 5 CT course list. Fairview Farm is right off of Rt 8 in Harwinton which is one town south of Torrington. It all starts with the entrance. The winding uphill driveway takes you  to the clubhouse providing views of a couple holes, the driving range, and the signature shared green of 9 and 18. The course itself is picturesque and spacious as it sits on 170 acres of land. Hole 1 puts the pressure on  you right away; a downhill narrow par 4  surrounded by trees that makes it maybe the most intimidating opening hole in the state. Hole 2 comes right back and is up hill with a larger landing area. Hole 3 is a par 5 that goes back down the hill leading to a big downhill par3 with a neat multi level tee box. No need for a driver on hole 5. Hole 6 is a beautiful somewhat short par 5 but the skinny green makes it hard to hit if you go for it in 2. Next up is a par 3 with a large green and a tee box along side the large lake. If you thought hole 1 was tight, you should def lay up on hole 8. Hole 9 is another beauty that brings you up to the turn. Hole 10 is a long par 3 that plays at least one club less but make sure you have enough to carry the hazard. Holes 11-13 are pretty simple and lead up to a short dogleg right 14. It reads 330 on the card but if you pick the right line you can easily hit the green(I went over it with prob my best drive of the day).  Next up is hole 15 which is my favorite hole there. Elevated tee box with a classic red farm on the left and wetlands on the right. #16 is a par 5 with handicap 2. Usually I don’t agree with high handicaps on par 5s but this one deserves it. Lay up on 17 and then give it everything you got left on 18 going uphill to the house.

I suggest enjoying food on the terrace overlooking the shared green after your round. Place is perfect for outings.

Tee times can be made by calling the pro shop at 860.689.1000. I strongly recommend playing their 9 hole sister course Stonybrook before or after your round .

Overall it gets a 9.5 and is a MUST play.

http://www.fairviewfarmgc.com/

  • layout-10
  • condition-9
  • food-9
  • staff- 10

Elmridge Golf Course

Elmridge is a very scenic 27 hole course in Pawcatuck CT. If you have never played this course, I am sure you passed it numerous times on 95 North between exits 91 and 92. I always noticed the course traveling to and from Newport(where I went to college) but didn’t realize I  was playing it until  the second to last hole of the day when I got to drive through that little red barn you see from the highway. So I showed up here as a single and joined 3 men on the tee box. When asked where I was from,  I started my story and was immediately welcomed into the group as one of its members, Gary Berman, has accomplished this feat himself(not in one summer though). Gary and I started swapping reviews of all of New England’s best and he told me that he plays all around the country and keeps track of all of them. I have started to do the same. He’s played around 475 different courses in 30 states!!!!  Now back to Elmridge.  The course is a pretty nice classic New England layout that I enjoyed except for a couple sharp doglegs. 6 white, 6 red, 4 blue. The holes on the clubhouse side of the street are very open while the holes across the street are more lined with heavy trees.  There were a couple greens in bad shape but this year there was a disease going around so can’t fault them too much. My favorite hole was #7 red, I am a sucker for par 3s over water. One negative comment was that I do not love the fact that you need to cross a road a couple times but luckily there is not much traffic up there.

Tee times can be made by calling them at 860-599-2248

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

A solid 7

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

Eastwood Country Club

Eastwood is a 9 hole course right off Rt 8 in Torrington. The course starts off with 3 back and forth par 4s then a sharp dog leg par 5 and then a driveable short 4(285 but plays shorter). Hole 8 which is a par 3 over a pond was my favorite and the hardest hole is the par 5 9th that has both of the courses water hazards on it.  The course could use some improvements but I feel that they are content with the recreational golfer and the league play they get. Overall the course gets a 5.5 and the staff was very accommodating.

While I waited to tee off I read a great story about a league there where the founding member still plays well into his 90s. Wish I remembered the name of the guy/group cause he deserves a shoutout.

Another course with power lines running through it.

http://www.eastwoodcountryclub.net/index.php

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

East Mountain Golf Course

East Mountain is one of two muni courses in Waterbury. This course is the better of the two and also the easier of the two. Its a par 70 with rating 68.6 and slop 118 from the tips. I played it early this spring at the end of a 54 hole day so am having trouble recalling the details of each hole. With that said hope others can share their comments here.

http://www.waterburyct.org/content/5063/5067/default.aspx

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

Crestbrook Park Golf course

Crestbrook is an above average 18 hole course located in Watertown. The course was originally only 9 holes but then was purchased by the town, who added 9 more and a pool and tennis courts. It is a challenging course with tree lined fairways, plenty of water and sloping greens. The front nine(3275) plays shorter than the back(3655) so you must get off to a good start or it only gets worse.  Holes 8 and 9 are both big dog leg lefts and I suggest laying up on 8 but on 9 give it all you got or you will be forced to lay up again. As I mentioned the back 9 is long and pretty tight so good luck.  The cart girl was very nice and prob the prettiest girl in town. Overall it gets a 7.5 and I need to go play it again soon then catch a Taft hockey game.

http://crestbrookpark.com/

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

Copper Hill Golf Club

Copper Hill is a nine hole course located minutes from the Mass border. I played this course with my friends Paul and Bill, as a warm up before playing Simsbury, and we were eager to get off of it. It was almost completely under water even though it hadn’t rained in a week. The course was short, flat, and boring. My least favorite hole there is # 8 which dog legs right and then left and leaves you wondering where your tee shot went. The club house and grill is somewhat cozy and if you are a recreational golfer, league play there would be fun. I will give it another shot on a dry fall day but it will be on my way to the RANCH.

http://www.copperhillgolf.com/

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

CT National Golf Course

Here it is- my favorite course in the state! It may come as a surprise especially since many of you have never heard of it(gets no press or rankings…YET). CT national is the recently renovated Putnam Country Club. This beauty of a course is located in Putnam which is about 45 mins North of Mohegan Sun and close to the RI and MA borders. I never played Putnam but I heard from others that the new owner expanded the course, allowing for  the word national to be added, and imported fescue and added bunkers during the multi million dollar renovation. As I approached the course the first time I was somewhat disappointed. The GPS took me on a dirt road in the middle of the woods so I was thinking that CT National was going to be like the other local tracks I played that week. Boy was I wrong. Hole 1 is a straightaway slightly uphill scoreable par 5. I suggest not using your driver on the dog leg right hole 2 as left is OB and right is heavy fescue. Hole 3 is the best hole there and make sure you take the right angle over the quarry. Hole 4 is a par 3 with a long green so check where the pin is before selecting your club. Hole 5 is a skinny par 4 and I suggest laying up with a 3 or 4 iron off the tee. Par 5 hole 6 offers a great chance at birdie. Hole 7 is a short par 3 and offers you a back to back birdie chance(I did!). Hole 8 offers a beautiful view off the tee box and is a reachable downhill par 4 but I do NOT recommend going for it as its not worth it(ask my friend TC). Hole 9 closes out the par 35 front 9 with a 160yd uphill par 3. I am not going to walk through the back 9 as the holes are more basic and wide open for you to see for yourself. The 18th is a downhill dogleg right par 5. If you hit a nice drive with a slight fade you will be left with about 225yds in and the best approach view in the state. See the pic below- an uphill view of the green, surrounded by bunkers and fescue, the clubhouse, and the lush uninhabited forest.

After your round I suggest you enjoy a meal there. The menu changes daily as they use fresh local ingredients. First time I played here linked up with a member there, Albi, who I call  whenever I visit now as he offers a tale a hole.

They offer a weekday rate of $47 w/cart and $7 food voucher so take a day off from work and your welcome. Overall this course gets a 10.

http://ctnationalgolf.com/

  • layout-10
  • condition-9
  • food-10
  • staff- 9

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Chanticlair Golf Course

Sounding like a French dessert is a nice mid length 9 hole course in Colchester. You start out with a long par 3 who’s tee box is resting on  the edge of a pond. The next 2 holes are short par 4s that bring you to their signature island green par 3 4th. This island green is in great shape which is hard to maintain due to moisture and goose poop ha.  My favorite hole is 6 which is  a slight dog leg left with water in front of the green and trees forming a wall behind it. The staff was great and overall it gets a 7 as one of the best nine hole courses in the state.

Sidenote- thier logo reminds me of Lil Jerry Seinfeld.

Tee times can be made on their site via an email and on golf18network

http://www.chanticlair.com/

  • layout-7
  • condition-7
  • food-NA
  • staff- 9

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

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Cedar Ridge Golf Course

Cedar Ridge is an 18hole par 3 course located right off I-95 in East Lyme. The first tee box is also the same box for #10 so do not be alarmed if it is super crowded(happens again with 11 and 18).  You will only be using mid to high irons on the front but will need hybrids and woods on the back. Its a good course for beginners or if you are ever stuck in traffic on 95 and want to play a quick round. Overall it gets a 5.

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

http://www.cedarridgegolf.com/

Candlewood Valley Country Club

Candlewood is a very flat 18 hole course located in New Milford CT.  Hole one will set the tone for the day with a reachable par 5 that will get your confidence up or make you want to start over. There is a river that winds through the course that makes for a water hazard of some sort on almost every hole. The course is not too long and not that difficult as long as you stay out of the water(easier said then done). I enjoyed holes #3 and #4,both par 3s, but wish they were not back to back.  I played with a local who said the format was changed recently(some holes on the front went to the back etc) which makes for eight par 4s and one par 3 on the back.  Power lines and a couple forced in doglegs take away from this very nice fairly priced course.

They offer specials on their site and are on EZlinks. Overall I give it a 6.5

http://candlewoodvalleygolf.com/

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

Cedar Knob Golf Course

Cedar Knob, located in Somers CT, is a Geoff Cornish 18 hole course carved out of, who would have guessed,  tall cedars. The pro shop and grill room themselves are surrounded by cedars with needles lining the walkways which make you feel like you are in a state park. With many doglegs, its imperative that you bring your A game with your driver. The best hole is the 400yd par 4 18th that requires you to carry a large pond on your approach shot. Overall I give it a 6 and with its great rates would play it more if I lived closer.

Tee times can be made by calling the proshop.

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

www.cedarknobgolfcourse.com/

Canaan Country Club

Canaan is one of three courses located in the very quiet Northwest corner of the state. This is the first line on their website and I can’t say it any better.  “The Canaan golf community features scenic, relaxing landscapes and unmatched values and service.” The staff loved my story and we talked for almost an hr before I teed off. I had to cut it short because I was playing all three 9 holers up there that day.  Hole one sends you straight out with a wide open short par 4. I liked hole 7 the best as it brings you back to the clubhouse with Canaan mountain in the background. Should be the closing hole but instead they have 8 and 9 jammed behind the clubhouse near an  old trail yard. I played Canaan with a very friendly talkative retiree, who wrote his initials PAR on his ball which is pretty funny, and who bought my lunch. Overall its a decent course to play if you are ever doing a B&B weekend up there and get the itch. It gets a solid 6.5 and is an above average 9 hole course.

http://www.canaancountryclub.com/          Tee time specials on their site

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