I don't what the course was like two years ago when these negative comments were posted but it's in great shape in 2022. the greens are near country club quality, the course itself is scenic and interesting, particularly the back nine. Clubhouse and the restaurant practically new and everyone I've dealt with from the pro shop to the starter to the cart girls to the bartenders to the hottie in the snack shack have been perfectly nice. read more

Suspect they overpaid for new clubhouse (was the bid process competitive?). Should have put some $ into course instead. Slow play. Driving range is a twilight zone: pay at course, then drive to range with hand written note for credit. Cash-only at the range. New machine won't even take tokens. What century are they in? Perhaps its a tax "thing" (they're reporting all the income, sure they are). read more

Not sure if these negative reviews are old but Smith is a gem! The course is in great shape in 2022 with some of the holes offering views across the Sound to Long Island. Challenging layout and the greens, esp on the back nine, are fast and tough to read. The new clubhouse is spectacular, though the pub is a bit overpriced. I am a huge fan of this place read more

I only visited the driving range. Very down to earth staff, had a couple of driving clubs around and let us use it. $5 for a bucket of 48 balls or so. Fun to visit if you want to hit some balls. read more

This course might have the worst fairways in CT. There are so many divots. Luckily I can out drive all the old farts that play there by 100 yards so I never have to hit out of them. They must not pay their employees well because everyone who works there is miserable. I probably won't be back until there is a management change and a new club pro. Mike read more

Can't get a tee time before noon on weekends. Grumpy staff and super fast greens. The sign up system is rigged for regulars. I did not get my $$ worth from my resident card this year! Looking for a better experience elsewhere. read more

Just played for my first time and the course was maintained very well. The staff was very nice I played the front 9.

As a kid, I lived just off the 13th hole of Smith Richardson GC. Is my love of golf, then, a result of nature or nurture? Hard to know ... but I certainly spent a ton of time playing rounds at Smith, sneaking up to the 13th at twilight for some practice, sledding the hills during winter snowstorms and even skating on the pond by number 8 at times. At that time, Smith was very friendly to junior golfers though I'm not sure if that is still the case. The course clubhouse is a modest structure with the standard tiny pro-shop, locker rooms, grill and seat-yourself dining room. Perfect spot to play some cards with the boys after a round. The course itself is a pleasant layout with woods in play on many holes. Other hazards are sparse, however, and the course plays fairly easy overall. Well-maintained, Smith features several doglegs and medium-sized greens that don't break too too much. A nice public golf course that will always hold a special place in my heart. read more

If you like dog tracks this is the perfect course for you. Not worth the green fee. Way over priced. Course is in awful shape. Dry grass and divots everywhere in the ground. Most miserable people work there. Not enjoyable to deal with. Feels like an old mans club. The pro there thinks the course is Augusta National. Will not be returning for another round. read more

Overly negative ratings don't make sense and I can only guess that others had higher expectations than they should have. For the price at this PUBLIC course this is a great layout and the chipping-putting greens are well tended so that alone is worth comment way beyond the prior reviews. The par 3 course by the beach is a nice feature and yes, the driving range isn't right near the clubhouse as is commonly the case and can be a bit of a pain but all in all it's a good place to hit the woods and practice the game. read more

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Went here to play with friends and didn't have my clubs with me so instead of letting me share with a friend they made me pay $20 for some old clubs and took my credit card as collateral. When I got back from my nine holes (around 7:30) the pro shop was closed and the kid behind the desk had left early with my credit card with him, not locked in the pro shop where it should have been. I go to the pro shop the next morning, and they tell me they can't do anything because the kid is asleep. They proceed to tell me the only thing they can do is "wait for him to wake up", and that they'll just give me a call when he does, telling me to just make the twenty minute drive again later that day when the desk kid decides to wake up read more

Sold out smith. Great layout, well kept for a public course, and the price is right for fairfield residents ($22 for 18 holes during the week) I would have given 4 stars, but the course is always packed and rounds average 4:30-5 hours. read more

Not as experienced a golfer as others are, but the course looked and seemed to be pretty nice, and the food at the restaurant is good. That's where it stops for the compliments. The staff is so unbelievably rude, they act as if they are doing you a favor by letting you golf there. Incredibly abrasive and arrogant, I didn't feel welcomed at all and will never be returning. I bought 18 holes, and when I was on the 10th hole my brothers and I got hassled by some random cart worker about us being in the wrong place and not being allowed to continue golfing. He didn't believe we payed for 18 holes and when he checked and found out that he was sadly mistaken, he didn't even have the courtesy to apologize right there, but instead just gave us a thumbs up from about 20 feet away. For the amount of money we spent, because it definitely isn't cheap, I was appalled at the disrespect. I felt uncomfortable playing there as I didn't know when or if I would get yelled at for just trying to enjoy a nice summer Friday. Really hope you don't go here, or if you do be prepared to feel belittled and un welcomed. read more

Have to agree with the majority. Course itself is nice...above average for a public course. Green fees on the high side with $70 for a resident card borderline outrageous. Staff acts like you are trying to play Pebble Beach when you come and overall nasty. It isn't that hard to be friendly is it? Whatever...put up with the petty bs and course is pretty nice if money and civility aren't big issues for you... read more

This is easily the most unprofessional golf facility I have ever paid money to play. Let me first say that the course itself, does not warrant 1 star. It is a good layout, and the superintendent and his staff do a good job keeping the course in shape considering how busy it is. For a public facility, it is one of the better one in the area considering the price. The staff at this course on the other hand, clearly makes this place unenjoyable and I would give negative stars if possible. Now that is not to say the whole staff is rude and ill mannered. Much of the golf staff are retired men who are very nice and only following the rules laid out to them by the town. An interaction I had in the pro shop however, will make me never go back to Smith Richardson again. I have never witnessed a more surly, angry, unprofessional, and flat out rude person in a customer oriented business than I did when interacting with, who I later found out to be, the head professional at Smith Richardson. When I walked into the pro shop to pay for my greens fees, the first thing I see is the head professional sitting behind the counter with his feet up on the counter. Now I may be blowing this out of proportion, but I have NEVER walked into a business and seen someone do this. As I approached the counter, I was greeted with an angry hello, and as he handled my transaction I could only get the feeling that I was being rushed out of the shop. As I turned to walk out the door, I noticed a sporting event on the TV in the shop. As I stood there trying to check the score for a second, the professional turned the tv off from his seat. It was so childish and rude, I didn't quite know what to do. I have never been so offended at a public business in my life. This is someone trying to sell merchandise out of his shop, and he acts this way to potential customers ??? I wouldnt accept a piece of golf merchandise for free from this "head professional" afer the way I as treated. Everyone, please take your business elsewhere. I know for a fact that the Town of Fairfield gets numerous complaints weekly about this head professional and I was shocked to see that nobody has written anything about him yet. I have heard from many Town of Fairfield residents, who are regular players, and from non residents who play periodically, that my experience was not a one time occurrence. I also know, and have heard, of many people who will no longer play at Smith Richardson because of the way that they have been treated in the past by the head "professional". Go to Fairchild Wheeler (Bridgeport), go to Tashua Knolls (Trumbull), go to Longshore (Westport). I can assure you, you will have a far greater experience by not having to deal with this unprofessional, rude person. read more

Smith has two things going for it: - it has a nice layout and generally in good condition, - it's geographically close for Fairfield residents. But what is also has, which defines the place, is apathetic-to-rude employees. For example, try to call the course and get a tee time. Good luck getting through the phone tree. And don't bring a beverage into the pro shop - a major no-no. Want to grab a sandwich between 9 and 10? It'll take 5-10 minutes to get anything but a candy bar. Rangers? Typical cranky pains in the rear. Oak Hills in Norwalk used to be like that, and they changed significantly for the better. I hope Smith learns, but I doubt it. read more

The worst public golf course I have played in CT. Conditions are awful, including fairways, greens, tee boxes and rough. Staff is about as unfriendly as they come and it is a complete ripoff for $60. Oh and pace of play is awful, round took over 5 hours on a weekday! read more

I'd have to say the course is maintained fairly well. Overall, the golf is challenging and can be fun to play the course. On the other hand, the course personnel are downright abysmal. The PGA pro they have one site is a complete douche - plain and simple. Maybe it's because its in Fairfield, CT, but frankly, the guy is horrible. I thought I was the only one who thought so but it turns out, this is a widely known fact of H. Smith Richardson. As a Fairfield resident with a resident card, the prices for the course are relatively reasonable. But if you are from out of town or no longer live in the town and want to visit to play, get ready to pay an arm and a leg for a round that lasts 5 hours +. My friends and I now won't even bother trying to play at Smith anymore and we'll play at Fairchild Wheeler or Longshore golf course for nearly half the price and for course maintenance that is only slightly below that of Smith's. All in all, the golf itself at Smith is nice. You get a lot of different looks and challenges with each hole which make it a fun and challenging course all at the same time. Once you get past the snoody, condescending, and pretentious staff at Smith Richardson, the rest of the experience is well worth the resident rates. SIde note: the driving range is a bargain. For $6 you get a medium bucket (~50 balls) and a relatively well kept range with up to date hitting surfaces. If you're from out of town and want to grab a quick round - I would advise going elsewhere. read more

Fun and challenging golf course for players of moderate to expert abilities. Lots of variety from hole to hole. Venue is beautifully maintained for a 'daily fee' course....greens are fast and true, fairways and tees are generally in excellent condition. Nice practice putting areas near the clubhouse but the range is located about a mile away so that makes it generally inconvenient. Overall, I would highly recommend it. read more

Never going back. Was playing late Sat afternoon (4:56pm on receipt) as a single. Played 4 holes on front 9 then moved to back to find open holes as hit a logjam, but made sure i wasn't cutting in front of anyone. Was playing first back 9 hole and had dropped a second ball when someone driving by stops to yell that there's "no practicing on the course--the practice facility is by the clubhouse". I go ahead and hit the second ball which must have offended Barney Fife who evidently called the pro shop. They must have nothing better to do at roughly 6pm so they sent ranger rick out to tell me that it was against course policy to play 9 holes between front & back 9's (he must have known there should not have been any singles on the back 9 at that time--good sleuthing). Rick would not budge an inch and said it was course "policy" that prevented me from playing another hole on back 9. Only option was to quit or walk back to front 9. I quit and will never be back. Side note--website and receipt note "9 hole" rate...not front or back 9. 2nd side note--checked HSR policy on website and no explicit mention of playing front or back 9 only. I realize it's implied that you'll play 9 consecutive holes on either 9, but no where does it state you can't mix. Note to staff--this is an average muny course...you're not working at Bethpage or some private club so please lose the attitude. Note to others--you've been warned. read more

Sexist Ranger - women beware! The course was lovely and maintained well but I was treated poorly. I played 18 holes with my father and brother and the Ranger came and told us on the 11th hole to hurry up and not finish putting out since we were behind their "precious schedule" (everyone was starting 10 minutes late at that point so we were keeping pace). When we told the ranger we'd hurry but there was no one waiting behing us he told us to hurry up. At the next long par 4 he came up just as my ball was on the fairway about 100 yards from the green, told the three of us were were too far behind and I (the only girl) must pick up my ball but the two men could finish the hole - we were the same distance away and I play just as well as those two men. When my father and I complained that there was no group behind us and asked why I was not allowed to finish the hole he ordered me again to pick up my ball and to "do as he told". I've never been so offended in my life. Our party was so upset at the encounter it ruined the next few holes and we considered leaving and demanding a refund. The Ranger later returned and explained the delay was not caused by my group but offered no apology for his reprehensible manner. This course is patrolled by Rangers who went out of their way to yell at me with no grounds to do so and I will never go back after being treated in such a sexist maner. read more

gorgeous, well-kept, forgiving course. have played private-club courses in the area. and i prefer here. can see long island sound from a few holes. played this fall and was very impressed by the condition of the fairways/greens and the army of grounds keepers out there. read more