I really wavered on this one. Four stars? Five Stars? The more I look back on my round, I'm going to go with five stars. Lemme tell you why...
This is a beautiful golf course. I can see why it's highly regarded in the region. It's links style - so more rolling terrain and tall grass boundaries and not as many trees. Sounds great, but the more you hit out of that tall, this fescue, you'll be wishing you were punching out from under a tree with your three iron... This is especially true during your first round on the course - not knowing distances and tendancies, it's hard to tell which clubs to hit in what situations. I imagine the more rounds you log on this course, the fescue hazards get more scenic and less frustrating.
There is some elevation change on the course, but nothing that would kill you if you walked. The surrounding area is gorgeous, often with a great view of Holy Hill in the distance. You kinda feel like you're on an every-man's Erin Hills.
The course was in great shape for September. The greens were true and quick. Not *fast* like some high-end courses, but you still needed to be careful. The fairways had their share of divots laying around, but that's normal. They had good bounce and roll - couldn't complain.
The layout of the course was exceptional. While some holes didn't play long (3 par fours right around 300 yards from the white tees), they're not just straight grip-it-and-rip-it shots - you have to consider the water down to the left, or the bunker where the fairway turns. I like having to make a decision and use my brain a bit instead of just jack my driver on a long, wide fairway. Kudos, WCGC, for creativity.
We were provided a "box lunch" at the turn as part of our outing. It was a simple ham or turkey sandwich, but props to their deli for doing it well. The ingredients were fresh and tasty - not just any sandwich. I would certainly plan to grab a bite while there.
All the staff were super friendly. I had a couple nice conversations with folks that worked there. They obviously loved their job, the course they work for, and the customers that pass through.
So what makes this a potential four stars versus five? For me, it's a combination of distance (1.5 hours of driving) and cost. There are many courses closer to me that play just fine, so it will take something special to get me to haul down to Hartford for a round. In this recent case, it was a golf league outing. The nice thing is that you can find some good rates online that might invoke a road trip. If the right opportunity comes along, I'll throw the sticks in the car and make the pilgrimage down to this great course. read more