Favorite Muni course in N.E.

Fairwindsgolfer · August 7, 2017

Tashua Knolls earned the first CT major tournament for a public course in the history of the csga this year.

It's been looking phenomenal last couple of years. I would also put Manchester Country Club as one of the top 20 municipal courses in the state as it is steeped with tradition and the conditions are always solid

Fairwindsgolfer · August 7, 2017

I have been meaning to try CT National.

From what I've read, it plays really nice.

I agree that Simsbury Farms and Timberlin are nice tracks. Unfortunately I also feel that they are somewhat mundane golf courses that don't really stick out too much.

Oak Lane has been alot of fun to play the last couple years

Imp · August 7, 2017

I wouldn't call CT National a muni. They are public, yes, but are a business, not dependent on the town/state to operate.

Imp · August 7, 2017

George Wright and William Devine are the only two Boston munis that I know of. Both challenging in their own regard, with the not going of course to GW. I play Braintree a couple times a year, and would still rather play GW. (Braintree sometimes has wetland issues/water problems).

--kC

Fairwindsgolfer · August 7, 2017

I stand corrected with my misuse of the term "municipal".

Indeed, an independent golf course owner is a much different situation than that of town/city ownership

swgolf12 · August 29, 2017

For CT Wintonbury Hills is the top muni. Shennecossett is another nice muni that has a few holes that look out into the sound. Haven't gotten a chance to play many of the fairfield county munis, but Norwich is just OK. Keeney Park in Hartford was recently re-done and they did a tremendous job with the work. Some nice options in CT.

negolfking · August 29, 2017

Acushnet River Valley is always a good course with price and conditions in better then moderate shape.

DW Field is in great shape for a muni in the hood,Pace of play can be an issue here.

Imp · September 20, 2017

ARV not a muni.

--kC

negolfking · September 20, 2017

it is owned and run by the town.

One of New England's "Top Courses You Can Play" Acushnet River Valley Golf Course is a Championship Golf Facility owned by the town of Acushnet.

Imp · September 20, 2017

Huh. Couldn't find that on the site. Mea Culpa... I've played it many times and never knew that.

SecondandGoal · September 21, 2017

The Meadows is a fun track. I walked it the first time I played it and won't be doing that again. I played Braintree last week and was really surprised at how nice it was, the greens were in great shape. Wintonbury Hills down in CT is another great muni, tough to beat for the price.

I played Braintree, once, back in 92ish, when I first started playing. It struck me how very different the two nines were.

That's probably not too long after the second nine was added to Braintree. I played there in HS, spring of either 85 or 86, and I believe it was still a 9-holer then.

rblmp32 · October 9, 2017

Norwich Golf Course in Norwich CT. Best unknown course in NE by far.

I don't mean any disrespect but is Norwich really that good??
If so, I gotta check it out soon!
I looked at their website and to be honest, it's pretty terrible.
They repeat the same 2 paragraphs of information for both the "course" tab and "about us" tab.

http://www.norwichgolf.com/about-us/

I mean last I checked, I really don't care what their website says or anything else. I've played every decent public allowed course in Eastern CT (read, east of New Haven and Hartford). Norwich is one of the best. The best is Fox Hopyard. Followed by Lake of Isles. Moghegan's course is nice though I don't care for the layout.

Norwich Golf Course in Norwich CT. Best unknown course in NE by far.

I don't mean any disrespect but is Norwich really that good??
If so, I gotta check it out soon!
I looked at their website and to be honest, it's pretty terrible.
They repeat the same 2 paragraphs of information for both the "course" tab and "about us" tab.

http://www.norwichgolf.com/about-us/
Norwich is not that good, many better munis in CT. Norwich was claiming to be a Donald Ross design, since debunked. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being Bethpage Black, Norwich is a weak 3.

Whats a 5 then? Or a 7? Because comparing anything to Bethpage Black is a little silly. It's one of the best public courses in the US. Do we care that Norwich claimed to be a Ross design? I'm from NC originally. I've played more Ross courses than most. Norwich is definitively not a Ross design. Their own website mentions that there is no evidence to support that Ross was involved in the design.

I mean last I checked, I really don't care what their website says or anything else. I've played every decent public allowed course in Eastern CT (read, east of New Haven and Hartford). Norwich is one of the best. The best is Fox Hopyard. Followed by Lake of Isles.

Smithj36 · October 9, 2017

Wintonbury is a top 5 public/muni in CT. Norwich? Place is awful. I can think of 50-60 CT courses I have played that are better.

Bece2117 · October 10, 2017

Huh. Couldn't find that on the site. Mea Culpa... I've played it many times and never knew that.

It's the reason they don't have a legit clubhouse and restaurant...the town doesn't want one to compete with local businesses...great layout but beware of a weekend tee time after 8-8:30, turns into a five hour round real quick once the less "dedicated" players role in.

daverain1 · November 17, 2017

Whats a 5 then? Or a 7? Because comparing anything to Bethpage Black is a little silly. It's one of the best public courses in the US. Do we care that Norwich claimed to be a Ross design? I'm from NC originally. I've played more Ross courses than most. Norwich is definitively not a Ross design. Their own website mentions that there is no evidence to support that Ross was involved in the design.

I mean last I checked, I really don't care what their website says or anything else. I've played every decent public allowed course in Eastern CT (read, east of New Haven and Hartford). Norwich is one of the best. The best is Fox Hopyard. Followed by Lake of Isles.

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There's lot's better courses east of 91 than Norwich. Hebron courses (2 at Blackledge and Tallwood) Topstone in Windsor, both courses at Lyman, Timberlin, CT National, Shenny. I do agree Fox Hop and L of I are the best by far. There's not many good courses east of Hebron/Glastonbury area. I won't put Norwich anywhere near the top 5.

Just think about it as a destination course. Who would drive more than 30 minutes to play there? Lots of people drive distance to play Shenny, Lyman, Fox.