Connecticut golf memberships for 2019

[Brian O5]

Live in NYC and from CT - any good membership offerings for sub 30s in Westchester/Fairfield County.

[Bob D]

On 10/25/2019 at 10:33 AM, vinprun71 said:

Cheapest initiation among Brooklawn, CCF, Patterson Club, and Aspetuck Valley is in fact Aspetuck. If anyone is serious about joining these clubs, I know the approximate initiation and dues of Brooklawn, Patterson, and Aspetuck from our recent search and joining this past summer. Happy to share via PM if anyone needs. Most of these clubs are running preview memberships for 90 days to test the club out, but most of those have either ended or will be due to the season.

I’m thinking about joining a club. Does anyone know the initiation at Aspetuck? Patterson? Brooklawn?  
thanks. 

[swgolf12]

I checked out racebrook within the past month. I'm 33 and they have a pay march dues now don't pay again until June. Issue is that after Minimums, Tax, etc it's $6600 before you ever touch a cart or play in a member guest.  Great River is marginally cheaper, but better practice facility although I've never played it.  I'll probably hold off to see what happens with Yale, but if Covid is still raging come February/March, I don't see that place being open until May/June or it being a repeat of this year. They had opened it back up but with Ivy's announcing cancelation of winter sports they closed the course again. 

 

I just wish there was a decent track somewhere for like 4500 year all in that was just about the golf in the south/south western CT area.

[vinprun71]

On 11/23/2020 at 2:02 PM, Bob D said:

I’m thinking about joining a club. Does anyone know the initiation at Aspetuck? Patterson? Brooklawn?  
thanks. 

 

Happy to discuss what I know about those three via PM if you want to drop me a note.

[hkane55]

On 12/1/2020 at 4:33 PM, swgolf12 said:

I checked out racebrook within the past month. I'm 33 and they have a pay march dues now don't pay again until June. Issue is that after Minimums, Tax, etc it's $6600 before you ever touch a cart or play in a member guest.  Great River is marginally cheaper, but better practice facility although I've never played it.  I'll probably hold off to see what happens with Yale, but if Covid is still raging come February/March, I don't see that place being open until May/June or it being a repeat of this year. They had opened it back up but with Ivy's announcing cancelation of winter sports they closed the course again. 

 

I just wish there was a decent track somewhere for like 4500 year all in that was just about the golf in the south/south western CT area.

 

I'm not an expert, but the cheapest opportunities that I've seen in the general vicinity are Race Brook, Great River (semi-private and different scene), and other clubs with either lesser courses and/or clubhouses.  Mill River, Brownson, and Oronoque are cheap for your age group, but the course at Race Brook is much better.  Plus, their executive course lets you play even when there are events or for a quick 9.  

 

While Yale is a beautifully designed course, they have really struggled with conditions.  It's not kept up like similarly priced courses.  Also, there's no real membership feel to it and no social or business networking if that's a consideration.

[TheGolfingRealtor]

I live outside of Boston and do the Inner Club Pass for $350 at Connecticut National.

 

The rate for a single person is $1975.

 

It's well worth it in my opinion. Lots of good golfers/competition down there.

[hkane55]

Interesting development:  https://www.ctinsider.com/news/nhregister/article/An-investment-consideration-Orange-looks-15816797.php

[Nicu762]

One of the top 5 courses in the state is reasonably affordable and has not been mentioned in this thread. and it’s very drivable from Fairfield. Country Club of Waterbury.

[hkane55]

On 1/12/2021 at 2:50 PM, Nicu762 said:

One of the top 5 courses in the state is reasonably affordable and has not been mentioned in this thread. and it’s very drivable from Fairfield. Country Club of Waterbury.

 

Agreed that CC of Waterbury is a BEAUTIFUL course, but 30-35 miles is far from Fairfield if you're looking to use it more than once per week, utilize the practice facilities, etc.  New Haven CC is very nice as well, but that's still 25-30 miles.  Compared to Fairfield County clubs, they're both inexpensive but the trade-off is the distance.  

[Slippin_Jimmy]

On 12/20/2020 at 7:09 PM, TheGolfingRealtor said:

I live outside of Boston and do the Inner Club Pass for $350 at Connecticut National.

 

The rate for a single person is $1975.

 

It's well worth it in my opinion. Lots of good golfers/competition down there.

 

Hey TheGolfingRealtor, just seeing this.  Do they run a lot of tournaments during the season?  I'm outside of Boston also, I see that you get a small discount off rounds and use of the practice areas, but was curious as to what else comes with the Pass.  Thank you.

[TheGolfingRealtor]

4 hours ago, Slippin_Jimmy said:

 

Hey TheGolfingRealtor, just seeing this.  Do they run a lot of tournaments during the season?  I'm outside of Boston also, I see that you get a small discount off rounds and use of the practice areas, but was curious as to what else comes with the Pass.  Thank you.

Sent you a PM..

[TallGuy90]

On 1/12/2021 at 2:50 PM, Nicu762 said:

One of the top 5 courses in the state is reasonably affordable and has not been mentioned in this thread. and it’s very drivable from Fairfield. Country Club of Waterbury.

It’s still pretty pricey 

[mjmorehead]

Anyone who lives closer to the city in Fairfield, Brooklawn has a reasonable deal for under 40. And even a better deal for under 30. But I am still searching for a club myself, after being in the area for a little over a year. 

[hkane55]

On 2/26/2021 at 4:03 PM, mjmorehead said:

Anyone who lives closer to the city in Fairfield, Brooklawn has a reasonable deal for under 40. And even a better deal for under 30. But I am still searching for a club myself, after being in the area for a little over a year. 

 

What's the initiation/fees structure look like for Brooklawn?  I just messaged you as well.  Thanks!

[Albiemanmike]

On 12/24/2020 at 2:55 PM, hkane55 said:

Interesting development:  https://www.ctinsider.com/news/nhregister/article/An-investment-consideration-Orange-looks-15816797.php

This just sounds like a bad idea. Look what happened to the Woodbridge CC? It looks like a forest now sadly.

[hkane55]

On 4/5/2021 at 10:02 AM, Albiemanmike said:

This just sounds like a bad idea. Look what happened to the Woodbridge CC? It looks like a forest now sadly.

 

It's actually a much more sound deal for RBCC.  The town now owns the land, but RBCC owns the business and pays them rent.  Their financial issue was due to the debt on the property.  This leaves them in a much stronger financial position with membership going up thanks to the pandemic.

[fletch2021]

just curious on Aspetuk and what current rates were to join as seems like a nice club?

[newenglandgolfer]

I've been looking at country clubs for the 2022 season in Central CT.

Anyone have any thoughts on these clubs and courses please?

• Golf Club of Avon
• Tumble Brook
• Hopmeadow

We are leaning Golf Club of Avon as they seem to have a younger demographic, 27 holes in awesome condition when I played, a seemingly nicer clubhouse, and fast greens that seemed to roll true to this amateur. 

Hard to make a decision, thanks for any help! 

[CTGolfer4567]

On 11/16/2021 at 9:30 AM, newenglandgolfer said:

I've been looking at country clubs for the 2022 season in Central CT.

Anyone have any thoughts on these clubs and courses please?

• Golf Club of Avon
• Tumble Brook
• Hopmeadow

We are leaning Golf Club of Avon as they seem to have a younger demographic, 27 holes in awesome condition when I played, a seemingly nicer clubhouse, and fast greens that seemed to roll true to this amateur. 

Hard to make a decision, thanks for any help! 

Would vote against Hopmeadow for a few reasons:

 

1.) take a close look at their financials...especially post the big patio investment

2.) they have a unique ownership structure for their land, which is not in their favor

3.) as you say, an older demographic

 

Can you share joining fee details on Avon?

[newenglandgolfer]

On 12/5/2021 at 9:46 PM, CTGolfer4567 said:

Would vote against Hopmeadow for a few reasons:

 

1.) take a close look at their financials...especially post the big patio investment

2.) they have a unique ownership structure for their land, which is not in their favor

3.) as you say, an older demographic

 

Can you share joining fee details on Avon?

Sorry for circling back so late! DMed

[learningthegame]

Wondering if anyone can give me their perspective on Brownson CC.    I'm a high handicapper and am considering joining a club to try to improve and commit to playing more.  Is the absence of a driving range a big deal.  The pool is appealing for the family.  I'm also looking at Mill River as well but their dues seem high for what you get.

[TBD203]

Spoke with the membership manager at Country Club of Waterbury yesterday for opening day, and he said we are down to only a half dozen openings or so before membership is closed for the season, in case anyone is looking!

[sjpaster]

On 4/14/2022 at 9:31 PM, learningthegame said:

Wondering if anyone can give me their perspective on Brownson CC.    I'm a high handicapper and am considering joining a club to try to improve and commit to playing more.  Is the absence of a driving range a big deal.  The pool is appealing for the family.  I'm also looking at Mill River as well but their dues seem high for what you get.

Sure thing - I was a member there for a few years.  They have a new president and management team there now.  The club is a lot of fun, and has grown a bit in membership since I was there from what I believe.  The mornings on weekends are fairly busy with tee times and there is some competitive golf and money games, plus lots of tournaments that are fun.  I miss that the most.  In the afternoons, the course is typically wide open.  And most weekdays you can sneak out play.  I recall a number of times where I would ride and play solo and get in 18 holes in around 2 hours.  Because the course was always open, the lack of a range never prohibited me from playing.  I went from a 16 to a 7 HCP while I was there, so improving your game will happen simply by playing more.  I played recently there with a buddy who is still a member and the conditions were quite good.  The course will not make any "best in state" rankings ever, but it is a fun track where you use every club in your bag, despite its lack of length.  I never had a guest say a bad thing about it.

Outside of golf, the pools are great (wading pool for toddlers, big pool for kids who can swim).  My kids took private swim lessons there.  They have a swim team too.  My kids also took golf lessons at a camp they put on during the summer.  Food was blah but edible, but they have a new chef now.

There is a group of members that have been there for a long time and have formed a type of clique.  It will take time to break in, but I wager this is the case anywhere else too.  They are a nice group though and inviting if you get teamed up.  Wednesday night's Men's Game is the best way to get to know them.  
 

[LeftDot]

Recommendations for New Haven county? Obviously nobody's got a crystal ball but I'd like to nab a membership in '23 or '24. Rolling over into the 30+ y/o category this year.

[TBD203]

I don’t know how close you are to Waterbury, but it’s been a great experience and the 30-40 year old membership is very reasonable. We are nearly at capacity; I can’t say where we’ll be in 23-24.