Hey everyone!
It looks like I will be moving back to CT in a month or so. Grew up in South Windsor, worked at Topstone for years, and currently house shopping in WeHa. Anybody have thoughts or opinions on clubs in the area?
Anyone familiar with the booking process for Yale for someone international?
Is it easy enough to get a tee time? The 48 hour booking window is not ideal for someone trying to plan a trip from far away (coming from Toronto).
I did sign up for an account
Hey y’all. Myself and a buddy will be visiting your lovely(?) state for the first time in a couple weeks for TFE’s Dog Bowl, and I’m hoping you can help me with some local knowledge of the area.
Rough itinerary is to fly into Hartford on Saturday and play Keney Park, try to get on Yale on Sunday publicly, TFE event on Monday, and then hit Shinnecossett on the way from there up to Mass. Any absolute must-dos we’re missing in there? If we’re not able to get onto Yale on Sunday, what should we sub in? Most importantly, if any of you sickos would like to meet up with a couple of schmucks from the Midwest to go around Keney on Saturday evening (or any of the others), I would be delighted!
Perhaps just as critically – any food and/or drink recommendations in Hartford or New Haven that we need to check out? Admittedly, I’m completely in the blind on this subject, so any tips are greatly appreciated!
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In New Haven, head over to Sallys, Frank Pepe Apizza best pizza in the country all on the same street in New Haven. Not crazy far from new haven off 95 stop in Stratford at Two Roads Brewery they are pretty big now and a great spot I find there beers all the way down in Delaware they have a good following. Also off 95 if you want the best lobster roll farther down the water away from new haven is Lobster Landing in Clinton. Lobster rolls probably made hot with butter. If bored around Hartford check out the Yard Goats minor league baseball voted best MILB stadium. Also in New Haven Louis Lunch where the hamburger was invented.
Courses to check out in replacement, Oxford Greens just had the USGA local qualifying and has the hardest hole in CT #3…I loath this course though. Highly recommend The Jones Course at Lyman Orchards, the par 3 course was highlighted on strapped. Also great baked goods at the grocery store. If you are willing to drive to Danbury,CT Richter Park is a good spot too
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Welcome (almost) to CT! I think you’ll enjoy yourself. What dates you coming in?
Along with the courses Dags mentioned, Wintonbury is really nice and in the Hartford area. I also enjoyed Lyman, Oxford and Richter. I kinda like Tallwood as well outside of Hartford.
If you’re looking for courses more directly towards Mass, The Ranch and Crumpin Fox (both in Mass) are some favorites.
For food, West Hartford or Glastonbury (Rooftop 120) is probably your best bet for centralized food/drink combo. You can find a lot of great restaurants and some solid places to grab a drink.
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Playing shenny on Monday or Tuesday?
Just came here to say it’s a damn shame that Fox Hopyard went private. In an age when private clubs are going public, all I can say is “wtf?!”
Thanks, all! Appreciate the recs very much!
We’ll be coming in Saturday, the 18th. Probably important context I neglected to provide.
Likely Monday afternoon or evening.
It is a lovely state, hope you enjoy it. Some good info already posted by the others, but wanted to add my input. A good course to check out if necessary is Fenwick in Old Saybrook, a historic 9-holer that’s a favorite of Tom Coyne’s. It literally weaves in and out of town and around people’s yards.
Agree with the pizza recommendations in New Haven. If around Hartford and looking for food, check out the GastroPark in West Hartford, it’s a cool spot with an indoor bar and rotating food trucks. There’s also Parkville Market in Hartford, which is a food hall with like 20 vendors, it’ll give you a good sampling of the food in the area. A brewery recommendation to check out is Stony Creek in Branford, that’s closer to New Haven, it’s right on the river with a nice outdoor section with lawn games and food trucks.
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Post in here again if you think you’re going to make it. I live in Groton and I’ll try and swing down maybe get in nine holes with you. May not be the first or second nine maybe a middle nine. That’s going to be a lot of golf for y’all dog bowl all morning followed by another 18 at shenny?
Made a trip to Yale last weekend. First time in Connecticut. Nice state!
Unfortunately we drove all the way to not play Yale as it closed due to overnight rain. Luckily it wasn’t for nothing, Peter did let us walk the course, which was nice to check out the architecture and see the true scale of the place. Have to find the time to make the 9 hour trek back at some point before it closes for reno’s.
Yale was fairly easy to book a tee time. Just has poor policies around closing the place down. Hopefully that changes after the reno. I can see why they struggle with money.
Can also recommend the Jones course at Lyman Orchards. It was quite good for public golf in a state that doesn’t seem to offer a lot of good public golf.
Also got to play at Inness, Rockrimmon and New Haven. Very solid weekend for golf!
Highly recommend making a stop at Two Roads brewery. It was awesome.
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Was born and raised in CT, from Norwich. Moved down to ATL 8 years ago. It’s fun keeping tabs on this thread and hearing what’s going on in CT and reminiscing playing the courses you all mention here. Norwich is a goat ranch (I used to work there in the golf shop back in the day), but always loved playing Shenny. Fenwick is great if you appreciate very old GCA. In later years, Wintonbury Hills was always a fun layout to play, and we also made regular trips to The Ranch and Crumpin-Fox up in Mass. Exeter in RI is a good layout too. And the best pizza in the world is the aforementioned Sally’s Apizza and Pepe’s in New Haven. Always great to do the double and play Yale and then get a pie from Sally’s. If I ever happen to be back up there (still have family in SE CT), I will reach out and look to meet some fellow NLU sicko’s on the course.
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I would recommend Indian Hill in Newington if you are looking for a good club for a reasonable membership. Some of the best greens in the state!
East Haddam native here! Hello (former) neighbor!
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Hey guis! Just moved to Stamford from Canada, I figure this is the place to get oriented into the CT golf scene. Looking for some course intel. Any strong opinions/preference for Oak Hills vs Brennan vs Sterling Farms?
Also, do any area courses have membership opportunities for young professionals? I’m here for 3 years so that might make sense for me.
Anyways, always down for a game and meeting folks! Craic on!
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Welcome! What province?
thank you!! I’m from Toronto, Ontario 
I am headed back to Yale (hopefully this time to play, the 9 hour drive is brutal if I cant!) on Sunday July 24th if anyone is interested in joining. Peter (Yale GM) booked me in at 7:30am. Not sure if I can swing asking for more spots, but could try if there is interest.
From best to worst IMO:
Sterling Farms - Pretty decent, especially if you manage to get a morning tee time. Good variety despite being fairly tight. Have heard conditioning is fairly good. I used to play this course all the time. The range is a very solid B. Matts, but a fair bit of capacity, heated in the winter, and lights in the summer. Fun fact, Tom Doak grew up across the street from Sterling.
Oak Hills - Perhaps the easiest of the group. Lots of whacky holes, but can be quite enjoyable. Haven’t played in about 5 years, but the greens were pretty good then.
Brennan - Used to be called Hubbard Heights. A better name would be “Heads Up Heights” It isn’t if, but when you get hit by a ball. As you can tell, I’m not a fan.
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