These five elite courses are the best in Connecticut, Golfweek says

USA Today’s Golfweek just assessed Connecticut, the golf courses in Connecticut, and how the state ranks up overall.

The golf publication took every state in the Union and split their rankings into three categories: the quality of a state’s publicly accessible golf courses are, the strength of a state’s elite, private golf courses, and the caliber of the sport in the state with both public and private courses considered.

When it came to publicly available golf courses, Connecticut placed at 38th place with a score of 5.95 out of 10.

But, they looked at private courses, Connecticut did much better, landing at 27th place in the nation with a score of 7.03 out of 10.

When both were taken into account, the Constitution State tied at No. 32 with Montana, Arkansas, and Mississippi with a score of 6.5.

Here are the five private golf courses that earned Connecticut its highest placement from Golfweek.

Yale Golf Course (Courtesy of Yale)

Connecticut’s best private golf courses

1. Yale Golf Course

New Haven (T67c) — A classic course (defined by Golfweek as a course built before 1960), it tied for 67th on Golfweek’s best lists for top 200 classic courses in the U.S.

“Designed by Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor, the Yale Golf Course is a masterpiece of early American golf course architecture,” the course’s webpage said. “Featuring iconic template holes like the Biarritz, Redan, and Eden, the course combines strategic brilliance, dramatic elevation changes, and a storied past to create a must-play experience for golfers of all levels.”

Having opened in 1926, the collegiate course presents engaging and challenging putting opportunities with its rolling fairways, vast bunkers, and contoured greens, the webpage said.

“The course has hosted every major state championship, two USGA Junior National events, and six NCAA Regionals (1991, 1995, 2004, 2010, 2015, and 2022),” the Yale Bulldogs website said. “It was also the longtime home of the Nike Connecticut Open.”

2. Tamarack

Greenwich (T108c) — A classic course, it tied for 108th place on Golfweek’s best lists for top 200 classic courses in the U.S.

The golf course of the Tamarack Country Club, it was designed by Seth Raynor pupil Charles H. Banks and opened on July 4, 1929, the country club’s website said.

“Banks was given a blank canvas to design the best golf course possible and made the most of the rolling hills in back country Greenwich to expertly develop many of the same template-styled holes that emanated from Europe,” the website said.

The course has been visited by the likes of the baseball legend Babe Ruth, Hollywood’s George C. Scott, acclaimed golfer Johnny Farrell, and PGA champion Leo Diegal.

“Tamarack has continued to host major golf tournaments, having recently served as a sectional qualifying site for the 2022 U.S. Amateur,” the website said. “The golf course’s large greens, deep traps, and deceptive terrain have proven time and again that Tamarack stands on its own as being a premier test of golf.”

3. Stanwich Club

Greenwich (T108m) — A modern course (defined by Golfweek as a course built in or after 1960), it tied for 108th place on Golfweek’s best lists for top 200 modern courses in the U.S.

“Stanwich was originally designed by William and David Gordon and opened for play in 1964. The Tom Fazio group has redesigned the course in three phases over the past 15 years,” the Stanwich Club’s websites said. “The Club has hosted the USGA Mid-Am Championship, Palmer Cup, Wyndham Cup and numerous other Professional and Amateur Championships over the years.”

Known as “The Witch” to its membership holders, the course is comprised of 18 holes. Supreme Golf called this course a test of a golfer’s skill because of its extended, narrow length, punctuated by trees bordering the greens.

4. Country Club of Fairfield

Fairfield (T117c) — A classic course, it tied for 117th place on Golfweek’s best lists for top 200 classic courses in the U.S.

The club was founded in 1914 and designed by Seth Raynor, the Fairfield club’s website said.

“A protégé of Charles Blair Macdonald, who was known as the father of golf in America, Raynor crafted a links-style layout that featured versions of many of the best golf holes in the British Isles,” the website said.

According to BlueGolf, the course is comprised of 18 holes and plays at approximately 6,442 yards from the black tees.

5. Bull’s Bridge

South Kent (m) — A modern course, it tied for 108th place on Golfweek’s best lists for top 200 modern courses in the U.S.

“Nestled in northwestern Connecticut’s scenic Litchfield County, Bull’s Bridge Golf Club offers a truly unique golf experience,” BlueGolf said of the course.

The course spans over 400 acres, is comprised of 18 holes, and plays at 7,001 yards from the gold tees, the golfing website said.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: For private golfing, Golfweek gives these 5 CT courses top marks

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