Best Public Golf Courses in Eastern Connecticut
River Ridge Golf Course, in Griswold, is the southernmost of the golf courses that I will review here. It is technically in New London County, and it is a gem of a course, less than ten years old. On the site of an old apple orchard, River Ridge overlooks the Quinebaug River from a hillside, and it features eighteen holes that are quite pleasing to the eye. There are four tee placements per hole, with the course at its longest when teeing it up from behind the gold tees . The ladies tees define a course that measures out at 5,393 yards. The signature hole is the 15th, a converted par four that now is a rugged 560 yard par five. The par five 5th is one of several downhill tests, and the only water hole, number 11, is a par three with the green immediately past a small pond.
River Ridge is located within fifteen minutes of both the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos, two of the largest in the world and the biggest tourist attraction right now in all of New England. Found on Route 164, River Ridge was voted one of Connecticut’s top five public courses in a recent New England Journal of Golf reader’s poll. Greens fees for this par 72 layout during the week are $31 for eighteen holes, $35 on weekends. A cart will cost you $28. There is a fine restaurant at River Ridge, which offers weekend breakfasts and lunch and dinner throughout the week, except for Mondays. Reach the pro shop at 860-376-3268. Many people staying for an extended period of time at either casino find River Ridge’s proximity and prices to their liking.
Heading north, you will find that there is no better bargain than spending your golfing dollars on a trip around the par 72 Putnam Country Club, located on 136 Chase Road, not far off of Interstate 395 in Putnam. Near both the Massachusetts and Rhode Island border, it is indeed, as they advertise, Northeast Connecticut’s best kept secret. Another course that has not been open for that long, Putnam is the area’s most charming eighteen holes in my opinion. Set in the woods, it has plenty of challenging venues, none more so than the downhill 8th, which is guarded by water on the right. A par four, reachable with your drive off the tee, it is just one of many holes at Putnam that you will remember for its view as you overlook the woodlands, especially in the fall. The course plays at 6,169 yards from the far tees and 4,961 from the ladies’ markers. $26 gets you eighteen holes during the week with another $14 per person for a cart. $35 weekends green fees are quite reasonable and there is a new 144 seat pavilion to host banquets and parties during the golf season. The pro shop number is 860-928-7748.
Let’s keep going northward, to another course tucked in the hills and the woods, this one in Thompson. Raceway Golf Course is on East Thompson road, right next to the Thompson Motor Speedway, hence the name. It is a par 72 eighteen holes, in between the yardage of the previous aforementioned pair, being 6,523 from the back tees. The ladies travel 5,531 yards to the same par 72. Raceway is just as attractive as River Ridge and Putnam, but it is a much older, and therefore more worn, course. On weekdays, $32 gets you all eighteen holes, a cart, and lunch at the Raceway restaurant; $40 on weekends does the same trick. Call the pro shop for tee times at 860-923-9523. Raceway gets a lot of play from the locals, especially in the summer months.
If you are just learning the game or simply want to get some exercise, Brooklyn Country Club, at 170 South Street in Danielson, is the place for you. A nine hole par 35, it is 2,783 yards long. The fairways are never in the best of shape, but this could improve as the golf course has changed hands recently, with the town even thinking of expanding it. For less than $20, you can get out and play, and the need for a cart is not as great as the other courses described here. I have played Brooklyn more times than I can remember; it is perfect for beginners that don’t want the pressure that comes from playing a tough course. Call the pro shop at 779-2400. There is a small restaurant at Brooklyn; hours are variable.
All of these courses have a driving range except for River Ridge. If you are in the region on a vacation or just thinking about playing eighteen, for my money these four are the best public golf courses in eastern Connecticut.
