Since the amount of content on this page has exploded like the summer algae on the pond at GT (Copper Hill) hole #2, we've reorganized this page and the More Tracks page to make it easier for GT readers to sift through and find updates when they're posted, using the hyperlinks below. So, at least for now, it should be easier to find something specific on these pages than it is to find the next tee box at Stanley GC.
Many thanks to all the Trackers whose contributions have made this page what it is.
Connecticut Goat Tracks Reviewed 2006 - 2009
| GT's in the Minor Event Rotation | Goat Tracks West of the River | Goat Tracks East of the River | Executive and Par 30 Tracks |
| Chanticlair GC | |||
| The Goat Track (Copper Hill) | Goody | Long Hill CC | Del Boca Vista |
| The Urban Goat Track (Keney Public) | Fenwick | Banner Coutnry Club...and Resort | Westwoods |
| The Tradition GC, Windsor | Canaan CC | The Skunk | Quarry View |
| Airways GC | Eastwood CC | Twin Hills | Willow Brook |
| Indian Springs | University Club of CT (f/k/a Willimantic CC) | Miner Hills | |
| The "Virtual Track" Fore Seasons GC | Brooklyn CC | Villa Hills |
Connecticut Goat Tracks currently in the "Goat Track Minor Event" rotation
The "original" Goat Track that inspired it all...Copper Hill GC (East Granby)
(editor's note: Copper Hill is under new management in 2009 [now run again by the family that sold the course to Blue Fox Enterprises in 1999], so we're in the process of reworking our review and there's a lot to take in. Under previous management, the Fox Run at Copper Hill website called this Track a "semi-private" course, which was way more than "semi-funny," right up there with "I don't think the heavy stuff's going to start for a while.")
While there was some concern several years ago that the GT would lose its unique personality after irrigation was installed and the parking lot was paved, one pearl of wisdom was overlooked, "you can take a piece of wood, put all the frosting you want on it, but that don't make it a cake." Most profound. This is the "gold standard" by which all other Goat Tracks are judged. It's tough to pick out just one outstanding feature: swampy conditions, plentiful crabgrass, mating snapping turtles, algae thick enough to walk on in the hazards, mosquitoes that can probably carry off small animals; it goes without saying that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and the subtleties that make this a favorite Track can't be done justice here.
This course always hosts the first official GT Minor Event of the year and comparisons have been made between the first drive of the year at the GT and the ceremonial first drive at The Masters, although none of those comparisons have been made by anyone at Augusta National as far as we know.
The Copper Hill (a/k/a The Goat Track) Hole-by-Hole Rundown (updated June, 2009)
(click hyperlinks on hole names to see pics of the tee signs)
#1 "Morning Glory": As noted by Sherpa JB, "It's a drive and a 9-iron." Doesn't matter what you tee off with or whether you're hitting your approach from the rough, the 9th fairway or the 2nd fairway, it's all the same (7-iron approach shot, worst case scenario). Of course, the Goat Trackers maintain a charitable "free lift" from the tree roots on this hole which makes it more playable.
#2 "Turtle Creek": A very aptly named hole. The most notable thing about the second hole at Copper Hill is that the pond in front of the tee box has been the site of most of Sherpa Matt's field research on the copulatory activities of snapping turtles over the years. We've learned a lot from Matt on this subject, occasionally more than necessary. It also serves as a phyics lab, where many Trackers test their theories on hydro-dynamics, as they relate to how much topspin it takes to get through the pond.
#3 "Sly Fox": The first par-3. Formerly the home of the unofficial GT mascot, the "3rd hole pond muskrat" (we didn't think it would be good form to slap a "more clever" name on it). The muskrat has not made an appearance in 2009. Some Goat Trackers wonder whether he's defected and moved up the road to Airways GC. We hope that he's still in the area.
#4 "The Sand Catcher": The first par-5. Not sure how the name for this hole came to be, since the greenside bunker is manageable and based on where some of our shots land, "The Poison Ivy Catcher" might be more appropriate. Two sets of tee boxes, one below the 3rd green on the right, one above it on the left; a great setup that mixes things up a bit. Reachable in two if you're feeling it, which can grant you hero status, but generally isn't worth the effort. A favorite aspect of this hole is that the wide expanse of rough on the left never looks as high or as dense as it is. Many Goat Trackers have spent considerable time looking for and not finding balls that they thought would be easy to locate in the left rough. Signs are posted to keep golfers from extending their search for both golf balls and burgers into the backyards of the houses bordering the 4th.
#5 "The Sanctuary": Also known as "the mosquito sanctuary." The tee box partially tucked into the woods on this short, yet occasionally tricky par-4 ranks as one of the top two holes at Copper Hill in terms of the number of people who will ask, "Who's got bug spray?" Softies. This is also where, long ago, Golfer Number Two learned to stand behind the tee box and away from the ball washer when others are teeing off, when he took a ricochet in the jewels. A valuable life lesson, no doubt. This short par-4 tempts some to drive the green (not the best idea). There's a lot of good GT stuff crammed into this short hole. A favorite feature is the on again/off again schmeg runoff "pond" just beyond the tree line on the right side. This hole is always an adventure to play and doesn't get nearly the credit it deserves.
#6 "I'm In" (bad picture; to be replaced): Second par-3. We're still sorting through why there's a new red tee box under construction, which we, including Judy, found puzzling, since the one across the brook bordering the woods seemed more than adequate.
Best feature of this hole is the pump house tucked away at the edge of the woods on the right side, just short of the green (we'll get a pic next time; also, come to think of it, it can't be a pump house since there's no pond on this hole; no matter). Golfer Number Two has made it a habit of pinging shots off of this structure over the years. The Track Acumen on this hole kicks in when one can call the shot, play it off either the roof or the side, and still get up and down for par. It's the Goat Tracking equivalent of playing H-O-R-S-E.
# 7 "Farmer's View": Another aptly named hole, with rural scenery to the left. A generally harmless par-4, with some drop-off into poison ivy for those inclined to "club up" and slice. Not a bad hole to grip & rip, but 3-iron and wedge can get the job done here. If you're not a fan of hitting half wedges, a monster drive here will only play to your weakness.
#8 "Devil's Elbow": This hole has gained nearly mythical status over the past decade, mainly due to the house perched atop the hill overlooking the tee box (pic pending). Imaginations ran wild, hoping that it was a secret getaway for swimsuit models or something similar, but we were ultimately disappointed in 2008 when we saw a bickering middle-aged couple on a west-facing deck that we'd hoped would be put to better use. Deflating doesn't begin to describe the feeling. There has been no activity there in 2009 and Sherpa Jeff has suggested exploring the opportunity of acquiring said property and making the Goat Trackers' dreams come true. If only.
Back to reality.... the 8th is a hole that offers opportunities to score well, but also tends to punish agressive, errant drives and is probably the most fun hole to play on the course because it usually has train wreck written all over it for someone in your group. GT Duke's favorite way to play this hole is with two 6-irons, followed by whatever else is needed to hit the green, which shouldn't be much. Not a bad way to go, yet few choose to take that enlightened path to par.
#9 "Camel Back": Another victim of "tee box reconstruction." Acording to Sherpa Jeff, the first effort in late April/early May was deemed "not good enough" by the maintenance folks, so it was tilled under. At the time this review was written, they had stooped so low as to install sod. Serenity now! When we saw that, the momentary silence was almost deafening. We appreciate the effort to make this hole as photogenic as possible. With its sloping fairway, elevated green, and houses across the street behind the green, it has a certain aesthetic appeal for printing on a score card and is a very good finishing hole. When approach shots veer near or into the easily approachable cart corral, that's when the fun begins.
Other "insights" on Copper Hill from the Minor Notes page.
Keney Public aka "The Urban Goat Track" (Hartford, North End)
After holding the second Goat Track Minor Event of the year here, starting in 2006, the consensus among a lot of Trackers who hadn't played it before was that Keney had earned the title of "Urban Goat Track." Is there a higher form of praise? I think not. Keney has become a regular part of the annual GT Minor Event schedule, hosting the second event, known as The Urban Goat Track Open. Although it has received high praise within the Tracker community, I've also brought people to Keney who refuse to play there again (based in part on an unfounded fear for the safety of their personal property and/or person), so it's a great course to separate the Trackers from the lemmings. Keney doesn't have a clubhouse with a dopey name like Mulligan's, it has "The Great Room", which I wasn't even aware of until 2006. It's old school like the 19th at Stanley, but with a couple of modest flat screens. Two thumbs up. It all works in a GT kind of way. While there was some concern that, based on some of the projects launched in 2006, there would be too many improvements made to Keney, we can all sleep better knowing that didn't completely materialize.
(pictured above: the entrance road to Keney Park, [potholes just around the bend, rock to be scored on the other side of the park]. Check the 5/10/08 update below to see why we enjoy this sign so much)
A compilation of comments to shed some light on all that is the Keney experience:
6/23/08 Dollar Day. Not much new to report re. the Track conditions, for those familiar with Keney, but here's a quick rundown:
Tee Boxes: in midseason form in terms of the amount of grass, which is great to see (or not see, as it were); however, not firm enough for anyone to pop a nut teeing up.
Rough: in mid-spring form, quite impressive, cut short enough not to put anyone "in jail" and to hit true midseason form by the end of July. 5/10/08 update: First trip of the year to the UGT, finally.
Greens: There's always hope on Dollar Day that one can learn something to improve his Track Acumen and after a late afternoon downpour, we found it. "How to read speed on a green after a torrential downpour." When we saw water splashing up from the green while the group in front of us was putting on #7, we knew an adjustment needed to be made and that adjustment was based on "how full is the cup?" There were minor adjustments based on walking the line of the putt to see where it was most "squishy," but the consensus was that the best way to read a green under those conditions was to base it on how much water was in the cup. If it's full, hammer it; if it's a quarter to half full, adjust accordingly and putt like you're not swinging for the fences. This served us well on the last three holes and has been stored away for future reference.
Misc.: This was the first time in quite a while that any of us has been asked to leave a course. While we respect the staff's right to ask us to leave after we completed our round, we only wish that they had the same enthusiasm for serving customers trying to pay for greens fees or get something at the snack bar as they did for ridding the course of Trackers trying to play another hole or two (the group ahead of us got the boot, too), especially given that most non-Trackers wouldn't have come near the course on Dollar Day, given the weather, and the course had pretty much emptied out.
Notes from the front 9...
The Entrance: a "Please Keep It Clean" sign was posted on the road that feeds into the course. Thankfully, this didn't pertain to language on the course, but appeared to be an attempt to keep the sides of the road free of old tires, radiators, appliances, and the occasional murder victim.
Greens: apparently after the considerable rain that fell Friday, the greens weren't squeegeed Saturday to increase their speed. This is reassuring and just came to mind because some non-Tracks do squeegee them. That said, there may have been a few putts from beyond 20 feet with longer swings than the approach shots that preceded them.
Faiways & rough: remarkably free of debris for this stage of the Tracking season, based on what I recall from years past.
The Great Room (aka Keney's 19th): Friar Tuck mentioned that he thought Keney may be trying to go upscale on us and the private graduation party in the Great Room might lead one to that conclusion. The jury's still out, but my guess is that all will be just fine in Urban Trackerland going forward.
6/14/07: The UGTO. Good to have some Keney first-timers out, just to regain perspective on the tee boxes, which despite efforts to backfill the craters last week, were deemed "deplorable" by some of the UGTO participants, which is what I refer to as "midseason form". There was a suggestion on #3 that we hit from what appeared to be grass in front of the markers, as opposed to hitting from the barren sand between them. I did my best in true Sherpa Tracker fashion to demonstrate that grass on a tee box is overrated, firing at the green without a tee from the sand and making the only bird of the day. Greens and fairways were in remarkably good shape, which made the course almost unrecognizable from the Keney I've come to know and respect. Anxiously awaiting its return to form.
6/6/07: Dollar Day #2. Maybe they're prepping for the second Minor 6/14, they seemed to be doing a lot of work on the tee boxes; net result, more sand in the tee boxes than the traps. Fortunately, this worked in my favor on #13 when one of the maintenance guys, sporting a Tennessee Titans hard hat, was there, shovel and load of dirt in hand, after I went for the welcome mat divot on my tee shot. "Do you have enough sand there to fill that?" A nod and a grin, probably accompanied by a "yes I do, you dipshit" thought on his part, was sufficient for me. Nice job of mixing up the speeds on the greens, just to keep you on your toes. Kudos.
1/6/07: Predictably enough, the UGT was packed today (with temps pushing 70 and no snow on the ground); not sure whether it was more of a Tracker or lemming turnout. Just the right mix of mud, leaves & casual water for primo Tracking. Actually since the ground never really froze, casual water was less of a factor than slop. Tee boxes and greens were in mid season form, aside from being more pliable than we'd reasonably expect in mid season. Best quote of the day was from a guy in the parking lot on his way in, "should I wear my golf shoes or my mud shoes?" Obviously a person who came prepared.
The Tradition GC (Windsor; Tradition of what, we're not quite sure) the newest addition to the GT Minor Event rotation, replacing Long Hill CC, f/k/a East Hartford GC in 2008.
We stumbled across this Track in the dark days of early February 2008, as it's conveniently located near a Buffalo Wild Wings. The fact that Sherpa JB had some prior history at this Track and was able to highlight some of its great Goat Track features put this course on the short list of courses to play/review for 2008. The Tradition GC was rewarded by being allowed to host the third Goat Track Minor Event of 2008. We're sure that all affiliated with the course are immensely proud.
(As a reference point, The Tradition GC Yardage Guide)
The Review (front 9 reviewed July, 2008):
Overall, not a bad layout and one where the hilly terrain definitely makes it a Goat Track in that sense. As Sherpa Matt noted, "How can all the holes be uphill?"
Tee boxes: Generally referred to by our group as "furry" with a nice mix of crabgrass starting to take hold, which put them on par with those at the Goat Track and Airways; however, they were considerably less chewed up than those at either of the Urban Goat Tracks (Keney and Goodwin) and surprisingly level. Since those criteria basically offset each other, what clinched it were the tee markers, eight-inch rocks painted red, white, and blue, a true sign of a Goat Track and something we hadn't seen before. Nice touch.
Fairways: The practice green was a good indicator of both the fairways and greens. This was useful info for anyone paying attention because the practice green at the Tradition is within view of the clubhouse/pro shop. Usually the practice green is a useless indicator, not the case here. The fairways at the Tradition maintained a color scheme similar to that of camouflage clothing, as did the practice green. While our highly untrained group of horticulturists tried to ascertain the reason for the large brown spots, no definitive conclusions were reached. The highlight was finding the nearly pristine 7th fairway, which was of course a par 3. Overall, the puzzling condition of the fairways heightened the Goat Tracking experience.
Greens: While the practice green and first fairway gave us an indicator of what the first green might be like, there was a surprise in store for us. "Furry" was to be expected. The crabgrass starting to sprout was another nice touch, but not too surprising. What really made these greens memorable was the "fungus among us." None of us could recall putting on a green with mushrooms sprouting up or at least not this many. The question then became how best to clear them from one's line. This distraction may have contributed to some putts being left short, as some Trackers forgot to swing from their heels on the green while being mesmerized by the mushroom farm.
Water Hazards: If the grass isn't going to be green, the ponds should be. The pond on #3 earned high Goat Track marks for several reasons: 1) cattails bordering the pond, always a good sign, similar to what we've seen at the Terp Track, Del Boca Vista, and Long Hill CC; 2) complete algae coverage, probably the most impressive we've seen this side of Goodwin (in fact, after Bob hit his drive in on the fly [thinking that maybe he could hit off of it] we couldn't tell where his ball broke the surface); 3) tufts of grass growing up through the muck in the middle of the pond, truly exceptional! On the other hand, the brook that crosses the 7th and 8th holes was flowing clear. Probably a good thing because if the stream were mucked up, there probably would've been a hazmat team out there, and that's just not conducive to an enjoyable Goat Tracking experience.
Bunkers: With all the rain earlier in the day it was difficult to determine how much sand was actually in the traps because they were compacted; however, the heavy rainfall didn't expose any big rocks, so these sand traps don't get as high a grade as the Goat Track (Copper Hill) or Westwoods. On the flip side, there was casual water and/or weeds in some, which suggested that there was a minimal amount of sand and/or bunker maintenance, which was reassuring.
Other Noteworthy Goat Track Features:
Cart path on #8: Probably a 60% downhill grade with (deciduous) trees overhanging and a bridge at the bottom. This must be loads of fun when it's covered with wet leaves in the Fall and there may have been a golf cart land speed record or two set there; wouldn't be surprised if at least one of the record-setting carts ended up in the brook.
Billboard on #9: If one looks about fifty feet through the brush and trees behind the tee box here, one can see the remnants of a billboard that probably hasn't been seen from the adjacent northbound lanes of Interstate 91 in about 25 years. This nugget on the last hole pretty much sealed the deal as far as the Tradition's Goat Track credentials.
As far as the pro shop goes, the attendant seemed less than thrilled to see us, which we'll chalk up to it being a slow and probably generally miserably boring day due to the weather, but he did give us a yardage guide that was good for comic relief out on the course. Some of the Trackers were confused because the back door of the pro shop had a sign pointing toward the restaurant instead of a sign that said "pro shop." Shame on us. More puzzling though, was the broken window at the pro shop. Despite our collective expertise on errant shot making, we couldn't reconstruct how an approach shot could get over the shrubbery and the patio facing the 9th green while maintaining the trajectory needed to break glass on the fly or a bounce.
Overall, the Tradition provides a first rate Goat Tracking experience and has cemented its place as the preferred location for the third Goat Track Minor Event of the season.
Airways GC (West Suffield)
Airways is probably a good name for this course, not only because of its proximity to Bradley International Airport, but also because it could serve as an airfield in a pinch, with a nearly ideal configuration to use the fairways as runways. While this course is only a few minutes from the GT and the course conditions of the two are usually pretty similar, Airways has always played second fiddle to the GT, kind of like the Mets to the Yankees or White Sox to the Cubs, to use a baseball analogy. Continuing with the baseball analogy, Airways is kind of like a "slumpbuster"; when you need to get out of a funk, you can usually post a good score here and patch your psyche back together, at least until you run into a more difficult course.
Airways GC Review: submitted by Sherpa JB (January 2009)
As a trained sales professional, I used my keen powers of observation to provide a thorough and methodical Goat Track review of Airways Golf Course and Country Club in West Suffield, CT. I objectively reviewed several key GT criteria, compiling copious notes and comments based on the nearly exhaustive review performed during my November, 2008 visit, focusing on the following:
Summary
a parking space, take another look at this decrepit eyesore and you'll discover that this barn is in active use as the cart storage facility. Remarkable. Any "responsible" person would've condemned and torn down this building decades ago, but not the resourceful management at Airways. This structure has a stone foundation, gigantic holes in the roof and enough wood rot to make it look like a termite training camp. The barn is in such a dilapidated state that you may wonder whether it will still be standing upon your departure. I recommend parking far away from the barn, unless your vehicle is worth more through an insurance claim. If this is the case, then by all means, pull in nice and tight. 
FEMA trailer transformed into a clubhouse. You can pay your greens fee and order a beer just by swiveling your head around. Golf shop? Not needed here. Sure, they can sell you a sleeve of balls and some tees, but a retail giant, this is not. If you're like me and enjoy luxurious accoutrements like cold draft beer served in a plastic cup, Airways will bring a smile to your face.
This family-owned, crap shoot of a golf course offers man
y attributes that Goat Trackers covet. As low key and unassuming as a $4 box of wine, Airways is more of a wrong turn than a golf destination, which is pretty high praise in these circles. Try finding another family-run golfing amusement center that is nearly as welcoming and you'll just be wasting your time. Airways represents everything that we fell in love with at Copper Hill twenty years ago, but now that Blue Fox #2 has tried to morph into something "more," it's "something less" for the GT crowd. I vote Airways as quintessential Goat Track for the 21st century and award this worthy Track a coveted rating of...
3 out of 4 GT logos.
Check the Minor Notes page for other insights into the Airways experience.
Other Local Goat Tracks that are Banging on the Door, Trying to Earn a Spot in the GT Minor Event Rotation...perfectly respectable Tracks that haven't found their way into the GT Minor Rotation (and most likely will not, through no fault of their own).
Observations from the Urban Goat Track - South
(7/10/08) First trip to the Urban Goat Track-South this year (with input from Friar Tuck).
As noted by Friar Tuck, the condition of the UGTS (Urban Goat Track-South) appeared to be at least a couple of weeks behind schedule as far as achieving mid-season Goat Track form. With that in mind, we can report the following regarding the back 9:
Tee Boxes: Still somewhat pliable and with a fair amount of grass, but much firmer than was expected after a decent amount of rain the day before, so they're trending in the right direction. Despite the fact that the tee box on #17 doesn't yet look like a beach volleyball court (as it does when in prime form), we're hopeful that will correct itself in the next two to three weeks.
Greens: Pretty similar to the tee boxes, i.e., in pretty good shape, but firming up nicely. In all fairness, they were quicker than the greens at the UGT (Keney) on our last trip there for the second Goat Track Minor Event 6/25, so this was a bit of a surprise. I made the mistake of looking for a ball mark after lofting a decent wedge from the tee onto the 15th green. Just plain foolish.
Trick shots and other reasons to wear a helmet: Friar Tuck and I are veterans of the cross-fairway crossfire at Westwoods, so the errant tee shot free-for all at Goody wasn't all that alarming. What was surprising though, was that neither of us could figure out how a shot went around the fence that "protects" the 11th green as we were putting. Highlight of the round was the guy taking his practice cuts from the rough 5 feet behind me as I was lining up a rare make able birdie putt. Classic Goat Tracking at its finest. Actually, the highlight of the round was the BCC, but that's another story on another page.
Water Hazards: Greening up nicely. Possibly walkable by mid-August.
(5/11/08) Hartford Magazine, in its "Best of Hartford, 2008" issue (May) lists Goody as the runner-up to Rockledge as best public course in the area. That Rockledge won is not surprising, but Goody finishing second with this audience forces us to review our criteria for selecting the Goat Track of the Year before naming a winner for 2008.
(11/25/07) If you're a fan of Goat Tracking and Christmas light displays, maybe you'll enjoy "Holiday Light Fantasia" at Goodwin during the holiday season. Wasn't aware of this until I saw them setting up lights late October near the path that traverses the course. An interesting opportunity to drive through the course and relive some of your errant shots from the golf season, with lights blinking at you.
(11/1/07) Officially named "Goat Track of the Year" by the powers that be on this site. Despite lacking some of the rougher edges that other Goat Tracks may have, Goody's Track Charm oozes from Hartford's South End out to the 'burbs in all directions. Friar Tuck and I have designated this Track as "the closest thing to Canton Public" available and there is no higher form of praise in old school Tracker circles. It provides a similar Tracking experience to the erstwhile Canton Public , provided that you can make it through the navigational clusterfuck required to get there from anywhere other than south of Hartford.
(August, 2007) The initial review of the sibling municipal course to the UGT, the South End's yang to the North End's yin, Goodwin Golf Course. While I've known for quite a while that this Track needed to be listed on the site, the logistics never quite worked out. Played 9 there and can offer the following on this Goat Track, which is more than worthy of hosting a GT Minor Event, but is a pain in the ass to get to (note that comments may be biased based on the fact that I was able to golf for free, which always puts a Track in a good light):
- logistics: This Track can never host a Minor because unless you're starting from downtown Hartford, it's a pain in the ass to get to. My mapquest directions guided me through the "learning corridor" (formerly the "hooker corridor", which Governor Rowland cleaned up prior to his incarceration) and gave me more of a glimpse of the outskirts of the South End than I really needed. That said, there are alternate routes, but none are quicker, as far as I can tell. Best case scenario, you can take Park Rd., stop at one of the Portuguese bakeries on the way through the Parkville neighborhood, pick up some rolls & guava pastries, and make constructive use of your time.
- layout: After finally getting there, and having a chance to soak it all in, the course has a much more open layout th
an Keney and a much more rural feel to it. This seemed kind of odd because Airways, a favorite Goat Track, is actually laid out on farmland, but doesn't have the same feel (just feels bombed out and desolate). Goody is pretty much wide open, but with just enough trees, traps, etc. to make it interesting and the views are clear enough that you can see who might be hitting into you from another fairway. (pictured at left, the panoramic view of the Connecticut River Valley from the parking lot, which may or may not captivate the interest of some Trackers, but is pretty impressive, nonetheless) - tee boxes: Couldn't get a representative read on their hardness because of all the rain Friday, but my guess is that, when in prime form, they're just as hard as Keney's. #16 was my personal favorite, quite possibly the narrowest tee box ever and almost completely without grass, feeding into a dogleg left.
- greens: Just about as slow as East Hartford's, which had previously set a new benchmark (if you think you hit it hard enough, think again and think about clubbing up from 20 feet), but in pretty good shape.
- consistency: Efforts by the greenskeepers to keep the course green and lush weren't lost on this Tracker, especially the fact that the water hazards were kept the same color at the fairways, which could make for difficult course management if you're not paying attention.
- bunkers: Fortunately I didn't hit into any, but it looked like there was something resembling sand in them; they were all shallow and playable. The most peculiar of them was on the right side of the green on #13, near some standing water. Reminded me of a Zappa tune about yellow snow, or in this case, yellow sand. Either someone really had to drain it and courteously raked afterward, or the algae from the casual water had infested the sand. Either way, it was really odd and Trackworthy.
- layout, part deux: The thing that probably requires the biggest adjustment on the course is getting used to the paved paths that meander through Goodwin. I was scratching my head trying to figure out where the cart paths go (and having a Stanley flashback) until I realized that they were tied into the adjacent Goodwin Park. Once you get used to the pedestrians, bicyclists, and occasional Hartford Police van cutting through the course, it's all good. As a side note (see note on #18 at EHGC), I had a TPC moment on #17, teeing off with an elderly couple watching like attentive fans at the Travelers Championship (a golf clap would've been appreciated).
Fenwick GC, the oldest public course and/or Goat Track in Connecticut (Old Saybrook) reviewed July, 2008.
Based on an account by Rabbit Ears, as well as info. from other sources, Fenwick GC definitely earned a spot on the "Tracks to Review List." How often does one run across a course in these parts that was actually once mowed by goats? Enough said.
This article from the 6/27/08 "Shore View" newspaper definitely helped frame this review and provides more historical background on Fenwick than does the GT review.
The Goat Tracker review of Fenwick GC
To the first time visitor to Fenwick, in all deference to the course, the most difficult aspect of it is finding it. That said, any course where the navigation includes going over a causeway is way cool. (Thanks to the gentleman in the Caddy [it's a high-rent neighborhood] who realized that I was lost, pulled up, and provided directions to the course, much obliged). This set the tone for the whole Fenwick vibe, which is pretty relaxed, as it should be at the shore.
Whether you approach the course from the causeway or meander through the Maple Avenue navigational clusterf**k, the gravel parking lot is marked by an orange traffic cone and just screams "Goat Trackers, come hither!"
First Mistake: In the gravel parking lot, there's a shed with a garage door near the maintenance barn that says "pro shop." Of course, you can't pay for your greens fees there, that needs to be done at the smaller shack across the street, but the attendant there was more than helpful. He pointed out that our greens fees included a pull cart, which we declined, but based on the golfer demographics (AARP), made perfect sense. Two thumbs up.
Second Mistake: Missing the tee time by five minutes. The major drawback to playing Fenwick is that they request tee times more often than not. Missing our tee time and trying to get back in line seemed to momentarily befuddle our starter, Jean.
Moving on, the 1st hole (Church) : Taking some time to soak in Fenwick's ambiance while the group that took our spot teed off, there was an inspired Goat Track thought. The best kicker never used at a GT Minor Event is right here on the first tee; "best tee shot through the power lines." They cross the fairway and the opportunities to award style points are many: longest drive under them, best shot over the first, over the second, calling your shot... a true test of creativity and Track Acumen.
3rd hole (Davis): While we were well aware that the course coexists with a surrounding neighborhood of shoreline homes and that many of the surrounding homes have golf carts in the garage (think Florida or Arizona), the crossroad on the 3rd fairway kicked it up a notch. Approach your tee shot and come up to the street sign for Neponset Avenue and the fire hydrant adjacent to it. Absolutely awesome.
6th hole (Bunker): This is the hole that Katharine Hepburn reportedly aced many years ago. Good for her because this hole has some GT quirks to it. The berm that makes this short tee shot more challenging than the typical par three runs completely across the front of the green and keeps you from running one up, unless you are the KING of topspin...and even then, you're probably s.o.l.
Surprisingly enough, given the "Goat Track buildup" we read and heard about, we didn't see any truly worthy wispy, British-style Goat Track rough until the 7th hole, which was a bit surprising. We were hoping to have a better opportunity to demonstrate our flailing skills.
150 yard markers: Bushes, birdhouses? Pedestrian! Fenwick uses clumps of marsh grass. This was great and we Goat Trackers appreciate seeing the various things that get used for yardage markers.
Toughest holes to score: #8 (Riversea) and #9 (Westward Ho). Fenwick is pretty much dink and dunk, which is fine because a round at Fenwick is basically an excuse to hang out near the beach, soak it all in, and be strategically located to grab some clams on the half shell afterward. Apparently though, someone had a good sense of humor when the 8th and 9th holes were laid out. Care to thread the needle between the tree line on the left and the trap on the left to get to the 8th green? Knock yourself out, just pencil in at least a bogey. A similar bogey/double bogey opportunity awaits on #9. Great for match play.
Track conditions: They only water the greens. Awesome. These were by far the most puttable of any true Goat Track we've played this year and are bound to screw up your putting during your next round under "normal Tracking conditions." Fenwick's untended fairways are no worse than others we've played and brought me back to my all-time favorite Goat Track, Canton Public. The bunkers only had a few pebbles in them, so they're pretty much average by Goat Track standards.
Overall, a great course to play at least once, if the opportunity presents itself and you can find it; a great combination of "Goat Track sensibilities" and plenty of stuff to figure out on the fly. Two Goat Track horns up.
Canaan Country Club made the list of Tracks to review in 2009 mainly because of its proximity to Quarry View GC (~3 miles from that parking lot, 2 1/2 miles from the landmark East Canaan Package Store, best benchmark we know of in the northwest corner). When we were told by a guy who was added to our group at Tunxis back in June that "[The folks at Canaan] put a lot of money into the course," we had to check it out for ourselves, since we've seen a lot of golf sites and heard a lot of b.s. on the subject that just doesn't measure up to the hype.Navigation: Similar to Quarry View; if you're in the mood for a leisurely drive into the Northwest Corner of Connecticut or are headed to/from Saratoga from central Connecticut, you should be all over it. For those not too trusting of mapquest/googlemaps, which includes most sane people, rest assured that the course is indeed located approximately one half mile down Route 7 south, after turning off Route 44. Good luck seeing the sign for the course on the first pass, if you're not checking your trip odometer. For those familiar with an "Airways driveby," this is pretty similar. On the other hand, if your schedule is flexible, you have options. Since Canaan Country Club is nestled within the Connecticut Wine Trail, if you and your golf bud(s) are inclined to either re-enact or create a Connecticut-based sequel to Sideways, this is the place to do it. If you just overshoot the mark and drive a few more miles, crossing into Salisbury, the entrance to the Appalaichian Trail is another viable option.
Layout: Best described as wide open.
After playing the par-4 6th hole, it became obvious that, despite its fairly simple layout, Canaan CC lends itself to some interesting wagering opportunities. One can miss the 6th green by 100 yards on either side and still stay in bounds for an up & down (even more impressive than the 6th at Keney, as noted in the 2006 Urban Goat Track Open review, "farthest from the pin" kicker ). The next logical step seemed to be taking advantage of Canaan CC's wide open layout and playing the course like a game of H-O-R-S-E, "drive into the next fairway, fire back over the trees, lowest score wins." Brilliant.
Bunkers: Generally, kept to a maximum of two front/greenside bunkers per hole; notable exception being #4, with two behind the green, in addition to the two "uppity," high-lipped traps in front (unfortunately, the pic is unpostable). Best of the bunch was the fairway trap on #4 (another unpostable pic). With the grass sprouting out, it wasn't difficult to recognize that its main function was to give Trackers an idea of where the dogleg started; a courtesy trap, if you will.
Fairways/Rough: On this trip, Canaan CC was a "victim" of casual water. Appparently, it's been a season-long thing, based on the algae growing in the low spot in the middle of the par-3 8th (bad pic, unfortunately). We can't hold the "build an ark rainfall" this year against the folks trying to maintain the course. We did appreciate that the rough was lower than "threshable height," given the wet conditions.
Water Hazards: At Canaan CC, they mainly revolve around the brooks and adjoining "junk" coming into play on the right side of #2, #3, and #6. If you're a lefty with a massive slice, you have nothing to worry about. We're still trying to figure out what the massive bird hunkered in the brook on #3 was; heron, egret, who knows. Pretty sure it wasn't a flamingo. We need to do some follow-up research on this.
Greens: Moderately-sized and puttable, not much more than can be asked. We're way too far into the GT review process to explain why there's no break, but we can see how the whole "sinking a lot of money into the course" thing kicked in here. These greens easily could've been a train wreck, more on that later.....
In Summary: Maybe our review of Canaan Country Club is biased be
cause we convinced ourselves that any course we'd drive an hour to play can't suck, but despite going over the railroad crossing to get to the course, Canaan Country Club is definitely not a trip to the "wrong side of the tracks, " from a Goat Tracker perspective. A great Track to play, especially if you don't want to overthink every shot. Great rural layout. We're almost embarassed to give it only 
GT logos out of four, based on first impressions..
As the sign pictured at left suggests, Eastwoods CC is a happenin' place. There aren't many Tracks that we can think of that can literally stop traffic, but Edgewoods is that rare exception.Layout: Best way to sum it up... If after some soul searching, you've determined that your own personal hell is hitting blind golf shots, bank on spending some time at Eastwoods in the afterlife. As a frame of reference for seasoned local Goat Trackers, Eastwoods makes Tower Ridge look like Airways. Crazy terrain up in the Torrington Himalayas, with just one blind shot after another.
Over the years, we've heard some griping, from Trackers and Sherpas alike, about courses that have too many blind shots. If you can't find your Inner Tracker and "feel" where the ball's going off the clubface, then Eastwoods probably isn't the place for you.
It seemed like there were more doglegs than there actu
ally were. Maybe it was altitude sickness. Regardless, Friar Tuck made an astute observation on #5, "Go figure. A fire hydrant on a hole without a dog leg." Classic.Know Your Audience: Kudos to Eastwoods for not screwing around with the wimpy wire waste baskets found next to most tee boxes. Eastwoods both knows its clientele and/orcan't be bothered emptying garbage cans every day. The 30-gallon Rubbermaid route is the only way to go here. We like that they have their priorities in order. Golfer Number Two wasn't up to the task of "barrel research," but first impressions made it pretty clear that the drink of preference at Eastwoods sure as hell isn't Perrier or Aquafina.
Greens: Apparently we set the bar too low, i.e. at GoatTracker level. We're not going to say they were off the Stimpmeter, but either they were a lot quicker than expected or we were a lot slower than expected.
19th: We didn't check it out, mainly because we hadn't hit the Torrington Tavern Circuit in eons and were looking forward to a pint or two in the thriving downtown, but Eastwoods' 19th, 10th, finishing hole, etc., must have something going for it because it seems to attract a pretty good crowd at happy hour.
Eastwoods CC has some worthy competition among Goat Tracks in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut, but this was a great find. Friar Tuck and Golfer Number Two both got the right vibe from Eastwoods. When any Goat Track we play inspires comparisons to the former Canton Public GC (r.i.p.) it's heady stuff and in this case earns a solid
out of 4 GT logos as our seal of approval. Indian Springs generated some interest on the Goat-Track.com review front mainly for two reasons: 1) the reviewers were keenly aware that courses in central Connecticut had previously been underrepresented on this site and 2) Indian Springs is a 9-hole course, as many of the best Goat Tracks are, as opposed to the 36-hole layout at the Lyman Orchards Golf and Apple Picking Complex across town.
We have nothing bad to say about the Lyman Orchards courses, but Indian Springs seemed to have more to offer from a Goat Tracker's perspective.
Overall, Indian Springs earns a spot on Goat-Track.com not because of its conditions (which are pretty good), but because of its layout and hilly terrain.
From the first look out onto the course from the parking lot, it looks like there will be some serious uphill hoofing. As it turns out, once you make the ascent to the second tee box and check your oxygen tank, you pretty much slalom your way back and forth over the remaining holes back to the bottom. "Slalom"? Yes. Looking west from the second hole, you can see that you're at the same elevation as the upper portion of the Powder Ridge ski area across the way; definitely mountain goat-friendly territory.
Navigation: We ended up going from the green to the wrong tee box twice, so Indian Hills ranks favorably with other "navigationally challenging" Tracks, such as Stanley GC.
Tee Boxes: These can probably never pass for prototypical GT tee boxes for three reasons: 1) way too flat, 2) not enough overhanging trees & shade to kill the grass and provide a good hardpan surface (ala Keney & Goodwin), and 3) someone had the crazy idea of making them wide enough so that the markers could be moved around often enough to let golfers hit off of grass on a consistent basis. What gives?
On the other hand, the one Trackworthy feature of Indian Springs' tee boxes is the front/middle/back markers, which are color coded ten-inch long sections of small tree limbs (probably maple). This one feature may not be enough to offset the others, but it doesn't hurt.
Fairways: The most notable aspect of Indian Springs' fairways was that they mirrored the parking lot, with plenty of side hill lies to test one's Track Acumen, especially on the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 8th holes. Another plus was that it was an adventure trying to figure out where your drive would end up, based on the random slope changes, combined with blind spots from the tee box. A well-executed drive into the right rough (a typical Tracker drive) on #4, for example, can easily roll downhill across the 2nd fairway, leaving an approach shot far better than could be reasonably expected. There are ample opportunities for cross-fairway traffic (dodging errant drives), which just adds another element of excitement to a round at Indian Springs.
Greens: Aerated, puzzling and entertaining. On the second hole, Rabbit Ears was forced to finish out a 6-putt green, mainly because we just couldn't get enough of how bizarre the rolls were. Seeing a putt roll up towards the hole, only to roll back farther away from the hole than where it started was hilarious and just as funny the second and third time in a row as it was the first. One strategy that seemed to work for uphill putts on the third hole was to putt six feet past the hole and let it roll back about five feet for something close to a gimme (depending how generous one's opponent is). Rabbit Ears called the greens "unfair"; the preferred Tracker term is "entertaining."
There was definitely a speed factor that we as Trackers were unaccustomed to, even with our wealth of Goat Tracking experience. With all their undulations, some may be inclined to say that the greens at Indian Springs refute the Universal Truth of Goat Track Putting (i.e., "no break on a green at a public course"), but the true believers among us still cling to the idea that you can't believe everything you see.
Bunkers: Generally too good for the typical Goat Track, i.e. too much sand, etc. When the greenskeeper is in a bad mood, he probably changes the pin placement on #9 to the front right, just behind the biggest trap we've seen on a course not named Minnechaug.
Water Hazards: Not much to be concerned about here; just a pond behind the green on the par-3 seventh hole. The consensus is that water evaporates too quickly at that altitude to allow for ponds on the course.
In summary, despite its well-maintained conditions, Indian Springs is a good course for Trackers looking to mix up their routine a bit, while still enjoying the Goat Tracking experience. Although some may contend that overcoming the "nuances of Track maintenance" (also called "neglect" in some circles) is at the core of the Goat Tracking experience, Indian Springs still provides ample opportunity to utilize a high degree of Track Acumen and earns a good grade here.
Overview
Fore Seasons is located in Bethany, between Ansonia and New Haven, about an hour's drive from the GT.com nerve center west of Hartford; so although it may not be the most accessible place to get to, if you've got an itch to get your hacks in, it's well within reach. This place has been open under current management since the mid '90's. Shame on us for not finding it sooner.
This was uncharted territory for our entire group and there was a lot to take in. First, Fore Seasons is located in a converted light industrial/warehouse building alongside several similar structures, which makes it inconspicuous and is good Goat Track form, since we like our Tracks "as unassuming as a $4 box of wine," to borrow a term from Sherpa JB. There was some initial concern about playing here, based on the owner's claim that "this [place] gets a cross-section of golfers, but I'd say it's more top-heavy with the serious guy" (quoted from a New Haven Register article, 2/13/03). Based on that, we shouldn't have been allowed near the place, but as it turns out, it's more than Tracker-friendly.
Once through the door, the layout is definitely something that any well-schooled Tracker can appreciate; with vintage framed pictures from PGA events of the '70's and '80's hanging in the simulator rooms and the pro shop, including several featuring some "conversation-inspiring female fans," other offbeat memorabilia, and vast expanses of exposed corrugated metal throughout. It didn't hurt that each simulator room had a couch and enough chairs to accommodate a typical 1st green gallery at the GHO. As Wink noted, "If i could smoke in here, I'd probably never leave." If that's not a ringing endorsement, we don't know what is.
We didn't make use of the practice green, the range, or the chipping area (because, frankly, practice does us little good, if any), so we can't really comment on playing them. What we can do is make two observations:
1) The two practice bunkers at Fore Seasons probably have more pliable sand in them than all of the traps at the four courses in the GT Minor Event rotation combined, and 2) The ball washer next to the practice green was a nice touch. On many Tracks that we play, finding a ball washer is about as common as a bald eagle sighting, but Fore Seasons managed to plunk one that serves no practical purpose right next to the putting green. Well done. pictured above: (left) the practice green; (right) the chipping area (we're still trying to figure out what happens to the sand that ends up on the carpet from the bunkers)(2/13/09 FSGC Cabo Update, courtesy of Sherpa JB)
Simulated Golf
No one in our group has ever tried it on Wii or X-BOX 360, but as any self-respecting Tracker knows, you can only take "suspended disbelief" so far and if you're not using your own sticks, you're missing an important part of the "fake golf experience." Although it's still basically a video game, the Fore Seasons experience comes closer to providing a true Tracking experience (using technology provided by Holiday Golf). We're not experts on seasonal affective disorder, but there's something to be said for the routine of golf; taking the clubs out of the trunk, putting on the golf glove, etc. that can temporarily trick one's mind into going into summer Tracking mode. Wii can't come within a Jamie Sadlowski drive of that.
Fore Seasons provides several courses to choose from. We've played Grey Wolf GC in BC and Teeth of the Dog in the Dominican Republic, in part because, as Sherpa JB noted, "If you're going to play fake golf, you may as well go international." Good point. That said, portions of the Grey Wolf layout seemed to bear a vague resemblance to that of Tower Ridge CC, the last course reviewed by GT in 2008, which was commendable. One concern based on the real Grey Wolf site is "other things to do while in the area." To the uninformed, visiting Radium Hot Springs doesn't sound very appealing. The best comparison we could come up with for Teeth of the Dog was Fenwick...and that was something of a stretch.
Simulator Shortcomings
Putting: We were advised beforehand that the software makes virtual putting even more frustrating than real putting, so that was programmed out; approach shots within 10 feet of the pin were one-putts (if only that were true on non-virtual Tracks); out to 35 feet were two-putts (not likely, but thanks); and anything longer than that was a well-deserved three-putt.
Chipping: During our round there were several "finesse shots" that either ended up short or were completely air-mailed. Obviously that doesn't differ much from any other round we've played, but we'd like to think that after a few more rounds at FSGC, we'd get a better feel for it. We all thought we got shafted on at least a couple of occasions, so it probably evened out. On the flip side, we can see where the occasionally unpredictable putting and chipping aspects of the simulator could make some wagers very contentious ("Let's make it 40, Judge," to quote Ty Webb [unfortunately the Caddyshack clip we linked to on youtube got pulled] ).
Scoring: Based in part on the two above-noted features, and as we in the Goat Tracking c
ommunity are well aware, the chances of Rabbit Ears posting an 86 anywhere, let alone at Grey Wolf, range somewhere between slim and none; a good indicator of just how realistic that part of the Fake Golf Experience is. (pictured at right: a nearly illegible scorecard on screen from our round)Driving: This can be both one of the most amusing and most frustrating aspects of the simulator. On the inaugural trip to Grey Wolf, Sherpa JB did a pretty good job of showing us the way by popping the ball straight into the canvas overhead a few times, narrowly missing the overhead light directly above the sensors under the driving mat, yet those drives clocked in at an average of 260 yards. The return trip to FSGC (playing the "Teeth of the Dog" course) provided an opportunity to further explore that "club contact anomaly" and/or "game the system." Golfer Number Two and Rabbit Ears were intent on taking Sherpa JB's field research to a higher level.
We came up with three "alternative means" to achieving good drives: 1) [demonstrated by Rabbit Ears] pop the ball up a couple of feet in the air off the tee and get it to land approximately four feet in front of the tee before playing the next shot from about 240 yards out; just brilliant, 2) [Golfer Number Two's approach] swing so hard and so clean as to barely graze the bottom of the ball with the top of the driver, sweeping the tee from underneath, advancing the ball four inches, and gazing at a 240+ yard drive into the short grass, impressive, 3) the piece d' resistance (or something like that), Rabbit Ears leveraged what he learned from Golfer Number Two, hitting a "mammoth" drive that dribbled four inches behind where he hit it from and landed an immaculate 259 yards out into the fairway on screen; absolutely jaw-dropping.
Once you separate "real golf" from the "simulated driving experience" and/or separate the logic of "solid contact" from "good distance," virtual golf can be a lot of fun, especially when you your opponents are stupefied and/or pissed off by how consistently you can deliver great results with piss poor execution.
Simulator Strengths
Set-up: When we arrived, we had no idea that Martin owned the place, but we should have. He made sure that everything was set up properly, gave us the info we needed not to screw it up too badly, and was generally accessible during our round.
Ah....Nature.... : To be sure, the screen and sound at Fore Seasons will never be mistaken for IMAX with Dolby digital surround sound, but it works. The computer speakers in the simulator provided sounds of birds chirping in the background, the splash of hazard-bound approach shots, and announced whose turn it was to hit; more than enough to keep us entertained. Two possible upgrades that would've been amusing: 1) we were hoping that errant shots into the trees would produce some sounds from screeching birds or squirrels ducking for cover, but no such luck, 2) a Jim Nantz voice over announcing whose turn it was to hit would've been hilarious, but we understand that he doesn't work cheap.
The Simulated Tee Box: What really brought this home was the divot in the carpet at the front of the hitting area. It was almost like hitting off our favorite Goat Track tee boxes (Goodwin and Copper Hill come to mind), minus the concern about popping a nut while pegging up in hardpan. (on our return trip, when we declined to use the same room, we were somewhere between shocked and disappointed to see that Martin was fixing the "carpet divot" that we enjoyed on our first trip there, so much for Track maintenance).
Grippin' and Rippin': One huge advantage of the Fore Seasons experience is that there's no need to look for your ball in the woods. That said, those not swinging hard enough (based on the simulator's calculated swing speed) were chastised for less than manly efforts, which leads to...
Pictured above: (left) Sherpa JB getting in a quality hack; (right) "Golfer Number Two" preparing for an errant shot
What the Fore Seasons experience does best: It's been said that golf is 90% mental (although it may drive you 100% mental on occasion, but that's another topic). If the "90% theory" is true, then Fore Seasons excels by providing a great way to work on such critical aspects of your game as the ability to talk smack, break balls, and hone your gamesmanship skills. By the end of our round, it seemed that our ability to rip on each other may have been closer to midseason form than our swings.
Revisiting the "sound system," we couldn't quite figure out why everyone in the group other than "Golfer Number Two" was announced by name during our round, but the constant reinforcement of hearing "now playing, golfer number two," definitely added to the group's amusement, for three of the four anyway.
As noted by our group, it's uncanny how the Fore Seasons "fake golf experience" mimics real golf in another significant aspect, displays of frustration. "Golfer Number Two" seemed to have the same customary mannerisms and "colorful language" as he would on a real Track, minus slamming clubs into the turf (possibly because there was no turf).
Summary
Fore Seasons is unquestionably a bargain. True golf junkies (who haven't headed south for the winter) would probably pay more, but at $15/person to use the simulator, it's an absolute steal and an experience that, while not perfect, just can't be duplicated during the winter doldrums.
(If you call the contact number listed on their site, you'll find that, although they keep pretty convenient hours for most Trackers, Martin will accommodate groups that want to use the simulators outside of that schedule. That earns exceptionally high marks with us.)
Chanticlair was recommended to Goat-Track.com by one of our readers during the Tracking off season, which we greatly appreciated. Steve made an intriguing pitch, part of which was "the clubhouse used to be a chicken coop, back when the land was a farm." That definitely caught our attention and seemed to put the course squarely in the proverbial Goat Tracker wheelhouse. In an attempt to confirm Steve's assessment, we sought out an opinion from our "East of the River Tracking Expert," Ornery Bob, who in his uniquely succinct way offered, "I haven't played it, but I've heard that it's a steaming pile." That pretty much clinched it; Chanticlair had to be reviewed.The Review
We weren't quite sure what to expect from Chanticlair, based on the "ringing endorsements" noted above, but fortunately after traveling about 20 miles from Hartford on Route 2 (which ultimately leads to the Foxwoods/Mohegan Sun casinos, the shore, etc), we were able to both develop and discard our preconceptions en route.
Chanticlair is a surprisingly easy course to find, thanks to some unexpected signage just off the exit on Route 2 (the course is about two miles from the exit). While we're fans of obscure, difficult to find, "where's Waldo?" Tracks like Fenwick and Airways, sometimes, after you've logged enough highway miles, you'd like the adventure to be on the course, as opposed to on the way to it. Chanticlair succeeds here. A partially-hidden rustic sign, the remnants of a paved parking lot...it just seems to say, "welcome home, Tracker, where have you been?" A great GT feel right off the bat. (links to other "rustic" signage: 4th hole, 5th hole)
General Layout: Chanticlair is a 9-hole course with tee box signs set up to make it look like an 18-hole course. As a change of pace, at the inaugural visit to this Track we decided not to ask where the first tee was before wandering out of the pro shop. After seeing tee signs for #1 and #10 posted at nearby tee boxes, it took a moment or two to realize that the white tees are the "front 9" and the blue tees are the "back 9" (for women, we think it's red on the "front," gold on the "back"). The effort to keep the 18-hole illusion alive with separate tee signs was impressive.
Reeds on the walk to the first tee; reeds and cattails throughout the course; always a sign of good Goat Tracking terrain. Boundaries: Chanticlair was much different than we expec
ted, based on our experiences at other "East of the River" Tracks, mainly because it was pretty much boulder-free. We were surprised to find that this Track didn't have enough rocks on site to build a replica of The Great Wall of China, as did The Skunk, Triggs, and Brooklyn CC. The "Lincoln Log" inspired buffer on the first hole distinguishes Chanticlair from other Tracks in eastern CT in that regard.Tee Boxes: Hammered and beaten nearly to a pulp, just how we like 'em; then again, you don't have to hit off the grass, so no big deal. They were surprisingly level, which made things somewhat less challenging than we had hoped. One of the most noticeable features was the flower beds on the front corners of the red tees.
The best example of Chanticlair's "tee box beautification program" was on the 8th (pictured above); probably the tee box with the most wear and tear, it was also the one with the most plants surrounding it. We respect that the maintenance folks at Chanticlair have recognized that maintaining grass on the tee boxes is an unwinnable battle and have focused their attention elsewhere.
The favorite tee box, hands down, was #5; elevated enough to afford those with Track Acumen an opportunity to hit with enough topspin to hit into the pond extending from the 4th in front of the 5th tee and skim out with three skips along the surface. Outstanding.
Fairways/Rough: Fairways at a Track so heavily billed as "deplorable" had no business having so much grass. As opposed to other Goat Tracks we play, there was some incentive to actually keep the ball in the fairway, for the sheer and unusual enjoyment of hitting an approach shot from a good lie.
There's not much to the rough at Chanticlair and we liked how the tree lines got a bit more dense over the middle holes. Overall, the tree lines are pretty manageable for those who prefer to hit their approach shots from the next fairway, which rewards the "grip & rip" approach many Goat Trackers favor.
Bunkers: Scattered and not numerous enough to be either annoying or problematic. One good aspect of Chanticlair's bunkers is that, because the course isn't loaded with them, you can truly appreciate the few you do see. The largest among them was probably the one at the right greenside at #7. They were classic GT bunkers, in the sense that they were fairly shallow. We didn't get to sample many, but in short, they were pleasantly surprising because: there was something vaguely resembling sand in them; it didn't take a lot of time to pick out the pebbles near one's ball before blasting out; and they were fairly easy to hit out of. Then again, the review of the bunkers may be somewhat tainted by recently watching "adventures in the sand" at the Open at Turnberry, i.e., "listen to the echo of your own profanity while you're in the trap," half expecting someone to yell down into the bunker, "it puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again."
Greens: For what it's worth, some truth in advertising. Chanticlair's website claims they're making improvments and these were easily in the top tier of greens played by the GT review folks this year in terms of "puttability." The exception was #8, with bare spots around the edges, but if you're putting from the fringe, you deserve what you get. The two-tiered green on #3 was impressive, but it did not...repeat not...refute the First Universal Truth of Goat Track Putting (if you need some clarification and/or perspective on this, you can check "The Costanza Constant" section of the GOAT TRAQ FAQ page or #6 on the front 9 of the Goat Tracker Survey).
Water Hazards: Only one pond to speak of and that one is pretty we
ll disguised, at least from the 4th tee, where it matters (pictured at right). It may look like there's a lot of greenery beyond the guardrail on the 4th hole, but it's not quite enough to hit from (plunk). The "brooks" that run throughout the course are more accurately described as "runoff channels," a collection of French drains and 12" diameter pipe to unswampify the area. We like it. (for comparison purposes, check the Coventry Pines review [pending as of 7/27])
Observations on Course Management/Track Acumen:
- #2: The cart pavilion is in play on this hole. If you try hard enough, the pro shop may be, too, if you can get a good bounce off the pavement. This ranks right up there with hitting into the cart corral on #9 at the GT (Copper Hill) and into the pro shop window on #9 at The Tradition GC-Windsor.
- #4: All previous comments aside, re. the deceptive appearance of the area surrounding the green on this hole, it is by far the fairest island green par-3 we've played in recent memory. No b.s. half-wedge distances (#8 Minnechaug), no spring-loaded hardpan that'll send a pin-high shot into orbit off the bounce (#8 Blue Fox Run-Blue Course). Possibly the signature hole.
Pro Shop/19th: Best way to sum it up is that it fits the course, regardless of whether or not it used to be a chicken coop.
In summary, Chanticlair was a bit of a surprise. If you've got some hang-ups about course layout aesthetics, this may not be the place for you, but it has a pretty good "Tracker feel" to it and the conditions are deceptively good for a Track that, to the casual passerby, has all the curb appeal of a building gutted by fire.
For now, we'll rate Chanticlair a respectable 
out of 4 GT logos, with a possible upward revision pending a future review.
Long Hill CC, f/k/a East Hartford Golf Club (until 2008)
This "jewel" was the designated site for the fourth Goat Track Minor Event of 2006, based on the following review forwarded by Sherpa JB:
The review, courtesy of golfcourse.com, circa 8/03 (I think)
(on the criteria of conditions, pace, service and value, one disgruntled reviewer [obviously not a Goat Tracker] gave EHGC a score of 1 across the board). "Worst course I have ever played. The fairways were swamps and the greens had bare spots. My backyard has better grass than this course. The only challenging part of the course is the various roots, pits, tire tracks, and drainage gates that come into play throughout the course. And to top it off, the pro at the golf shop was an angry, bitter old man. I guess he should be angry considering his course is in such terrible shape."
This amateurish rant piqued our interest as Goat Trackers and we were finally able to work this Track into the GT Minor Event rotation in 2007 (it was replaced by the Tradition GC in 2008).
6/21/07 The initial review (front 9, prior to the GT Minor Event held here). Some observations:
1) By mid July, the fairways will make one think that buffalo are a species native to East Hartford. "Pounded to a pulp" will be an understatement. This is impressive.
2) It's been a while since I teed of on a first hole with "roadside exposure" (Canton and Southington come to mind), but you can't beat a minor domestic dispute on the other side of the road for sheer entertainment value. "On this episode of Cops, East Hartford Public..." It kept me loose while hitting from underneath a pine tree (and saving par).
3) There was a strange white powdery substance in the bunkers which appeared to be sand. I only recognize it as sand because I've seen it in similar quantities on the tee boxes at Keney.
8/1/08: Viva los groundskeepers! The "transition phase" of Long Hill CC continues. Played 3 on the front and 6 on the back today, kudos to the seasoned Tracker who redirected me to the open holes on the back 9. One thing is for sure. The new management is whipping out a lot of frosting for this piece of wood, but not enough to make it a cake. The two most noticeable aspects of the Track conditions during this 9 were: 1) the greens will be kept green, no matter what, no matter how slow they may become and 2) there will be every effort made to provide a luxurious fairway. This was the first time playing here that there were "grounds under repair" stakes claiming large chunks of fairway, oddly enough outside of the landing zones, most noticeably on 17. A little misguided, but we appreciate the effort and wonder where it's going.
6/27/08 The Long Hill CC update (first under the new name). There was some concern based on this article that this was no longer a Goat Track. Remain calm! All is well! After today's round with Ornery Bob, the only discernible differences with this course under new management are as follows, (in reverse order of importance):
1) One of the signs was changed on the front of the building (one of the original EHGC signs remains).
2) The flags have been replaced with Long Hill CC flags.
3) Some of the rough is starting to grow high in "waste areas", otherwise known as "drive landing zones," mainly on the holes at the edges of the course.
4) The "white powdery substance" in the bunkers referred to in the 6/21/07 review didn't seem to be all that prevalent during this round. Definitely a Tracker-friendly development.
5) The greens have been cut noticeably shorter, so your chances of either losing your ball on the green or throwing your back out when your club gets caught in the high stuff are minimal.
6) The inside of the 19th was recarpeted and repainted.
7) There is now a BCC
In a nutshell, under new management, this Track is pretty much the same candy bar with a different wrapper. Rest assured that you won't be disappointed on your next Tracking excursion here.
Banner Country Club...and Resort was recommended to Goat-Track.com by one of our readers back in February. Steve's pitch was flawless, "Don't let the name fool you...it can be a real treat any time of year, but I recommend mid-July. No water on the course other than the greens. Tee boxes harder than the ground in Texas." How could we pass up such an opportunity?
The Goat-Track.com Review of Banner Country Club...and Resort
Signage: Nothing short of ridiculous to a seasoned Goat Tracker. Starting with the paired stone columns at the entrance, similar to what we saw at Goddard Park, (which we thought were pretty cool), just a bit more pretentious here. "Entering Banner Estates." Puhleezze. Using a football analogy, other than Stashu, and to a certain extent Blue Fox Run, we're hard-pressed to think of another course that's oukicked its coverage more than Banner.
Tee Boxes: An "unqualified disaster," i.e., displaying good Goat Track characteristics. That said, they were flat for the most part, which we didn't expect; with much more grass than expected (crabgrass counts); and not quite as "firm" as previously advertised. "Unqualified disaster" may seem to be a bit of a harsh assessment; anyone disputing the GT Review Panel is welcome to do their own field research. We verified that there is irrigation on some of the tee boxes, contrary to previous info gathered. On a fair number of holes, the challenge lay in finding a spot to tee up where the grass wasn't higher then the ball. Impressive.
The most amusing aspect of the tee boxes was that the ladies' tees seemed to be subject to random placement, since they were all on flat areas and the height of the grass on and around them seemed pretty much the same. Much like like pin placement, their location seems to be entirely dependent on what kind of mood the groundskeeper's in that morning, just a matter of moving the painted cedar markers. A brilliant course design feature, as far as we can tell.
Fairways/Rough: Good luck distinguishing between the two if you haven't honed this skill at another certified Goat Track. They're kind of a cross between Brooklyn CC and Keney in that regard. Friar Tuck made the observation on the first hole that we'd probably need to be open for some "creative interpretations" on preferred lies, even moreso than usual. The Banner aficionado definitely has an edge playing the course, if he can use his Track Acumen and familiarity with the course to run his shots into the dead spots, which are generally preferable to hit from. Banner earns the distinction for being the Track with the most plentiful crabgrass that we've played in 2009, possibly even eclipsing the efforts Goddard Park earlier this summer, The Tradiition-Windsor in 2008, and Airways in 2007. We didn't think it was possible, but as Rabbit Ears likes to say, "It's good to be surprised."
Bunkers: What one would generally expect at a Goat Track in terms of design, depth, placement, and number. Pretty much rock-free and they looked like they had been power-raked by the maintenance folk(s). It was nearly hypnotic looking into the uniformly grooved surfaces on some. Whoa... duuuuuude... Nice touch.
Greens: Not the most interesting we've played this year, but definitely in the conversation. A good, inconsistent mix of conditions, representative of the course in general. Some with well-cropped crabgrass, some with a fringe, some without, some spring-loaded, some with more grass than others, etc.; all in all, quintessential Goat Track putting conditions. Of course they were break-free, as "Universal Truth #1" dictates. We also appreciated the two-tiered green on #4.
Track Maintenance: Borrowing a term from Sherpa JB's review of Airways, "rustic shape" is the tip of the iceberg at Banner. The only reason we're commenting on it here is that the groundskeeper approached us in the parking lot after our round (trying to track down the "deer hunters" out on the course [more on that later]) and he seemed vexed. We were perplexed by his stress level, as it seemed that groundskeeper at Banner Country Club...and Resort was about as close to a "no show job" as one could hope to find.
Irrigation...or irritation: We've played through the sprinklers on numerous occasions, possibly hundreds, since most of our best Goat Tracking has often been done just before dark, if not under cover of darkness.
When the sprinklers get turned on, it just goes with the territory, but this was the first time we've ever been on a tee box when the maintenance guru stepped up to turn on the sprinklers while we were teeing off (#12). "Don't worry about it, just rel
ieving some water pressure." As we were finishing up on the 14th, the pressure was still being relieved. Something of a WTF moment. It was good to play Banner Country Club...and Resort if for no other reason than because it allowed us to update Steve's original reporting on the irrigation situation. We especially liked that the sprinkler heads kept the greenside bunkers at #16 exceptionally moist. Well done. (pictured at right, the "pump house" near the 16th; generally we, as Goat Trackers, prefer a pump house that we can ping a shot off of, but no such luck here; another clever course design feature. "The Deer Hunter": Friar Tuck insisted that we include something about this episode in the review and he was right in doing so. It all started on #12, when after we made our way off the freshly-watered tee box, we noticed a doe munching away in the woods at the turn in the dogleg. The doe, possibly sensing our Track Cred, seemingly gave us a thumbs up (or it would have, if hooves had thumbs), as we peacefully coexisted on our way to double bogey. As we started to circle back on #16, we nocited that the doe, feeling comfortable that there were Sherpa-esque Goat Trackers on the course, brought her fawns out for a jaunt, crossing in front of the 16th green and behind the 17th tee. Apparently that caught the attention of the group ahead of us, as they went "off road" chasing the three deer into parts unknown. As Goat Trackers, we have all prided ourselves on the stupid things we've done with golf carts at one time or another, but this just didn't sit right. Not good Goat Tracker form from our perspective.
We don't want to give the wrong impression or appear callous, but the groundskeeper's concern (when he ran into us in the parking lot, as noted above) that the "deer hunters," with their "reckless cart abandon," were going to undo any major improvements on the course, was kind of funny, at a minimum. If we noticed that they had driven on a green, we'd be the first to club them. We'd also have eagerly clubbed them if there were a wounded deer on the course.
Pro Shop: "Screw the course, it's all about the pro shop," or so the mantra appears to be at Banner Country Club...and Resort. W
e gained a newfound respect for Brooklyn CC and Chanticlair after walking into this impeccable facility; the proverbial "frosting on a piece of wood (that doesn't make it a cake)," as one of the founding fathers of the GHO (Greater Hick Open) has often said. Apparently the pro shop at Banner CC needed to maintain a certain appearance to blend in with the fairly new housing development at the bottom of the hill, which as Friar Tuck noted, was quasi-southern plantation in appearance, at least based on the slightly shaded regal columns facing the course on the 10th. The pro shop, in addition to the stone columns at the entrance and the new split rail fence along the roadside approaching the parking lot, may lead or mislead one to think he's not on the verge of a quintessential Goat Tracking experience. Guess again.Gazebo? After putting the whole pro shop thing into context, this was somewhat predictable and/or understandable, but still...
Who in their right mind would want to host a function in the landing zone in the pond on the 10th hole (aside from some Trackers with a 55-gallon drum of mosquito repellent and a 30-pack or two at their disposal)? The placement of the gazebo, near the "Banner Estates" bordering the course made sense, but just barely. We didn't get close enough to check, but we're pretty sure this thing gets pinged pretty frequently on weekends, possibly intentionally ("flip me another ball, I think that one missed it, this is definitely not a mulligan"); we're surprised that the ornamental parts of the gazebo haven't been completely wrecked by "errant" Top Flites. This aspect of the course set-up went a long way to explaining the m.o. that makes Banner Country Club...and Resort tick.In Summary, Banner Country Club...and Resort gets a rating of
out of four GT logos. Unless you're trying to justify your drive time to the scenic southeastern portion of Connecticut, there's no real need to play more than 9 holes on any single Tracking excursion here; if you're trying to spend a couple of extra hours "off the marital grid," that's another story, entirely.While it most definitely possesses the "playability attributes" that we look for in a Goat Track, there are some odd Track characteristics that somewhat detract from Banner's overall "Track Charm." We do; however, appreciate the Spackler-esque approach to maintenance; just a loose cannon with a cart, chasing down kids chasing deer. You just can't beat that for sheer Goat Tracking Entertainment Value.
The better half of Coventry's Dynamic Duo, Skungamaug River GC, a/k/a "The Skunk". Had a chance to play here (8/16/07) for the first time since college (which was an awfully long time ago) and can offer the following (which can be framed by saying that it's not nearly the dump that I remember playing back then, but it's still worthy of consideration as a Track):
Rural Layout: Like a lot of courses east of the River (Long Hill CC excluded), on the way to the Skunk, it doesn't take to long to cross into territory that makes think you hear "dueling banjos" ringing in your ears. If you see stone walls on nearly every hole, you know that you're on a Track. There's no shortage of stonework at the Skunk; in fact as we made the turn, the groundskeeping folks were using a backhoe to construct another stone wall.
Cart Paths: All peastone, as was the parking lot, which reminds the more seasoned Trackers of how the "original" GT used to be.
More Rocks: #8, par 3. Fortunately, I skulled my tee shot and had an opportunity to check out the layout of the rough. Enough rocks to build yet another wall. Loved it. In summary, don't worry about hitting out of the rough if you miss the Skunk's fairways, worry instead about where your ball may ping to off the rocks that lie in wait for your errant shot. Classic example, GT Duke and I were equally and utterly amazed that I could hit a shot dead nuts right and have it ping and go o.b. left (#12).
Tee Boxes: In better shape than we're accustomed to on a Track. Best one was #3, the undulating tee box, the waterbed of tee boxes. There was no way to get good footing on this one; downhill, uphill, or sidehill lie, take your pick, but you weren't launching a great drive from this one, no matter what.
Greens: In waaaaaaaaaay better shape than expected, especially on the back 9. Speed was nicely inconsistent on the front, not so much on the back. They seemed to have a bit more of a "turtleback" contour than we've seen on other Tracks, which made for some ugly rolls on putts and approach shots that didn't settle in as well as they would've on another Track, but that was part of the challenge. As noted by GT Duke during his "front 9 of many one-putt greens" there was no explanation for speed; they would put on the brakes and drop, look dead and then speed up, who the hell knew where they were going...
Course Management: GT Duke said that the Skunk doesn't set up well if you want to play a draw off the tee. That is of course a foreign concept to most Trackers, so we'll just take his word for it.
Course Navigation: When playing the back 9, getting to #13 requires a trip across the road and through the parking lot to get to the tee box. Fantastic. Holes are way spread apart on the back 9, which makes it a pain in the ass to walk. As noted by GT Duke, the elevated tee boxes, particularly #17 may require the assistance of a Sherpa (a real Himalayan Sherpa) to traverse the uphill, gravelly ascents if you're walking; if you're riding, plan on getting familiar with dialysis.
Noteworthy Holes: 14 through 17 made interesting use of changes in elevation, to say the least. As an added bonus, the wafting scent of cow/horse manure that I remembered from way back when was reminiscent of a walk across the UCONN campus in spring. Two thumbs up for the Skunk!
The other half of Coventry's Dynamic Duo, Robin to Skungamaug's Batman, Twin Hills. Many thanks to Ornery Bob, who reminded me about this one, which was a cornerstone of the UCONN golf rotation. Driving past the Mansfield Correctional Institute to get there from UCONN keeps things in perspective when your tee shot winds up "in jail."
It's always reassuring to a Tracker when he can roll/rumble into a gravel parking lot at the course and this set a good tone for the round at Twin Hills.
Layout: Best way to summarize the layout of the back 9, WOOF! WOOF! More doglegs than a freakin' kennel! Upon further reflection (GT Sherpa zen-like meditation), the main purpose that the dog legs serve is to frustrate non-Trackers to the point of making them want to hammer shots into the trees, disrupting their game and any chance of achieving true "Sherpa chi." The 10th hole is probably the exception because it affords a fair opportunity to thread the needle through the three trees that stand in the way between a mediocre tee shot and a wedge into the green.
(Layout Observation #2) Best summarized by Tom Petty, "Into the Great Wide Open." I won't speak for others, but that tune definitely rattled around in my head while walking the back 9; the width of the fairways is comparable to those on the front 9 at Rolling Meadows.
Tee Boxes: It may take a good Tracker to truly appreciate them. Some were shaggier than others, but that's just minutiae. Most were wide, mirroring the fairways, and they were deceptively level at first glance. Apparently, one doesn't notice the quirky lies on the tee until the peg is already in the ground and you're trying to figure out how you did such a bad job of picking a spot to tee off and adjust your stance at address. Truly impressive.
Fairways: Great job of setting expectations and then allowing for a different outcome. The first few were fairly well pulverized, setting the bar in the comfort zone of most seasoned Trackers. On the first divot of the day, a couple of cutworms were unearthed beneath the turf, which may have explained part of the problem. After the first few holes, the fairway conditions leveled out. The other notable feature was rocks popping through the surface in some spots. This was great and reminiscent of the round at The Skunk last year.
Bunkers: So soft, as to be almost unTracklike, but with just enough pebbles and stones to make them completely Trackworthy. Also, fairly shallow for the most part, so they're not too punishing.
Greens: Best described as "expansive." If Robert Frost were a Goat Tracker, he may have revised one of his signature poems to read, "miles to putt before I sleep." We'd say, "there's more grass on one green at Twin Hills than on all the greens on the back 9 at The Tradition GC combined," but that probably wouldn't be saying much. They're deceptively quick for a Goat Track, comparable to those at Simsbury Farms, which as many Trackers know, will undoubtedly screw up your putting game on your next trip to a "normal" Goat Track. Even the greens that were aerated/sanded were quicker than those at the GT in "peak condition." Surprisingly enough, the expansive greens didn't yield as many 3-putts as expected.
Rough: Non-descript and short, along the lines of Keney in midsummer
Water Hazards: The pond on the 10th hole has an "algae inhibiting" fountain; not Tracker-friendly. The best example of a Tracker-friendly water hazard was probably on #12, with just enough algae left to make Trackers comfortable with the course.
Other Track Features
Stone Walls: GT style points deducted for the thing constructed behind the 16th tee box. Too uniform, too level, too not Trackworthy. That was balanced out by a cool, old-school stone wall behind the 17th green and the impressive elevated tee on #18, built into a huge stone retaining wall (reminiscent of the old first tee at Canton GC). In short, The Skunk gets the edge over Twin Hills as it relates to stonework.
Bridges: Between the 3rd and 17th, quite possibly the most unTrackworthy bridge ever witnessed at a Goat Track; the folks at Augusta National might be impressed; the folks at the NJ Transit Authority could probably put a toll booth on it, but aside from the shocking first impression, Goat Trackers are not impressed by it.
Best Track Feature: Hand (or paws) down, the bear-proof garbage cans. Maybe they're not truly bear-proof because they're not covered (and just intended to be windproof), but the sight of a 35-gallon Rubbermaid garbage can ensconced in a two-foot wide, rectangular, ceramic chimney flue out in the middle of the sticks is absolutely priceless.
In a nutshell, the back 9 at Twin Hills is mainly Tracker-friendly, if you can avoid being driven crazy by all the doglegs. A good Tracking experience and not quite as remote as one might think.
Based on this May 2009 update sent by GT Field Correspondent Dan, the review below may be rendered obsolete at some point, but for now it still applies.
How this course slipped under the radar during the UCONN years is beyond me. Those of us in the "Windham Hall Golf Group" obviously put too much faith in the Tracker known as Ornery Bob and his knowledge of Tolland County (otherwise know as the sticks) and its courses. Since Willimantic CC is only 15 minutes from campus, someone screwed up. To anyone who went to UCONN, "Willimantic" and "Country Club" belong in the same sentence about as much as "Jungle Cafeteria" and "Fine Dining."
This course sets up pretty well right from the get go as far as its Goat Track credentials. Although only the back 9 is reviewed here, everything leading up to the 10th tee is Trackworthy, at a minimum.
First: The parking lot is unpaved, always a good sign. The fact that it's mainly sand and dirt as opposed to gravel makes it that much better. Apparently, there's another lot for "banquet parking" behind the main lot and the assumption is that it's paved, but nothing makes a Goat Tracker feel at home right off the bat like an unpaved lot.
Second: The pro shop is a fairly old building, reminiscent of the one at (the former) Canton GC, minus the fireplace and the cats. Just a good Goat Tracking vibe. The major difference between the two is that Willi CC has a locker room downstairs, similar to Keney, so that must make it a country club, in some way.
Third: The first tee has a great set up: an elevated tee box, with the practice green 15 or 20 yards in front of it at a 45-degree angle to the right, without a net in between them. Then there's a paved path right underneath the tee box to get to the 10th tee from the pro shop and a road just a bit further in front of the tee box to hit over. So much opportunity to call in life-star, it's mindboggling; on the other hand, the fact that there's not at least a daily ambulance trip out of Willi CC speaks volumes about the skill and acumen that those who play the course on a regular basis have.
Tee Boxes: Some seasonal wear & tear, but otherwise non-descript and unlike what we're accustomed to at the Goat Tracks that are part of the Minor Event rotation.
Fairways: Quite impressive in their condition. The challenge was to find the hidden yardage markers. Can you look (either forward or back) at the 150 post and figure out how far you are to the green? Probably only if you've tapped into your "Inner Tracker." If you're inclined to be more precise, you're in for a treat (unless you have a sky caddy). Finding marked sprinkler heads is like an odd variation on an Easter egg hunt. Apparently the course is old enough that the old dome markers are pretty much buried in the fairways (there was a glimpse of one) and that scores pretty high among Goat Trackers.
Bunkers: Shocking. Sand the medium brown color that we're used to, yet pebble/boulder free and smooth. Almost a pleasure to hit into and out of them.
Rough: Most manageable. The most noticeable aspect of the "outer boundaries" on the back 9 at Willi CC is that the tree lines are fairly heavy and can test even the most experienced Sherpa Tracker attempting to hit over and/or through them.
Greens: The back 9 probably isn't representative of the whole course (the back 9 was finished about 40 years later than the front, circa 1962). In a nutshell, they were amazingly uniform in terms of height, color, and type of grass. They're also a lot more puttable when they're not damp. Hell, if i can sink a 35-footer on them, then they're ripe for the taking. (note on the "dampness factor": this is the first time we've ever encountered a plugged ball on the green; fortunately an official ruling wasn't necessary)
Water Hazards: None to speak of, other than the brook that runs in front of #12. Kind of boring.
Other Trackworhty Stuff:
Mounds: in the fairway on #13 (par 5) and the middle of #16 (par 3, reminiscent of the last par 3 at Fenwick). Maybe there's a rhyme or reason to them, but they just seem odd, in a good GT way. They brought to mind a miniature golf course on a bigger scale.
Orange Snow Fence: behind the green on #12: Tough to say whether it's there to keep shots from going into the woods or be some kind of deterrent to close off the walking path that goes through the woods to the course. Who knows?
Majestic Rhododendrons: Nearly enclosing three sides of the the tee box on #12, a page right out of Augusta National's playbook. Just way better on a Goat Track.
The Scorecard: the only card we've run across that lists the time required to play a par round (1:58 on the back). Unusual, but most likely not something that speeds up the pace of play.
In summary, Willimantic CC has a good Goat Track feel, minus some of the Goat Track conditions that we've come to expect from Tracks that are in the Minor Event rotation, and that earns the course a pretty good grade here.
Brooklyn CC was on our list of courses to review in 2008, but got bumped in favor of Willimantic CC late in the Tracking Season.
After getting a recommendation from one of our readers back in March, we put Brooklyn at the top of our list of Tracks to review in 2009. We were somewhat concerned that by playing the course in May, combined with the "improvements" noted on the course's website, we wouldn't get to experience truly representative mid season Goat Tracking conditions. Au contraire, mon frere. Once we arrived, it took mere moments to realize that our concerns were completely unfounded and that this was going to be classic old school Tracking.The Review
Logistics/Navigation: Unless you live in either Windham or Tolland counties ... or Rhode Island ... it's a haul to get to Brooklyn CC (about an hour from just north of Hartford). The occasionally scenic, but mostly mind numbing trek along Route 6 (a/k/a "Suicide 6") can either sharpen your focus for the first tee or turn your mind to mush before your clubs are out of the trunk. Slightly numbed by the drive out to the sticks, Golfer Number Two had the Beastie Boys classic "No...Golf...til Brooklyn!" running through his head for at least half an hour.
As Goat Trackers, we're very much at home playing courses adjacent to farms, built on parts of old farms, etc., but we got a glimpse of something never before experienced on the way to Brooklyn CC. The highlight of the journey, hands down, had to be passing by the alpaca sanctuary (in Hampton, we think; not sure because all the towns start to blend together after you've been on Route 6 a while). Hopefully, there will be an opportunity to to stop there on a future trip.
The signage to find the course from Route 6 was good enough for the navigationally challenged to get near the course. If you're approaching from the west and you've never played Brooklyn before, your chances of missing the main parking lot, which is mostly hidden from view by stone walls and located just behind the driving range, are at least 50/50, similar to Fenwick and Airways. Commendable. The upside is that you can survey the course from both directions as you drive past it, looking for the parking lot.
There were plenty of "Lunch with a View" signs pointing to the clubhouse from all directions to let you know you were in the neighborhood (unfortunately, we didn't get a usable picture of one). If the slogan sounds familiar, it's because it's the same one Kahoots Showgrill & Cafe uses in its radio ads, albeit with a much different type of "view" implied.
Once you pull into the unpaved lot, it all starts to click. This Goat Track is, borrowing a term from Sherpa JB, "a slice of heaven."
Layout: Looked pretty straightforward on the scorecard and we were in good shape through four holes. We did appreciate that there appeared to be a choice of greens to play on #5, which was of course not the case and made for some interesting shot selections. Upon reaching the green, Friar Tuck observed that the old building with the corrugated tin roof behind the green we meant to hit could've been well-suited for use as a meth lab, which could explain in part how they can keep the greens fees so low.
Fairways: The most significant aspect to us was that, with few exceptions, the "fairways" and "rough" were pretty much indistinguishable in terms of height and quantity of grass; Keney's or Airways' mid season conditions would be hard-pressed to surpass them. Most Goat Trackers appreciate this because it lends itself to very creative interpretations of "winter rules" and/or "the grass rule."
Greens: Pretty much what we were expecting in terms of "speed" and condition. Also, the only places on the course with irrigation, which is old school and didn't go unappreciated.
(pictured at left: a well protected irrigation hook up near the green on hole #2)
Three putting highlights:
- 1) Thinking of putting from the fringe? Think again. Nice mix of clover in the well-tufted fringes around the greens to make the up & downs more challenging
- 2) As Friar Tuck noted, there was a certain "fall golf feel" when putting on the greens that had heavy pine needle coverage. Nice touch.
- 3) We especially appreciated the green on the first par 3, #6, which was just slightly smaller than you'd find at a pitch & putt, if you can find one.
Bunkers: We didn't expect to see many after we saw what appeared to have been two greenside bunkers filled in on #1 ... and we were right. They're few and far between; nearly as few and far between as the rakes, so it pretty much works out. Best features of them: 1) unless you carry your own rake, you're most likely going to be in violation of the "rake sand in traps" club rule, 2) sand retention: with the few shallow bunkers out there, we appreciate having logs, etc. to help keep the sand from washing out from the back side. Well done.
Tee Boxes: Intriguing in their own way, which says a lot based on the sampling we've taken over the years. The best of the bunch was probably #7, which hit the trifecta:
1) grass (yes, there was grass) higher than what you'd tee up anything smaller than a Big Bertha, 2) skunk cabbage (Goat Track staple vegetation) behind the tee box, and 3) in front of the tee box, the best reed-filled marsh we've seen this side of the Terp Track. Absolutely sublime to hear the wind whistling through the reeds while walking past, wondering what kind of mess your approach shot's going to be.Water Hazards: Field correspondent Dan gave us a heads up as to "one very nasty pond" when he recommended Brooklyn CC to Goat-Track.com back in March. We're assuming he was referring to the one designed to be in play on #9, but if you try hard enough, you can work it in on #5 as well.
It was pretty clean on this trip and looked like it had recently been dredged, with piles of gray muck between the edge of the pond and the tree lines on #5 and #9 and numerous muck-covered golf balls in the piles. What made this truly special was the boat with the stem (with a Rhode Island registration number) jutting out of the water near shore. Classic. It was so moving that it inspired a couple of variations of Quint's famous "Indianapolis speech" from Jaws. Other than "the pond" there's not much water other than the meandering babbling brook, which added a lot to the Goat Track feel of the course.Other Notable Track Features
Stonework: We may have to revisit The Skunk to see which course has piled up more rocks, but what we saw at Brooklyn CC was truly impressive. Given the old feel of the Track, Friar Tuck tried to put it into historical context by pointing out that Yankee farmers used to build their stone walls during the winter. A more plausible explanation as to how they were constructed may have something to do with the labor pool at the Brooklyn Correctional Institution just up the road.
The Moonscape: We'd like a few more opportunities to explore the Track Acumen opportunities on #2. This hole slopes downward from left to right, with the rock, lichen, and sand on the left (the moonscape part) offsetting the tree line and stone wall on the right. On his first attempt, Friar Tuck tapped into his Track Acumen and was able to play a shot off the bank and through the runoff channel into a decent approach shot. A great hole to play repeatedly with sunset and bar wagers approaching; it's got "trick shot" written all over it.
The 19th, or in this case, the 10th was closed when we left the course, so we can't offer any insights there. We did notice though, that there's a swing set near the clubhouse (don't know how we missed it on the way in) which prompted Friar Tuck to wonder aloud, "do they use the bar as a pilates studio on weekday mornings?"
In all, despite the travel time involved, Brooklyn CC provided an excellent Goat Tracking experience; so much so, that we're inclined to see what it plays like mid summer. For now, we'll give it
GT logos out of 4Del Boca Vista (a/k/a Buena Vista GC, West Hartford, last reviewed May, 2009)
If you're looking for a par 3/executive course, you might want to try "Del Boca Vista," just across from the reservoir on Route 4/Farmington Ave.). Not a bad place to get in a quick 9 (hour and a half or so on a good day) and/or work on your short game. If you've ever played there and have checked out the course's web site, you'll note that someone took some serious creative license with the "country club atmosphere" comment. No pro shop, just a starter's shack with the same footprint as a medium sized tool shed; kind of reminiscent of the original pro shop at the old Bel Compo in Avon (now Blue Fox Run) and the converted FEMA trailer/clubhouse at Airways, which works just fine, no complaints from the GT crowd whatsoever.
Archived comments on DBV: course conditions, 2008
#1: After seeing, or not seeing, the signage to get to the course (pictured above), the Executive Goat Tracking Experience at Del Boca Vista starts with "the most unassuming clubhouse in the greater Hartford area...the child's playhouse impersonating a starter's shack, " per Sherpa JB. It gets better after that, when one sees the reed-filled marshy area that juts out on the corner of the dogleg on the first hole (preferred way to play this hole is 4-iron over the corner and wedge into, or more likely over, the green). Truly a "Buena Vista."#2: Another dogleg left; the fairway banks into stuff on the left that, if you go astray off the tee, requires either a weedwacker (best case) or machete (worst case) to get out of; elevated, sloping green with traps on either side. A challenging or potentially frustrating hole.
#3 Over the past couple of years, the middle tee markers have been shifted around (mostly forward, closer to the red tees) and having them in front of the ravine on this hole is the main reason that we recommend stopping the self-emasculation process and playing this course (in its entirety, not just this hole) from the back, gold, or "championship" tees. This hole isn't nearly as fun to play from in front of the ravine; choose the white tees and you probably won't respect yourself in the morning.
If you've managed to score well on the first two holes, #3 is a wake up call, with a fairly narrow, sorta blind, but not quite ridiculous tee shot required, looking straight into a fairway bunker from the tee. The best part of this hole is the large cedar tree located in the middle of the fairway, 50 or so yards in front of the green, guarding against the low aproach shot, but offering a chance at greatness for the well-placed worm burner. Brilliant.
#4 Another of the holes which brings the "Buena Vista" into play. Downhill par-3, 160 to 170 yards, with a green surrounded my muck...yawn. The "Buena Vista" on this hole is the view of the lake-front houses across the street.
#5: Non-descript and short par-3, seems to yield consistently good divots on the tee box though, based on being near "brook level."
#6: Par-3, playing anywhere from 85 to 110 yards on any given day and home to the most feared shot in golf, the full-on "tweener wedge."
#7: The first of two pain in the ass...make that "long and challenging," par-3's. The 7th and 8th play similarly, so we'll only write them up once. Long iron off the tee; look forward to spending some quality beach time if you're close, but narrowly miss the green.
One interesting quirk on the 7th is that if you miss right, there are three trees lined up, extending from a few feet off the right fringe to test your Track Acumen. Both the 7th and 8th offer chip shot opportunities in front of and behind the green that allow Goat Trackers to utilize the more colorful aspects of their vocabulary on occasion.
#9: The last of the three scenic "vistas buenas" in this review; the view of the tennis courts and community garden across the street from the 9th tee box. Interesting pairing.
If you need to pull a shot out of your ass to win or save match play, this is the hole to do it. Occasionally, there's an eagle opportunity to be had; sometimes a birdie oportunity. Either way, if you have the honors on this tee box, an impressive long iron or fairway wood that drifts over the corner and lands where no one can see it will no doubt make your oppontent(s) squeeze a little tighter and/or go "vulcan death grip" on their tee shots (as long as no one heard you clank off a tree). Just a brilliant opportunity for gamesmanship.
GT logos out of 4.Westwoods Golf Course (Farmington)
Brief History: Prior to being purchased/managed by the town of Farmington in the early 1980's, Westwoods was set up for night golf, light poles & all, a sort of "noctournal Track." The course was "upgraded" after the change in ownership, but still retains its Goat Track identity.
(back 9 reviewed May, 2008, after about a 15-year hiatus from what used to be a home course)
General Track Conditions: Most noteworthy about Westwoods is, that because it's on a lot of swampland, if it's not cold out or there's not a 2-club wind adjustment, you may want to postpone your blood donation at the Red Cross that week because you'll most likely be down a pint after 9 holes due to the mosquitoes.
Bunkers: The fairway bunker on #10, which may actually be a fairway bunker on #1 come to think of it, was the quintessential Goat Track Bunker; so many rocks in it that it was like looking at a "normal" bunker under a microscope, magnifying the grains of sand to huge proportion. Unfortunately, this was an anomaly; although there were plenty of stones in the other traps, they just didn't measure up to #10 (#1). Otherwise, the bunkers had the consistency that we expect at a Track and were satisfactory.
Tee Boxes: Just chock full o'grass, which we hope will subside by midseason or at least upgrade to crabgrass.
Greens: At this point in the Tracking season, they're definitely in the mix for slowest played this year, which is commendable. Putting from the fringe was an adventure, possibly because we hadn't adjusted to take full swings from the fringe, possibly worried about taking divots for some odd reason.
Layout: Stashu-esque; we unknowingly went from the back 9 to the front 9. A navigational cluster****, worthy of the best Tracks.
Other:
Rules posted in the clubhouse: "Shirts must be worn at all times." This rule was probably originally posted when the Town took over the course some 25+ years ago. Glad to see that it's still on the list.
Pace of Play: We were able to shoehorn in 9 here (actually 12, based on losing our way during the round), but because of its strategic location, Westwoods gets a lot of league play. If one plays this course a lot, he can probably figure out whether he can get 9 in on any given day after work, based on when the leagues will wrap up, etc. That said, there are few things more mentally taxing than being backed up on a course that is primarily par 3's.
Summary: Although it was good to revisit Westwoods and provide the Tracking public some info, we have some reservations about recommending this Track to anyone looking to get in a quick 9 after work, unless they're willing to muddle through and hope to finish in the dark, as is true Tracker form.
A nugget from the hinterlands of the the northwest corner of Connecticut. Quarry View gained favor with those that review Goat Tracks for goat-track.com mainly based on a great name, a nearly unapproachable location, and a pretty good par-30 layout. This Track vies with Miner Hills for "Best GT Executive Course Reviewed in 2008."Note: if you look for this Track on Google Earth, you should be able to see the surrounding quarry that made this Track easy to name.
The Preview: From what we could glean from ctgolfer.com, this is a fairly new Track (built circa 2002). The best landmark to help you find the course is the East Canaan Package Store (stop for "refreshments" if you're so inclined and then take the right across from it and a left at the end of the next road).
Based on the trend with recent GT reviews, the GT site reviewers start taking notes the second we hit the parking lot...and when we hit gravel we know that all is good.
Pro Shop: Although any pro shop that's in the form of a pre-fab tool shed (like thos
e at Buena Vista and the old Bel Compo) score high marks on GT reviews, the building at Quarry View is even better. It's built on sonitube footings so, if you're lucky, you can catch a few chipmunks scurrying underneath the pro shop as you pay your greens fee (if anyone's there). We're fairly confident that the "GT Natural Historian," Sherpa Matt, would approve. This was awesome. Probably doesn't hurt that there's an old can of bug spray sitting on the window sill of the pro shop for Trackers to use.There's also a wooden swing set (golf day care center) between
the pro shop and the driving range (6 mats) on the way to the first tee. The "golf day care center" has been derided by some Trackers after seeing it at places like Blue Fox Run, but in this case, it seems somewhat less obnoxious. Tee Boxes: Could've been a repeat of the Villa Hills experience (reviewed 7/08), but as Lee Corso says, "not so fast, my friend!"
Quarry View does set up a bit like Villa Hills, in that the first two tee boxes are driving range mats...that are laid over another layer of indoor/outdoor carpet...but as any Goat Tracking Sherpa knows, it's all about not setting too many expectations. The only other "mat tee box" is on the 5th.
Quarry View gets high marks for making those who play the course appreciate a grass tee box when they get to one. On the other hand, since the actual grass tees get so much attention, more attention may need to be paid to some aspects that otherwise would be ignored. For example, the plastic green receptacles on the (6 grass) tee boxes... "Please fill divots with sand mix," the sign says. An inquisitive Tracker wonders what's in the "sand mix." After scooping enough out to fill a mammoth divot, one finds that there is truth in advertising...it's a mix of sand...with no grass seed whatsoever. Both surprising and impressive.
Greens: Wow! So short, so uniform, so quick. Barely blemished by ball marks. Then it all unfolds...they're springloaded! After a couple of holes, one realizes that the reason there are no ball marks on the greens at Quarry View is that they're as hard as a brick or possibly as hard as something from the quarry nearby. This makes bump & run shots mostly run shots after a pretty good bump. Other than that, they're not too complicated; fairly small and sloping in one direction or another, no goofy undulations and break-free as is expected of a good Goat Track.
Bunkers: Conventional wisdom dictates that if a course borders a gravel pit, sand for the traps should be plentiful. Bravo, Quarry View! The sand is truly something to marvel; so white, so clean, so fine...
Despite the high quality of the sand in them, the bunkers at Quarry View were pretty average by Goat Track standards. Probably an 8 out of 10 on the compaction scale. The most remarkable aspect among them may have been that the bunker on the front left of the 7th green was full of goose footprints, top to bottom, side to side, yet there was no goose crap whatsoever. Also, as any Tracker knows, the depth of the bunker sand can always be determined by the footprints of the animals that cross through it and the depth of their prints (geese, foxes, deer, squirrels? bears?). Based on this criteria, the sand is pretty well packed down.
Course Design: Two thumbs up for the last 3 holes. If they were put on another course, non-Trackers from far and wide would clamor to play them. Alas, they're "just on a Goat Track"
7th: Dogleg? More like a horseshoe. The 7th was most intriguing. How does a 360 yard hole become a par 5? Apparently the key is to lay the hole out in the shape of a candy cane. Actually, this is a pretty challenging hole as a par 4, requiring a decent drive into the dogleg and a good approach shot into a narrow green.
8th: 165 on the fly, 204 if you play the do leg. This hole has the best hazard ever! Two berms in front of the green (center and right, which is why there's the dogleg option), both are covered in six foot high weeds which makes them most imposing.
9th: Uphill 225 yard "par 4" with another dogleg option. Great finishing hole.
Other Trackworthy Features
The walk between the 7th green and 8th tee, with a great, yet small, sign (with a bird graphic) posted, "Environmentally Sensitive Area. Entry Prohibited." How about, "You've got about 15 feet to walk until you drop 100 feet into a gravel pit"? One's more polite, one's probably more effective.
The View: Really no point in playing a place called Quarry View unless you get...a quarry view. Best view of the quarry and northwest hills from the course is from the 7th tee. Pretty cool to look into the pit, which seems to be mostly limestone, and have the foothills in the background.
Amenities: Most holes have ball washers and/or benches, most impressive.
Breakdown lane? An abandoned cart in the rough between the 6th and 7th holes. One couldn't help but think that if this cart were at Van Cortlandt, it would've been up on blocks.
In summary, Quarry View is a pretty good executive Track to play, with some great Goat Track features that are best experienced first hand. Unfortunately, the only way this Track is logistically feasible for most is to include it as a pit stop on a trip to/from Saratoga or a similar destination in upstate New York.
We chose to review Willow Brook GC because it seemed to be an accessible course for Goat Trackers who could get to East of the River Tracks easily....and the lofty self-promotion on the course's website was intriguing.
The Willow Brook Review
Open for play in 2002, similar to Quarry View GC, Willow Brook doesn't quite have the same "broken in...maybe broken down" feel that we've come to expect from other Exective Courses. The manicured conditions and meticuolously edged sidewalks and curbs seemed to suggest that Willow Brook was aspiring to something better than what it is.
Pro Shop/Clubhouse: Immaculate, right down to the amenities in the men's room, which are a far cry from those at most other golf courses, ball parks, etc. A shame to provide the "Costanza bathroom analysis," but it fits. A disinterested sextagenarian running the pro shop made the whole thing work that much better.
Other Amenities: The range. The longest hole from "the tips" is #18, at 376 yards (probably the signature hole). Apparently, the driving range is there to help g
olfers sharpen their skills for playing other courses. It seemed odd, until we remembered that Westwoods also has a range. Free pass.The walk to the 1st/10th tee is kind of interesting, if only because one gets to walk across a bridge cutting across some high-quality muck, and past the pet cemetery.
Design/Layout: We like to think that we can always come up with something positive on this front, but upon further reflection, the word that came to mind was "uninspired"...and that's a painful thing for a Goat-Track.com reviewer to have to say. We at Goat -Track.com are generally pretty good about, and dedicated to, finding the nuances that make even so-called "deplorable" Tracks fun to play. No such luck at Willow Brook. Bombing away at every par-3 with a wedge can become tedious after a while, even to the most errant Tracker;
Conditions: We weren't expecting true Goat Track conditions, so we weren't disappointed with what we saw. The folks at Willow Brook seem to take course maintenance seriously. To their credit, the place was in even better shape than expected. If it were done on something larger than an oversized pitch & putt, it would've been more impressive and less puzzling.
Best GT Feature: The upside of the "newness" of Willow Brook and its extensive, smoothly-paved cart paths was that, rather than having cement markers, the yardages were spray-painted on the cart paths next to the tee boxes. This was a welcome respite from all the guesswork we'd been subjected to of late, looking for USGA markers, smacking people with skycaddies, etc. Of course, since the greens on the par 3's are so deep, there's still a lot of guesswork involved, but it was a nice Track touch.
Tee Boxes: Just enough crabgrass to accentuate the fully-filled fescue hitting areas. Of note, the grass seed/sand mix buckets were only placed behind the blue tees; not sure what to make of that.
Bunkers: Goat Track worthy in that they were somewhat granular (not powdery), which we like; no pebbles, no two-foot high grass around the lips, no grass in them; a 5 out of 10 on the GT Trap scale.
Greens: Best part of the course. Top notch, especially when considering they're being bombed at from the tees with wedges all the time. If Golfer Number Two can make a 25-footer to save his bacon for par, it stands to reason that they're exceptionally puttable. The Goat-Track.com putting spectrum generally has only two points, ranging from "unputtable" to "puttable." Willow Brook moved the needle to "exceptionally puttable."
Summary: Although the course conditions and facilities were top notch, we can't rate Willow Brook anything more than
GT logos out of 4.Back in June Rabbit Ears and I were looking for a course in the Berlin/Middletown area that we thought was Miner Hills, be we ended up at a defunct course (and ended up playing Timberlin). After further recon, we can provide a review of the Miner Hills Track.
In general, it's difficult for a quasi-executive (par 30) course to truly distinguish itself as a Goat Track, but Miner Hills definitely holds its own compared to others we've played and rewards those who are in touch with their "inner Sherpa."
Overview: A fairly new course by Goat Track standards (1994), which could be considered one strike against it, but to paraphrase Herm Edwards, "That is why we play the Track!"
For a course that's tucked into the hills, it's pretty easy to get to, as long as you're on I-91. Even the score card lists the directions as "exit 20 off I-91;" very New Jersey-esque. ("You're from Jersey? Which exit?")
Tee Boxes: Mostly free of irrigation as far as we could tell and recently reseeded. Not as uneven as some that we've played, but "gently sloping" enough to make large sections of them unplayable to unseasoned Trackers. The biggest surprise came when taking a look at the "Local Rules" printed on the scorecard after the round, "Local Rule #3: Tee ball up on all tees." Oops. Based on the reseeding on many tee boxes, this instruction didn't seem to be widely adhered to and was not Tracker-friendly. While we applaud the maintenance staff's decision not to go through the charade of putting seed/sand containers on the tee boxes, we're less than thrilled about them demanding that you tee up a wedge shot from 120 yards; seems a little heavy-handed.
Greens: The review of the greens at Miner Hills may be tainted because two of the last three 9's played prior to this one were at the Tradition and Long Hill CC, which will make any greens seem impressive and/or fast. Needing to hammer putts was a given, but it was interesting to see the odd things the ball did within three feet of the hole: speed up, slow down, dive, dart, etc, (of course, since there is no break on a green at a public course, the dive/dart optical illusion can't be explained). Not sure whose idea it was to put the turtleback green on #2, but BOOOOO! HISSSSS! This is most unkind to the unsuspecting Tracker (which is an oxymoron, come to think of it).
Bunkers: The first trap encountered first hand was on #2 behind the turtleback green (and some downsloping fringe that feeds your shot from the back of the green into the trap). The sand has a much different consistency than we're used to; maybe because it was loose enough to allow you to leave a footprint if you weighed less than 400 lbs. While the material was pliable enough to hit an inch behind the ball without creating enough sparks to start a raging brushfire, there was a fair amount of flat clay pebbles in them to keep it interesting. Nice job of maintaining a "unique consistency." The most imposing bunker was the mini-cliff to the left of the green on #2. Little chance that the average "miner Hills Family Golfer" gets out of that ravine in one shot and holds the green.
Yardage Markers: These don't have quite the same "aesthetic" as those at Fenwick (marsh grass), just painted signs nailed to trees or the occasional stump, which is Track-worthy in its own way and fits the course perfectly. Yardage from the tees is an entirely different matter. Granite CSGA yardage markers on the tee boxes? Are you high? No, a proper Track (at least a quasi-executive Track) lets you get the yardage by feel. Well done! If you think about using a rangefinder, just cut to the chase and have your genitals surgically removed.
Layout: The first two holes, both par 3's, are great because you graduate from a decent elevated tee box to a seriously elevated tee box. Once you get up to speed on the elevation changes and if your nose hasn't started bleeding, you should be able to get through the first six or seven holes without incident. The main adventures on this course lie over the last two or three holes.
The 7th is pretty much a climb up the Matterhorn, reminiscent of the old 6th hole at Canton Public, but not nearly as difficult, although it does afford the opportunity to pound a shot right of the fairway through a fairly thin tree line onto a secondary street.
The 8th may be some kind of Jedi mind trick; an uphill par 3, with only the top of the flag visible from the tee and a sloping green behind the blind spot.
The 9th is great. At least a 150 foot vertical dropoff on the right side of the hole. If that area were a bit more open, it might be good for hang-gliding. Logs laid across the right edge discourage anyone from stepping into the abyss. On this hole, the bunkers to the right of the green aren't there to punish you, they're there to keep your errant shot from rolling off the elevated green and ending up 200 hundred feet right of and below the hole.
Track Acumen: Miner Hills does reward Track Acumen, provided you can figure out when you need to hit it left. The first and sixth holes provide great opportunities for a seasoned Tracker to hit the green in regulation and not have to repair a ball mark. How? By playing the carom off the banks to the left of those greens; kind of like a large-scale miniature golf hole, which earns high marks here.
All in all, Miner Hills earns a solid Goat Tracker grade compared to other Tracks in this category and provides a good all-around Goat Tracking experience.
Feels like about an understated
GT logos out of four.Villa Hills GC (Storrs/Mansfield, [i.e., somewhere out in the sticks near UCONN]) reviewed July, 2008.
Stumbled across this Track on ctgolfer.com when trying to find courses to be reviewed for 2008 and was intrigued because this was the one course in the greater East Bumfuck area that we did not play in college (aparently because this course didn't exist when we were in collge).
If you're looking to play a par-3 course to work on your short game, Villa Hills probably isn't your best option (we'd probably go with Del Boca Vista), but that doesn't mean that this Track doesn't deserve some pub. To the contrary, Villa Hills provides a quintessentially classic Goat Tracking experience on a smaller scale. The conditions are reminiscent of old school par-3 courses that have gone by the wayside over the past 20 years, like the one that used to be adjacent to the Tunxis Fore driving range. Some of the notable features include:
Pro Shop: There isn't one, just a sign in front of the vacant building facing the road that says, "pay the worker on the course." Awesome!
Layout: Despite being a par-3 course, there are some quirky shots to be made; elevated tees, threading the needle through overhanging trees, etc. From that perspective, it meets most Goat Tracker requirements for a layout that rewards Track Acumen.
Greens: Completely unputtable (on this trip, they had just been fertilized to make them even more grainy and challenging). Shaggy and no fringe. Since the point of playing a par-3 course is to see whether you can fire at the pin, putting is secondary; this aspect of Track maintenance was accepted and appreciated.
Yardage: The longest hole is posted at 185 yards. The beauty of this layout is that it forces Trackers to get in touch with their "inner Sherpa" because the marked distances are unreliable at best.
Tee Boxes: A true stroke of genius. Villa Hills took the driving range/par-3 course combo concept to heart. There are no tee boxes; instead there are driving range mats. Even better, the mats have the same undulating and uneven footing that we've come to expect from esteemed courses like Keney and Hawks' Landing. Truly impressive.
Bunkers: If there's a return trip to Villa Hills, it won't be without a camera. These were the best Goat Track bunkers ever, bar none; even the original Goat Track can't hold a candle to them. Calling them bunkers may be a misnomer. They were more like 12-foot diameter circles carved out around 6-foot diameter rocks. Best guess is that it's to make the course easier to mow, but as far as seeing something different, and Track-worthy, this rocked (no pun intended).
Summary: Villa Hills represents all that is Goat Tracking on a par-3 course. While it's probably not worth the trip for anyone outside the greater Coventry/Mansfield area, it should be a Goat Track of choice for UCONN students, especially since it's about a pitching wedge away from the Villa Spirit Shop, which isn't foreign territory to many of them. Load up, make some stupid bets, take your hacks, and circle back to campus within an hour or so. It doesn't get much better than that.
