Gillette Ridge
Rating Snapshot
About
Gillette Ridge Golf Club in Bloomfield, just outside of Hartford, is an Arnold Palmer Signature course. It is one of the toughest rounds in all of New England. The course sprawls across a beautiful landscape covered with natural wetlands and forests of towering maples, oaks, and elm trees. There are strategically placed bunkers in addition to the natural challenges but they are not excessive. The wetlands come into play on almost half of the holes at Gillette Ridge Golf Club. The approaches to the greens are seemingly intimidating but as long as you don't hit short there is always bailout area on one side. Since each hole presents a unique challenge, there is not just one signature hole, but one of the most memorable holes is the par-5 second, a true risk-reward test that requires both length and accuracy.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 7191 yards | 74.5 | 140 |
| Blue | 72 | 6569 yards | 72.1 | 135 |
| White | 72 | 5695 yards | 69.3 | 128 |
| Green | 72 | 4847 yards | 73.7 | 138 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 74.5/140 | 430 | 214 | 609 | 294 | 430 | 187 | 431 | 577 | 478 | 3650 | 426 | 505 | 431 | 182 | 364 | 387 | 612 | 187 | 447 | 3541 | 7191 |
| Blue M: 71.3/133 | 407 | 186 | 567 | 273 | 397 | 173 | 409 | 502 | 405 | 3319 | 379 | 500 | 380 | 168 | 325 | 359 | 556 | 159 | 424 | 3250 | 6569 |
| Blue/White M: 68.9/128 | 407 | 136 | 567 | 273 | 326 | 147 | 383 | 502 | 348 | 3089 | 311 | 500 | 299 | 148 | 325 | 359 | 481 | 146 | 389 | 2958 | 6047 |
| White M: 67.3/123 W: 74.6/138 | 306 | 136 | 474 | 242 | 326 | 147 | 383 | 480 | 348 | 2842 | 311 | 480 | 299 | 148 | 283 | 316 | 481 | 146 | 389 | 2853 | 5695 |
| Green M: 63.5/113 W: 69.8/130 | 234 | 119 | 394 | 215 | 225 | 124 | 345 | 436 | 301 | 2393 | 298 | 404 | 241 | 117 | 254 | 253 | 426 | 123 | 338 | 2454 | 4847 |
| Handicap | 7 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 10 | |||
| Par | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Grill, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Locker RoomsAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Connecticut (2022 #14)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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The sixth, 173, 3-par: The long slender green, obliquely set to the tee, is a common feature at Gillette. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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The ninth green: par 4, 405, but the blues were set at 440 today. A murderously tough golf hole. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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Eleven: par 5, 500. Another strong driving hole, with the Heublein Tower as part of the backdrop. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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Eleven again, at its well-defended green. My playing partners prepare to putt. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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16: One of my playing partners, a scratch golfer and club member, praised the quality of the three finishing holes; this is the first of them. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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The 424-yard 18th, a sound tee-to-green test, finishes the exam well. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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Photo submitted by u051162098 on 05/31/2021
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Photo submitted by u000008034144 on 11/10/2020
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Photo submitted by psppete on 10/21/2020
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Photo submitted by psppete on 10/21/2020
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Photo submitted by psppete on 10/21/2020
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Photo submitted by u241990994 on 07/29/2019
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Gillette Ridge Golf Club, hole 3 (former 12) Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 07/13/2018
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Gillette Ridge Golf Club, hole 14 (former 5) Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 07/13/2018
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A welcome sight: kids and locals of all ages pack the range at Gillette Ridge on a June Tuesday evening. Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 07/13/2018
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Gillette Ridge's drivable par-4 13th is an excellent hole. Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/08/2017
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The 16th green at Gillette Ridge shows the course is consciously shrinking the putting surfaces, presumably for ease of maintenance. I wish they wouldn't do this - it makes an already hard course even tougher and will slow pace of play. Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/08/2017
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The quirky 17th green at Gillette Ridge juts out over a stone bridge. Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/08/2017
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Gillette Ridge's closing hole is a fair but seriously tough long par four. Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/08/2017
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Photo submitted by Bullguy on 09/01/2017
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"Really"? Photo submitted by jfeliciano103 on 06/11/2014
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Photo submitted by u000005387859 on 04/30/2013
Gillette ridge review
I enjoyed the course even though the weather conditions were less than desirable, misty rain and cool.
Great day overall
Course was in great shape for the time of year. Would have liked on course maintenance to not have interfered with okay as workers continued in the fairways as we were attempting to hit. Would have been better if they pulled to the side and allowed play first. We teed off at 8:30 so it want as if they were trying to finish up for the day.
Interesting
We played on very warm Monday morning in November. Course was empty and we finished 18 in about 3 hours with a cart. Course was in great shape and the layout was fun. It was my first time and plan on playing again next year. Was a bit odd to see the 2 massive insurance buildings throughout the course, but better to see them than to be working in them if you ask me. I felt the par 3s from the white tees were a bit short, but not the courses fault that I chose to play from the whites instead of the blues. The young lady in the club house was very nice as was the restaurant staff. See you next year!
Course has a fantastic layout and is very challenging. Greens were punched, leaves everywhere and it took 5.5 hours.
Full Disclosure
The layout for the course is very good but difficult for the average golfer. It was freshly aerated which should have been disclosed and rates significantly reduced due to condition of the course. It was putting plinko!
The staff was very friendly but not concerned with pace of play. We were on a 445 pace for a twosome in carts with 4 groups on the 16th hole when it began to rain and had to end the round early.
I would like to play here again when it is in good condition - bring lots of balls, the hazards keep sneaking up on you!
Nice tract
Track is really nice , pro and staff were great
Would have given 5 stars all around but greens were punch little while ago . Not their fault
Will def go back
Avoid
If you like 5 hour rounds and not being told about green aeration while still paying full price definitely come here! If management needs the business so badly that they can’t disclose that then maybe this course needs new management for the 4th time in the last 10 years.
