Wintonbury Hills Golf Course

VERY GOOD LAYOUT. REQUIRES TEE SHOTS TO THE PROPER AREAS, THOUGH THE FAIRWAYS ARE VERY GENEROUS IN SIZE. APPROACH SHOTS CAN BE DIFFICULT IF YOU CAN'T SPIN THE BALL. HITTING SHORT OF THE GREENS FOR A RUNUP IS A GOOD OPTION. GREENS VERY SLICK AND TRICKY IF YOU AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THEM. RECOMMEND PLAYING AT LEAST YOUR FIRST TIME WITH SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH THE COURSE. NO DRINK CART OUT ON A VERY WARM DAY.

I moved from California, and I've been scouting courses in Connecticut that lived up to my expectations of some of the better public courses I played frequently out west. Wintonbury Hills golf course is excellent. 4 sets of tees, good luck finding that at many public courses in CT. Well maintained fairways, rough, bunkers, and greens. The practice green is large and in excellent shape.

The staff was very friendly, because it makes me feel slightly better about the following...

Complaints:

Golf carts — The automated governing system on the golf carts is the worst experience I have EVER had as a golfer in 20 years playing golf. It's poorly tuned, and once I drove in the rough (the rough!) off the fairway on the #4 par, which was down a medium grade. The cart stopped and would only move in reverse. The cart did not have enough power, traction, or speed to reverse up the hill. I had to request assistance from the pro shop. The cart governor system was implemented as if children were allowed to drive. PLEASE CHANGE THIS, PLEASE. Re-negotiate with the insurance company, or whatever policy forces most of this, it kills the experience.

Driving range — Do not take your golf clubs out of your car if you intend on going to the range before your round because the range is 1/2 mile away and it's only accessible using your car. I loaded up my golf cart after I had paid for my round and up sold the "Advantage Card", which I'll get to later, and was given a range token. I went outside, and looked for the range only to be told of it's inaccessibility. I understand the unfortunate distance, but TELL CUSTOMERS before letting them leave the pro shop! "First time here? Well, the driving range is..." The golf pro, or manager said I could leave my cart and clubs at the pro shop (under view of security camera) if I wanted to take a few clubs in my car to the range. That was redeeming, but also, that's the service I would expect.

Advantage Card — I was up-sold on a discount card, which I welcome, but not when it offers the same discounts (15%) as GolfNow and EZLinks for $100. The EZLinks system was broken, and I originally arrived after trying to book on that system at a 19% discount, but then had to pay full price when I arrived. That is not the customers fault. Honor the discount offered on a system that prevents booking, or it's bait n' switch.

The experience as a first time customer is about impressions, and there are obviously a lot of issues at this facility. The golf course is excellent, but that doesn't excuse everything else.

Reall enjoyed this course. Open Links style layout. Looks open. Looks can be deceiving . Makes you place the ball off the tee and then land the ball in yhe correct spot on the green. Otherwise plan to 3 putt a lot. Fun course. Beautiful .

I felt like I was a member at a top-notch private course.

Starter, George, is one of the best I've ever met and is a tremendous asset to this operation. He is informative, helpful and you can tell he really wants you to enjoy yourself.

Conditions were excellent, loved the mix of links-style and semi-wooded holes. This is a fair test of your game without being ridiculously difficult.

Can't wait to return.

It is the best public course in the area. A real test with a variety of holes. It's open throughout the front and narrows through the back nine. Pin positions can be wicked and the greens can be pretty quick. GPS in the carts is great. If it takes you longer than 4 hours then your slow. 4th time I played here and I'll be back.

Course was in geat condition, No waiting around in under 4 hours

Best public course in the Hartford area. Plan on playing there again next week.

I enjoy this course especially the back nine. However I feel it overpriced at $80.

This course is the best course in the state. The course was challenging and I don't recommend if you are above a 20 handicap. The greens are the best in the state! The greens were also I feel PGA style greens thats how fast they were! The course is challenging and long but its a really fun course. Food was amazing. Just an overall great experience. The only problem I had was how slow it was the round we had was about 5 1/2 hours long. The course really needs a ranger!

Wintonbury Hills Golf Course is very well maintained and offers golfers the challenge to play the hills and banks throughout the course. The greens can be "as fast as lightning" and the carts offer up-to-date technology for your golfing pleasure.

Impressive course. A must for players. People that play this course repair their ball marks because the greens were in perfect shape, dent free.

I love this course and golf now.com made the price like the average public course with a privat feel when it came to amenities and condition of course.

Played with fiancée (it was her first time) on an incredibly beautiful day. The views from some of the holes are enough to make you want to take pictures, that you forget about playing the game!

However, the course is in such pristine shape, that you wish you could just play all day until dark! If you have the game, play from the black tees as you will see the course in its entirety.

Although pricey, this is a "MUST" play course at least once a year. Have fun!!!

Beautiful course, scenery, facilities and people.
Tee to green is fair and challenging to average player.
However--
Driving range is 1/2 mile away.
Greens were close to unplayable-- almost "bare" of grass; too fast; too hard-- irons (even 'bounce-ons'), chips and even putts rolled off in all directions. IMHO poor for a course of this quality.

Overall, our experience was good with ease of registration and good pace of play. I've seen the course in better shape, especially the tee boxes.

Greens were a.little beat up but still rolled true. Undulating greens made for high putt counts.
GPS on caters was nice.

Played on Easter Sunday with my dad. Literally no one was on the course so we played the round pretty quickly. One of my favorite courses in CT. Greens a little bumpy still and fairways need some divots filled in but other than that it was a great experience.

Great challenging track. Each hole was unique and enjoyable. The back nine had a number of holes along the river with various elevations. There were no tricky holes or blind shots to the green

The greens had been aerated two weeks earlier but were still quite playable.
The only annoyance was that on the GolfNow website I clicked on my reservation and then clicked directions, the address given was given the wrong address. It was approximately 2 miles off course and not being familiar with the area it delayed my arrival by 30 minutes.

course was a perfect 10 plus greens were fast and no leafs

The course and greens were in great shape. I would definately play again.