The Golf Club At Oxford Greens

Oxford Greens is a first-class parkland course on which most holes are set on hillsides and wind through woodland. Here the defenses on each hole are many, but the recurrent ones are the peripheral trees, the bunkering, and the hilly terrain: holes play both uphill and down; they also favor a distinct fairway slope from a higher right side on many of these par-4’s and most of the par-5’s (seventeen, however, tilts strongly the other way). The net effect is that those who hook or overdraw the ball must be careful off the tees.

Located in what might feel a bit like hinterlands, the course is really part of an Oxford neighborhood that includes an industrial park, an airport, and the Village at Oxford Greens (an active adult community). The upscale, single-family homes around the fringes of parts of this course–some free-standing, some attached–seemingly mirror the quality of the course itself. Lending a quiet backdrop to many of the holes, the houses are set an adequate distance from the golf course.

Oxford Greens Golf Course soon becomes a strenuous test after its routine opener, when the stretch from two through five demands high quality play from any golfer, no matter how good. The second, a long par-3 with a classic-era Biarritz green, will test even the best putters, while the third is perhaps the toughest (and maybe the best) hole on the entire course. This brutal and monumental five-par plays straight uphill–it maxes out at 630 yards from the deep tees–and will be a three-shotter for all but those who slam 350 yard tee shots. The fourth and fifth holes follow up as longer par-4’s with plenty of places where your shots shouldn’t be missed: into the trees from the tees; down the big fall-offs around these two greens.

The excellent front side ends on a potent par-3, playing over a glen from the tee to a pencil-thin green that is extraordinarily well defended.

Somehow course architect Mark Mungeam pulls off an equally impressive inward half, on which, through some process of alchemy, Seth Raynor ‘template’ holes–or parts of holes–mix with purely modern design on others. Of the templates, I like the Redan thirteenth best, even though it’s not quite as formidable as some of the tougher versions I’ve played elsewhere. The double plateau green is also fascinating as a final obstacle to par on the agonizingly difficult twelfth. None of the holes you’ll face down the closing stretch here, from fifteen to the clubhouse, turns out to be easy, as even the short par-three sixteenth is laden with trouble if you miss your short-iron. But along with an excellent uphill par-5 on the 17th (which will require a well-placed and accurate second shot) there are three first-class par-4’s that culminate with an ideal closer. Most notable about eighteen is it’s fairway, defined by a few well-placed bunkers, clever downslopes, and some ‘partial blindness,’ as it were, from the tee, all of which conspire to make a great driving test. The approach shot, moreover, to green eighteen must be equally precise.

Conditions:

Average in general; though decent for December. No one should set their expectations high for golf course conditioning during the winter. The course was playable today, though with aerated greens and lowered maintenance standards from in-season norms. In short, it’s what I expected and didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the round.

Playing Experience:

Played all 18, starting at about 10:15, with golfers being sent out on both nines. Especially enjoyed playing the front nine (which today followed the back) with a threesome I joined, all avid and good golfers who were pleasant companions. They all live in southwestern Connecticut, nearby, and enjoy this course as I do.

The starter here was particularly helpful, the overall service friendly.

Some Conclusions: In December conditions aren’t what they normally are at OG (as is typical of everywhere else), but I look forward to returning here in the spring, as this offers just about everything I want for a game of golf: a firm challenge and diversity of holes, a variety of settings with beautiful scenery, a mainly secluded atmosphere, and a responsive staff.

Disappointed with the conditions...1. traps not raked...2. leaves everywhere with no workers in sight....so many leaves, hard to find your ball. 3. greens were aerated, but not sanded. 4. Just looked like there was no maintenance, and I thought the price should have been less due to the conditions. 5. When leaving, saw a fellow putting our cart away and I asked him were there any workers still working this year, and he said no.

VERY DISAPPOINTED with a course I love the layout of, and have have always been pleased with.

The course was moderately challenging, only due to the fact that it was hard to find our balls amid the myriad of leaves lying and blowing everywhere.

Course was in great shape. Challenging greens. Great time!

A little slow. 4 hours and 40 mins and the pin placements for a Sunday where Pro like :-(

course in good condition, has very challenging holes. the rough is tough, need to hit fairways. Most fairways slop to the left. The 3rd hole is the most challenging in CT. If you like a challenge put this course on your to do list.

Real nice course of what I would call target golf. Nice layout partly among condos, partly in woods. Great conditions and a real nice course.

Please repair divots. The greens at Oxford are great but folks don’t not repair divots.

Course was recommended by a friend and while the on-line directions were not completely accurate, I did find it. Course has a spectacular layout , challenging but fair, and in excellent condition. Great experience and I will certainly be back. One concern is pace of play in that while our 18 holes were played in about 4 hrs 15 min, which is really good, our playing partners spoke of 5+ hrs for a round. This was echoed by the starter who told us to be prepared for just that. I do believe they are looking to work on that (on course rangers) and again my experience was fine, just a word of caution.

Everything was great... folks do need to repair divots as some greens were neglected.

Enjoy the course though