Player at Lyman Orchards Golf Club
About
Lyman Orchards is a popular Connecticut destination most known for the nearly 100 varieties of pick-your-own fruit but it also offers two championship 18-hole golf courses and a nine-hole course. One of the longer courses was designed by Gary Player and the other by Robert Trent Jones. Lyman Orchards' Player Course is a seemingly mild 6,600 yards from the tips but don't let the yardage fool you, this layout is a tough but fair test. There are over 30 bunkers strategically placed along the small greens and deciduous trees and beautiful white pines line the fairways. Routed through the orchards across gently rolling hills, the golf course is as scenic as it is challenging. The terrain provides the course with plenty of ups and downs, as well as great views, especially on the 11th and 13th holes.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 71 | 6725 yards | 72.7 | 133 |
| Blue | 71 | 6325 yards | 71.0 | 130 |
| White | 71 | 5890 yards | 68.9 | 129 |
| Red (W) | 71 | 4900 yards | 68.3 | 113 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 72.8/134 | 404 | 373 | 380 | 190 | 397 | 351 | 223 | 584 | 381 | 3283 | 383 | 211 | 426 | 210 | 502 | 357 | 187 | 520 | 567 | 3363 | 6646 |
| Blue M: 69.7/129 | 370 | 364 | 336 | 175 | 345 | 341 | 186 | 567 | 358 | 3042 | 344 | 185 | 415 | 176 | 474 | 317 | 155 | 498 | 509 | 3073 | 6115 |
| White M: 67.9/121 W: 72.9/123 | 349 | 332 | 324 | 153 | 307 | 315 | 174 | 455 | 343 | 2752 | 303 | 166 | 395 | 146 | 455 | 299 | 142 | 484 | 491 | 2881 | 5633 |
| Gold M: 63.6/110 W: 67.6/112 | 290 | 291 | 200 | 135 | 261 | 301 | 141 | 378 | 258 | 2255 | 244 | 135 | 302 | 141 | 409 | 253 | 116 | 422 | 421 | 2443 | 4698 |
| Red M: 60.8/100 W: 62.0/106 | 244 | 244 | 196 | 112 | 224 | 207 | 110 | 305 | 240 | 1882 | 175 | 121 | 230 | 118 | 314 | 191 | 102 | 297 | 314 | 1862 | 3744 |
| Handicap | 9 | 11 | 3 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 18 | 8 | 6 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 36 | 71 |
Course Details
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Reviewer Photos
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On the opening hole, the second shot plays straight uphill to an unbunkered green. Fortunately, the green is large. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/23/2025
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Three may not be a hard hole when you keep the ball in play, but otherwise it is unsympathetic to missed shots. It’s the #3 index here. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/23/2025
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A view from the tee at the sixth hole. It is a surprisingly difficult test–if mainly for its blind, downhill second shot. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/23/2025
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One of my playing partners (“L.”) prepares to hit his putt on the ninth as his friends look on. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/23/2025
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Birdie! (…and on to the back nine) Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/23/2025
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The tenth is a robust par-three of 386 yards. It will fight you tooth and nail from tee to cup. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/18/2025
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Thirteen: One of several outstanding par-3s here, stretching up to 217 yards, downhill. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/18/2025
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15th, Par-4, 346: Set on the lowest section of the Player, this may be the prettiest hole on the course. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/18/2025
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Another view of the 15th from behind its green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/18/2025
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Seventeen is strategic par-5. Its character feels like that of a linksland hole. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/18/2025
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18th, par-5, 554: The fine and beautiful finisher at the Player, and the #6 index among many challenging golf holes. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/18/2025
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An intimidating par-4 that starts the round, the first plays 404 yards, uphill all the way to the green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2024
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The fourth supplies a kind of “break” as the #17 index. Par-3, 190 yards. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2024
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Hole five, a 397-yard four-par, threatedns with a tight driving zone, followed by a brushy pit that must be traversed on the approach. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2024
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Six requires a blind second shot down to this green set by the woods. Par-4, 351. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2024
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The par-3 eleventh stretches 211 yards downhill to a green protected by bunkers. Stretching out beyond that is a hilly Connecticut landscape. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2024
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A close-up view of green eleven. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2024
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The third hole is a brutal par-4 that plays over a brushy, deep pit. The view here looks backward down the fairway, toward the abyss. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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At the par-4 sixth, the fairway “runs out” alongside the green, where most pitch shots will be blind down the the putting surface (situated to the left, out of view). Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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The seventh, a classic downhill par-3 that drops precipitously to a well-defended green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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A view from tee eight, looking up toward the driving zone on a monstrous par-5. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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Tee-to-green, the eighth concludes with a third shot (typically) over a sizeable waste area. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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The closing eighteenth: as aesthetically pleasing as it is difficult. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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Photo submitted by u314159836253 on 01/22/2023
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The Player’s 2nd is a straightaway par-4. A stream crosses its fairway; the green is well-guarded. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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The fourth: a challenging par-3 of about 200 yards. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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Six is a scenic par-4 playing to an elevated fairway, its green hidden below in a small dell. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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Eight demands this tough tee shot to a perched fairway, requiring a carry of some 200 yards from the blues. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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The eighth fairway, as seen from the high right-side rough. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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Under late afternoon shadows, a view from the ninth fairway into its green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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The opening hole glides uphill all the way to its green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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Seven travels 228 yards downhill. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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View from the blue tee at eight: Par-5, 578. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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Green eight is set behind a large, marshy depression. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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Fourteen is a downhill five-par of 493. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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Eighteen qualifies, a long, uphill par-5, qualifies as strong closer. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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Five: par-4, 397. Plays downhill to a two-tiered fairway, then farther downhill to a well-defended green. First-rate hole. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Five: A view of its green, from the left rough. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Seven: A fine three-par with big contouring--reminiscent of Scotland-- around the green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Eight: Par-5 of 592. One of the longest par-fives in Connecticut. And one of the toughest. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Eight: A view over the large thicket that precedes the green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Eighteen, 40 minutes prior to sunset: A 554-yard par-5, with its green set upon a large plateau. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Tee shot on par 5 #8 Photo submitted by u314159379595 on 08/08/2021
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Photo submitted by John4576224 on 07/26/2020
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Photo submitted by u1732467322 on 07/15/2020
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Photo submitted by nugentmk on 07/05/2018
Love Playing Here, But Today Was Awful
6 Hour round...that's all I have to say. They put out a group of 4 with a 90 year old woman who could barely move, and they were so slow. There were 4 groups on 1 tee box behind them on one point! The ranger they sent out was rude, sarcastic, and did absolutely nothing about it. Usually the staff here is great, and I really enjoy coming here. I do not know what the issue was on this day....but it will make me reconsider coming back for awhile. Just baffled at how rude the ranger was yesterday, and how he allowed 1 group to ruin the day for 20-30 other groups. Unacceptable
This course has great challenges
Elevations and course layout with its spectacular views makes it a challenging fun day . Like Arnold schwartzenager said ! I'll be back.
Beautiful Fall setting amongst Apple orchards
Played around noon mid - week and got thru 18 in 3.5 hours!
Course in good shape, considering late season.
Some of the cart paths could use some TLC.
Pro shop staff were very cordial and efficient.
Very slow greens
We had an afternoon tee time. There was an EWCS event prior to us playing which really backed up the course. Staff was apologetic, gave us range tokens, and discounted green fees. My only issue was the speed of the greens. Lyman always has great greens which are well cared for. The greens were not mowed for one maybe two days and were the slowest greens I've putted on all year. Big disappointment.
Great course, slow greens, poor bunkers
Enjoy the design even though seems to bother other golfers. Some quirky holes with blind shots so adjust your expectations first couple of rounds. Greens were slow and fuzzy which made putting not very consistent. Only real complaint is buckers had lots of rocks which was not up to the standard of rest of facility.
Front nine in ravine-ous.
First time on the player course. Several blind tee shots only to find a good drive down the middle, over the hill went into a ravine. Shame to penalize a good shot. Read the map carefully before every shot, even some waste land areas that were blind from fairway.
Back nine more reasonable, every person in group improved their scores on back nine from 3 , 7, 7 and 9 strokes respectively.
Previously played the Jones course at Lyman, would recommend that instead.
Disappointed in bunkers-many filled with small rocks.
Average well known course
The Lyman Orchard golf courses are very well known thus are played oftern as the course condition showed.
The farways were very nice, the green good this late august, tough to read as they watered them durign the day, w actaully had to wait 10 min at one green for the water to stop. the Tie boxes were awful. dry, dusty and very hard.
Very nice course
Played 18 holes in three hours. Fairways and greens were in green shapes. Greens on slow side. Tee boxes need work
Nice design. Beautiful vistas.
My wife and I enjoyed our day. The forward tees were generous enough for both of us to enjoy the day. The elevation changes and design makes it a shot makers course. Co at wait to go back on the fall to enjoy the colors.
not worth the money
I have played here many times and feel for the rates they charge on e weekends, it is not worth the price. the daily grounds crew does a great job but feel the overall maintenance of the courses have been lacking over the years. lots of patchy areas with dirt near the cart paths and I have no efforts to keep the pace of play moving.
Had a good time.
Very, nice and challenging course make sure you stay in the fairway the shag rough around the fairway will swallow your golf ball quick! The greens are in great shape but the bunkers could have used a little sand in them. All in all a great course.
Well worth it.
Challenging course has a nice balance of long vs. precision shots. Early on a Tuesday morning we had the course to ourselves. Enjoy the scenery.
Disappointing
Greens were like rugs from the 70's, tee boxes were uneven and mostly dirt, bunkers were packed down sand/mud, and the snack shack closed at 3.
Our Favorite course
We do group day of golf twice every season and it is always our best course in the vicinity. We live the courses, views and friendly staff. We will be back in Aug.
This course is great however...
I have played this course about 5 times over the past few years and it is a very nice course however, the rough throughout the course was at a professional level. My group of 4 men are all about a 10 handicap and we couldn't find our balls in the rough all day long. it was definetly not like that in the past and would of been much more enjoyable if the rough was just a bit more manageable.
fun friday
Glad we played the player course.... the last few holes we in a valley that caught a lot of rain an du ck's on the 18th fairway.....there was another course in the valley that looked aubmerged
You'll need a caddy. And a forecaddy.
The day we played we lost one ball within 10 feet of the 2nd green and hunted two minutes for a ball one foot from the 5th green because the rough was so high. It wouldn't be so bad if you could see the landing areas, but lots of shots are blind. Wonderful looking course, but no fun hunting for shots that are just slightly errant, or driving up to what you thought was a good shot only to find a hidden cliff. Typical tight, over-tricked New England course.
Downhill
The prices have gone up but the conditions of the course have gone down. The greens were aerated a few weeks prior but we're still in bad shape. Bumpy due to sand and some patchy spots. There are better courses around especially for the price.
Great Course
The Player Course offered a great challenge. Not too long, but very penalizing in the rough. A Great Challenge.
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