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Player at Lyman Orchards Golf Club
Rating Snapshot
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: 72.9/134 | 408 | 378 | 395 | 198 | 397 | 357 | 228 | 592 | 388 | 3341 | 386 | 219 | 437 | 217 | 493 | 346 | 196 | 536 | 554 | 3384 | 6725 |
| Blue M: 71.2/132 | 400 | 367 | 374 | 173 | 386 | 342 | 191 | 578 | 381 | 3192 | 348 | 211 | 427 | 181 | 473 | 306 | 165 | 520 | 502 | 3133 | 6325 |
| White M: 68.8/129 W: 73.3/123 | 368 | 339 | 344 | 153 | 352 | 321 | 180 | 511 | 364 | 2932 | 318 | 195 | 407 | 154 | 449 | 294 | 151 | 508 | 482 | 2958 | 5890 |
| Red M: 64.3/118 W: 68.6/117 | 290 | 296 | 204 | 118 | 300 | 303 | 148 | 380 | 345 | 2384 | 250 | 170 | 309 | 140 | 411 | 280 | 110 | 432 | 414 | 2516 | 4900 |
| 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 |
| Handicap (W) | 7 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 4 | 2 |
Course Details
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Reviews
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
THE ROUGH
To all those who are complaining about the rough……stop hitting your ball in there. Brilliant!
Whitney walking
Great round with two nice guys. Fun day and we will be back for another round soon.
Thank you so much for your review! We are happy to see you enjoyed our course. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back in the future.
Lyman Player
First time playing this course. Many blind holes that made this a challenge. Fun course to try again. Greens are in nice shape.
Thank you for playing and thank you for your review. Hope to see you back again soon!
Thank you for playing and thank you for your review!
Great Round
Third time out, great track, great staff, a few “unfair” holes but fun
Thank you for playing and thank you for your review. Hope to see you back again soon!
Player
Love the layout . Greens very slow . rough was ridiculous thick and like that on most holes . Couldn’t even see the ball . The holes with Rough cut had way too many grass clippings . Realize we had a lot of rain but never seen the course in this bad shape in a long time . Also the cart paths need work . So much potential .
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We appreciate the feedback and hope to see you back soon.
Rough is brutal
Never seen rough so long. 0 chance of finding your ball unless you hit the tiny fairways. Would not recommend this course unless your hitting the fairway every time. Otherwise greens were in good shape and pretty challenging course
Thank you for your review. We take customer feedback seriously and are constantly working to improve. Please reach out to us directly if you would like to discuss your experience further.
Challenging course
The Player's course is not for the golfer who can't control his shots. Shot placement is crucial. The greens are very fast and the pin placements are often difficult to reach. If you enjoy a challenge this course is for you.
Thank you so much for your review! We are happy to see you enjoyed our course. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back in the future.
Gary Player screwed up a perfectly good apple orchard
Good conditions especially the greens but they should be a lot faster. What is the deal with hole #8, pathetic design, need to shave hill on the entire right side so balls roll back to fairway. Best comment I heard on golf course design was "Gary Player screwed up a perfectly good apple orchard!"
Thank you so much for your review. We are happy to see you enjoyed our course. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back in the future.
Cart path only!
It was not cart path only when I booked the tee time! When we arrived we were not made aware of the conditions until we teed off.It was very difficult to walk on the hills especially considering I have knee issues . It’s a fairly difficult course with a lot of blind tee shots even without the cart only conditions. The rough was very long because of the recent wet weather and next to impossible to get out of. I quit after 9 which was over 2 1/2 hours. The views, however, were beautiful!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We appreciate the feedback and hope to see you back soon.
Course is usually in good shape
96 degrees at 1:00 pm tee off. Course was quite dry but we saw some maintenance men watering the greens. Every area around every green had grass clippings that were at least 5 inches in length clumped around the greens. What a disaster finding your ball just off the frog hair.
Thank you for playing and thank you for the 5 star review!
Out of towner and enjoyed my time playing. Worth the cost and a great course to check out
Slow Walkers
Course was in decent shape with the usual thick/long lyman rough. Greens were in good shape except for some ant mounds and all the ballmarks that were not repaired. Pace of play was soooo slow due to 2 foursomes of walkers followed by some hacks playing from the blue tees. About 20 minutes per hole is ridiculous. Ranger was kind enough to let us skip ahead a few holes and complete them at the end of our round. Would have been a 5hr plus round which is unacceptable especially on a weekday.
Thank you for playing and thank you for your feedback. We are glad that we were able to find a solution for you even if not ideal. Hope to see you back again soon!
Very enjoyable round
Haven’t played here in a few years as I think it’s become over priced, but I was able to get a Friday morning time for $50 on the Player course. The course was in superb condition. Greens rolled well. The pace of play was excellent, finished in just under 4.5 hours.
Thank you for coming back to play and thank you for the great review! Hope to see you back again soon.
Getting better
The course definitely benefited from the heavy rains this week. Tee boxes didn’t require a hammer. Conversely, the warmer weather means the roughs wasn’t diabolical. Some greens were covered in ant hills. Still an awesome course layout any day of the week and the staff is great.
Golf experience
The course was in spectacular shape. I can definitely see the improvement made to the course. I would highly recommend playing here again.
Resorts World Catskills Stay & Play Package
Seaview Stay & Play Golf Package
Seaview Stay & Play Golf Package
Heritage Hills Golf Experience Package
Thank you so much for your review! We are happy to see you enjoyed our course. We value your feedback, and hope to see you back in the future.