Jones at Lyman Orchards Golf Club

Back Nine Review: Although over fifty years old, the Lyman-Jones course still feels modern, with its spacious and even sprawling greens having carefully modulated mounds and side-slopes, large-scale and sometimes severe bunkers, and several holes that favor heroic play as one option.

Unlike the rolling front side, the back is flat, save for the tall hill on which it begins at tee ten--and ends at green eighteen. But architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. pulls off an excellent inward half here in nearly every respect. There are plenty of water hazards to go with the sand, and nearly every green is raised, significanltly enough, above its fairway. Your short game will get quite a workout if you’re missing them in regulation. Since one of Jones’ crusades was to devise holes that made for “hard pars," ( though “easy bogeys”), any missed shot on the way to the hole will generally mean trouble: It is then that par will become a not-very-likely prospect; scrambling and recovery is not all that straightfoward on the Jones. I’m not suggesting that this course can’t be beat; it’s just that you’ll have to earn it with consistently good shots, and it will likely take every club in the bag.

Beyond that, there are no real ‘breather holes’ on the back, no simple drive-and-pitch pushovers (unless you drive the ball 280-plus yards, and straight, with regularity). All five par-4’s are demanding to different degrees. Neither par-3 is routine, and both of their greens are well defended, with the 11th being the more dangerous if you hit a weak tee shot. Both par-5’s are hazard-lined, and you’ll need a high quality third shot to hit and hold each green.

One hole stands out just a bit from the others, in my mind: the fifteenth. This is a long 4-par that bends smoothly around a lengthy pond on its right flank, making the drive especially awkward for slicers. A push can be equally damaging. Even more than the drive, the approach must be laser-accurate into the raised green complex, well defended by bunkers to the left and rear.

Conditions were good today, if not up to the level maintained in July. Still, they were very good for November. There were too many leaves on a few of the holes and around some of the greens, but they rolled smoothly and the fairways were fully playable.

Some conclusions: This is a superior track, one of Connecticut’s best, and a course that leaves nothing to be desired: it’s playable, looks great, typically in outstanding condition, and keeps you on your toes. Jones’ hard par/easy bogey mission is fulfilled abundantly at Lyman. Plunging blindly--without a strategy--into any of these holes, whether on the outward or inward half, is certainly foolhardy. Smart golf, instead, will prevail, if you have the forethought and patience to play these holes one careful shot at a time. Having played the Jones Course many, many times, experience has borne this out for me. But some of my best golfing memories, several of them unforgettable, happened here.

Course was in great shape. Greens immaculate. Not sure what other reviews were about. Tee off at 230 and was able to play 18 with plenty of sunlight to spare. Will always come back to play there..

Tee management was spot on, the starter was on his game. We were not hurried at all. Course conditions were perfect, weather was humid as usual this time of year. Pace of play average...finished just over 4 hours. Do not mind driving a little longer for this course, whether I play Jones or Player course I know conditions will be great,

Great layout starters staff excellent. Tee boxes rough shape overall for price need to step it up. But great people and a challenging course. Time to put the money into golf. Apples grow on trees.

Played in 3 + 1/2:hours, great layout + diversity of holes. Greens very very slow + hard many shots hit to front of greens went over despite that excellent course, great value

My favorite course in Ct classic layout front and back unique trees water , but one can score if you can keep the ball in play.

You couldn't have anything better than warm weather in the low 80's mostly cloudy and calm winds. The course from tee to green were in great condition.

Awesome course, layout was a lot of fun to play. Rough was no joke, had some serious us open length! Played after a rain storm so it was a little wet, but considering how much it rained I can’t complain. Well worth the money!