Woodhaven Country Club

Woodhaven Country Club, a daily-fee nine-hole course, lies on very rolling terrain that is typical of rural Connecticut, hidden near the end of a quiet road in a tract of woodland–as the course’s name suggests. Huge, mature trees, including many evergreens, line the course’s lush fairways, and visually prominent white bunkers, the kind favored by course architect Albert Zikorus, are commonplace around the greens. Holes one through three are almost totally separated from one another; the course then opens up a bit for the rest of the way as the remaining six tend to border on each other, separated mainly by the trees.

The opening hole at Woodhaven is tough, the kind you don’t want to face when aiming to pencil in a routine opening par. The drive must be well-placed into a curving landing zone with a couple of strategically placed bunkers, and, should your tee shot err even more from the fairway, woods are everywhere. This somewhat unsettling par-5 then climbs uphill to a green defended by a large swath of rough into which are embedded five large bunkers. Easily seen from the fairway, these add more than a hint of intimidation for those who want to attempt to reach the green in two. At 530 yards (blues), most golfers won’t be banking on this hole, however, as a two-shotter. Consider, too, that this is #6 handicap index on the scorecard–just a middling hole here–and it becomes quickly apparent that you’re in for a true test of golf.

The challenges at Woodhaven are ample: the hills and their side slopes, three large ponds, sizable bunkers protected neary every green, dense woodlands and tree-lined fairways, elevated greens, several tough tee shots–a couple where the fairways are blind from the tees. The course generally favors those who cut the ball over those who overdraw or hook it, as the ponds are all situated on the left side of the fairways or greens. Surprisingly, Mr. Zikorus designed no clear risk/reward options (there are no full cross hazards) on the par-4s and 5s here.

Here are what I thought were, on this first play in a very long time, the better holes:

Par-3s:

You may well use the same club off the tee on both; these two mid-range 3-pars are about ten yards apart in yardage, but the longer seventh plays downhill, the second up a slope. Seven, the somewhat better of the two, will give you something extra to think about off the tee–the deep, gaping bunker (front), the large pond not far off (left, rear). Swirling winds may complicate your choice of club.

And if you end up in the bunker, you may have to consider avoiding the pond again, depending on the day’s pin position. The fall offs around the green’s left side are devastating.

Par-4s:

The Fourth: I’m not sure how the ninth is rated the #1 handicap-hole on the course and the fourth is second. Four, the longer hole, is a heavily rolling brute with a downhill but blind tee shot, and on its heels a tough uphill approach to a plateau green (heavily pitched, guarded by bunkers) which is the easiest one to three-putt among the nine. If all that doesn’t faze you, a hooked/pulled tee shot will find the pond, while chipping and pitching around the green demands utmost skill.

The Seventh: About as good a par-4 as Albert Zikorus ever designed, seven starts with a downhill, blind tee shot to a fairly narrow landing zone, the best protected fairway on an entire course of well-guarded ones. Hook or pull the tee shot and your ball will likely find the pond to the left; any sizable cut and the trees are its destination. The second shot is by far the easier one, which may typically be a wedge or short iron into a slightly elevated green with two sentry bunkers. Moreover, the pond is still part of the picture (short, left) on the approach.

OTHER:

Conditioning ranges from good to excellent here, with decent tees and roughs (the latter have been most affected by the recent drought), and excellent fairways, fringes, bunkers, and greens.

Zikorus’ design has shortcomings, I think, on a few holes. The sixth, although it should still be challenging for most golfers, is runway-straight over its entirety. The third and fifth, also respectable holes, are somewhat generic drive-and-pitch affairs.

It would have been hard not to enjoy my round given my three excellent playing partners, all of whom share my profession, throughout the nine holes. Great conversation.

SOME CONCLUSIONS:

Though not a heavily penal course, Woodhaven still plays hard because of the trees, the sloping land, and the well-placed hazards. The course slope is 123 from the whites, 128 from the blues. This is no real surprise from Albert Zikorus, as it reflects general style at nearly every course he designed in Connecticut. I would rank this as one of the five toughest, overall, among the twenty nine-holers (full-length) in Connecticut, having played them all. Most notably, Woodhaven excels as a test of driving the ball.

8:12AM tee time on a unusually hot Sunday morning, paired with similar skilled golfers as a single. Conditions were very good, given the heat and lack of rain. Fairways were in generally good condition, grounds crew was intermittently watering as we played. Very impressed with the quality of the greens, tough but fair, typical CT / New England golf - undulating, with challenging hole positions. Course was busy, but we weren't rushed - good casual atmosphere. Best kept secret for reasonable 9-holes on a quality track in Fairfield/New Haven counties.

Everything was great except having 3 kids driving around on carts on the greens and tee boxes in front of me this also happened right next to the pro shop, seemed like the staff didn’t notice or didn’t care they were doing it.

Great course layout and bunkers were better than most of the ct ones.

Great conditions. Greens seemed a bit inconsistent but in very good shape.

My buddy and I play here frequently. The staff is very friendly, they keep the schedule well, and the pace of play is excellent. We played in the morning and finished in just over 2 hours. The course gets it's fair share of play but it is in really nice shape with excellent greens. If you haven't played here, you are missing out on a 9-hole hidden gem.

Don’t let the smaller clubhouse fool your impression of the 9 holes of 2 challenging Par5’s; undulating greens; blind hots; sloping greens that challenge the most stiffmeter ready putter; the entire property is welcoming, secluded, and overall a great value for the Walter or rider!

Plan ahead to ensure not playing behind tournaments and leagues!