Rolling Meadows Country Club

Bordering the course at Rolling Meadows are not condos or neighborhood homes, but fields and farmland. On the back nine, where holes glide back and forth up an imposing hill, you’re afforded some spectacular views of the nearby foothills, and, stretching over longer expanses, the Berkshire mountains.

The drive up to the attractive clubhouse winds along a rhythmically tree-lined road. Better still was the friendly greeting I received from the staffers inside, who were polite and welcoming.

I don’t think too many golfers would be disappointed with this striking, modern (1997) Al Zikorus-designed Ellington layout. Rolling Meadows’ strengths would comprise a nice highlight reel, but three central characteristics make this a track well worth playing. The first is variety: we get a pleasant mix of parkland, forest and semi-links holes scattered across the 18. Another is the relative dearth of flat holes: only 5, 6, and 7, all quite open as well, lend a breather from the hills and greater challenges. Most important, though, are Zikorus’ well-designed green complexes. These are distinguished as a group by moderate bunkering—with every trap well-placed—frequently stern contouring, and some sizeable falloffs that will test your pitching skills when missed in the wrong places.

Rolling and heavily wooded fairways, pitched greens, and sharply contoured surfaces make three of the par-5’s—1, 11, and 14—quite challenging. Fourteen, a tough, tight uphill brute, is an exemplar of these target-golf style holes. One could question the fairness of its twenty-yard wide landing area on 14’s second shot—with its OB right (which prompted me to decline going for it in two). Still, the 14th green is fantastically contoured and will challenge you to take just two-putts. The par-five fourth contrasts sharply with its three brethren; it is wide open and nearly dead flat, leaving long hitters a green light to make it a two-shooter.
Each par-three at Rolling Meadows looks pretty, but none seem dainty when played. Three may be the most dramatic, on which your tee shot must fly over a large pond, and that same pond lies behind the eighth, arguably the toughest. Enjoy the downhill, 215-yard tee shot and its long, beautiful vista.

There are a number of standout medium and short 4-pars here, all serving as the course’s backbone. I especially liked 9, a little monster that sweeps dramatically uphill and boasts the best-defended green on the course, and 18, the downhill but open finisher with some wispy, links-like rough on the right, but a hole that also begs you to rip the driver fearlessly. You’ll still need finesse hitting into green eighteen and around it. But the best among these holes is seven, a jewel, combining a fairway that heaves and surges upward in the landing area with a tricky, sloping green and surrounds. The towering greenside pines here inspire awe.

Not every longer par-4 impressed on these 18, but the ones that did were outliers. Twelve has to be one of Connecticut’s best holes. Its uphill tee shot is daunting (coming out of a chute of trees), its view is fantastic on the downhill second shot, it plays long at 430 yards, the green large but still tough to hit, the ground movement perfect on and around its green. Fifteen, a similar hole, is 463 yards of woods, a leftward bending fairway, and big slopes that punish imprecisely played shots. It’s a bit too fussy in the right rough (much is also hardpan) by the landing area, which slopes hard into the forest. But managing to leave your drive on the fairway’s right side—no easy task—will reward you with a perfect angle for the long, downward-sloping approach.

The linksy holes, including 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 18, are of interest. Although they do not have the genuine ground contours in the fairways that true links do (there is far less pitch and roll in the fairways of the RM holes), there is enough openness, as well as mounding off the fairways and movement around the greens, anyway, to lend the aura of a links. Such design compares to what Mr. Zikorus fashioned at the Tunxis Green track three years before creating Rolling Meadows. Although this was only a first play, I found that I preferred the front nine over the back, despite four of five excellent holes on the latter. The outward nine was simply more strategic and engaging; to outsmart the back, you’ll need patience and good shot placement.

Considering this uncooperative summer weather, conditions here were surprisingly strong at this
6,818-yard layout; the one exception was some mild inconsistency in a few fairways. Everything else was impressive. The greens ran at medium speed, and my only trouble was hitting firmly enough on uphill putts.

Al Zikorus did much of his best work in the 90’s, and this course rates among the top two or three of his many Connecticut designs, comparing in quality to one of his private courses I was fortunate to have played many times in high school: Southbury’s Heritage Village, where the LPGA tour once stopped.

Course is very well manicured and good condition. Biggest complaint was the greens were just too slow. Even downhill putts came to a halt.

Recently played the course with the Safari Club and was not disappointed. Excellent conditions from Tee to green made it a pleasure. Staff was friendly and willing to answer any questions.

This course is outstandning for all level of players.
THe front nine and the back nine arfe two different courses. THe staf treats you like you are their only customer. I played wiht the Safari group that day we were over 100 strong and the service and staff were all there to help us at every turn. This is a must play golf course
#191

we played this track with the Safari golf club about 100 of us .The Staff treated us very good .
The conditions were very good ,no problem playing the ball down.The greens were a little slow for me but in great condition.This is a return trip in the fall for sure .

I've played this course several times. It is challenging but a pleasure to play this well maintained course. Played here this time with the Safari Club. We couldn't have been treated any better! It was extremely warm and very very humid. The staff was terrific showing great concern for our comfort. They had plenty of ice water on the course and were handing out water bottles as we passed the club house. They also provided towels and buckets of ice water that were put out at several holes to stay cool. If that wasn't enough, they had a staff member driving around the course with more water and towels. I felt the whole staff were genuinely concerned. Will definitely be back!

Played the course last Wednesday with the Safari Club and it did not disappoint me in any way. The course was in top notch condition and was only surpassed by the great staff on this hot day . Cooling towels , water and friendly smiles greeted the golfers at every turn. A great experience.

Safari Club outing on one of the hottest days of the year 95+ The people that work there have a thumbs up from my four sum and I. There were culling stations on every third hold, and a cart going around to see if we needed the towel they lent us soaked in cold water. Nice job guys. The food was very good also.

I have played this course with The Safari club each year. We played it May 30 and I returned on July 9-18. The course and views are spectacular, the greens are well managed and fair to the average golfer. In addition the staff is friendly and very helpfull. Once we were there, hoping the rain would pass by us, we were caught in rain and some lighting, we stuck it out for 3 holes, it cleared and we again enjoyed a day at Rolling Meadows. Special thanks to you to Marti!!

Rolling Meadow was a lovely course to play with much undulation. Very exciting at times.
First time going there which seemed to take forever but I know it wont feel that way the next time I play there. Which I can't wait!
Staff was very friendly!
Food was good.
Glad to hear that Safari Club is planning another day there this year.

The Safari Club, western Mass's premier travel golf club, played this course in late May. Everywhere you looked, it was green. A well manicured course, you paid the price if you were not in the fairway because of the green conditions. The greens a truly rolling and make for fun putts. The course is well care for and the two nines are quite different in style. Feels like two different 9 hole courses.

This course is special...it is well groomed and cared for..we played with the Safari Club and the pace was excellent..
this is a course that you will use every club in your bag...
The owner took the time to say hello to everyone... she was everywhere!

Played this course on 5/30/2018 with the Safari Club. Great day! Course was in excellent condition throughout. Greens putted very true. Staff was great to work with. They were extremely organized, and buffet lunch was excellent. All-in-all a worthwhile experience. Highly recommend this course.

This is the second year we have been to this course and found it to be in pristine condition....the fairways were perfect, the rough was a little tough and the greens rolled nicely
Definitely a comebacker

Another Safari Club outing. And another very good golf course. Good condition from the tips to the green.

Played the course with the Safari Club and had a great experience. The course layout was demanding but fair. You need to keep the ball in the fairway to score and some holes have tight fairways. Conditions from T-box to greens were excellent with the greens putting true if you read the breaks correctly. A fine course with more than friendly staff.

Rolling Meadows is all about the greens. The greens are full of dead elephant humps and slopes as tough as Vail. The course is easily walkable but by the back you will be tired. The back is the real challenge, much longer than the front. Narrow and long tee shots are required on the back. Not any really memorable homes but still a major challenege. You must put the ball in the correct spot on many of the greens or you will three putt.

First time playing but will return...Course in great shape,with well mannered greens...you will need every club in your bag to play this course well. Greens fast...Bring your favorite putter.
The owner was everywhere...greeting people and interacting with everyone...She took personal responsibility for everyone having a good time.
Will play this course again with my regular group.

ON WEDNESDAY MAY 31ST I PLAYED GOLF WITH THE SAFARI GOLF ASSOCIATION AT ROLLING MEADOWS WHAT A GREAT GOLF COURSE THE FRONT NINE AND BACK NINE ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT
THE COURSE WAS IN GREAT SHAPE AND THE STAFF COULDN'T DO ENOUGH FOR YOU