Green at Tunxis Country Club

Who aerates their greens in 30 degree weather in November? Greens were a joke and as usual Tunxis never posts it anywhere when trying to book a tee time

It’s always been a bit of a thrill to make a right off of Farmington’s main thoroughfare and drive onto these golfing grounds on Town Farm Road, with Tunxis real estate and several of 45 holes of golf on both sides. It’s a scenic drive for any golf enthusiast.

But the real thrill for me comes from playing the Green Course. At par-70 and 6,446 yards, there is more than adequate length here, especially with the numerous long three and four-pars. What is demanded most of the player, however, is some strategic thought, especially the careful management skills necessary to playing these eighteen effectively. And while the level of difficulty isn’t daunting, there are more than enough challenges to test all aspects of one’s game. Consider that the slope is a more-than-respectable 124 and that the stroke rating hovers above par: 70.9 versus 70.0.

The Green begins almost pan-flat for the first four holes. Still, the putting surfaces are elevated above grade and the fairways are lined, here and there, with some Scottish-looking mounds, resembling what you see at a course like Kilmarnock in Ayrshire. Yet the overall feel—so far--is parkland. Over the rest of the front, the complexion changes somewhat more: five, a par-three, features a big, rolling green; the very long sixth rises to the crest of a small hill in the landing area; the seventh green is surrounded by some huge mounding, while eight has a similar look; the ninth has hidden, coffin-like bunkers right of the fairway’s landing area. Along with holes ten and eleven, this is my favorite stretch on the course, as Architect Al Zikorus broke the box of American tradition here, achieving a British Isles ambience. Typifying this is the par-four tenth, which is done to near perfection: a beautifully rolling and slightly twisting fairway precedes this hole’s raised green complex, fronted by three big bunkers (two are grass), while its boldly undulating green presents a stern challenge to a four.

After this auspicious start to the inward half, the course never lets up. Eleven is a pretty four-par that bends leftward around a pond. Twelve is a long, classic three par of 190. Thirteen plays long and hard—even if the driving area is fairly generous—and finishes on a small green for a 406 yard four-par. And woods surround it. Fourteen, another gem of a four-par, doglegs right sharply, and has two big traps in its landing area, with two more flanking the green, which happens to be two-tiered; but you can also come up snake eyes here after a straying shot. Another interesting hole is on its heels at fifteen, where you’ll probably use something less than a driver to stay short of the pond—a cross hazard—on your tee shot. It’s a testy exercise, amply protected by bunkers from tee to green. Sixteen, the fourth challenging par-4 in a row, encourages you to slam your best drive down its welcoming fairway, but the green on this 424-yard two-shotter is again raised and well bunkered.

Not many can reach the green in two on the 531-yard par-5 seventeenth. Oh, I gave it my best today with a 280-yard tee shot, but it still felt like I needed a howitzer to reach the surface. Unfortunately, Callaway does not sell howitzers, and my three-wood proved less than heavy artillery. Eighteen is a solid finisher, a long three-par with a green guarded like a fortress. Missing this green right will mean a visit to the tall pines, well below green level. Missing almost anywhere else isn’t a source for great amusement, either.

Today I played well and wished I could have stopped in at the always pleasant Tavern at Tunxis, which—like everywhere else—is closed for now. As usual, the challenges of the Green wore me out a bit, and I felt that I’d earned a quick drink. But certainly it had been great to play—walking—in about 3 hours. Because of the aerated greens, I would call conditioning right now “good” at Tunxis Green. But it has made a terrific recovery from its late-July conditions, when I last played it. Fairways, rough and greenside conditions were all excellent overall, and things are back in typical form. True to this layout’s name, the fairways and greens again appear emerald; the brownish tinges of July seem long gone.

Yet the Green’s greatest strengths are its balance, its playability, and its variety. It fits solidly into the top echelon of west-of-the-river Connecticut tracks.

Absolutely loved playing the course today. The staff was really great, and the course was in nice condition. My playing partner and I finished in just under 4 hours walking today. Can't wait to go back and try to White course.

The course is well maintained i would go here again

Good playable layout. Tough greens that were fast and very sloped. A few tricky pin placements.