The Vue

playing in November - course in great shape - leaves are a problem as with all courses.

First day playing at Laurel View Country Club in Hamden, CT. It is not going to be the last. Great experience. Very friendly staff and attentive to details, from start to finish. Marshall (or ranger) was checking through course players' pace. Course was well maintained, even we are at New England in Autumn, were leaves galore. Leaf blowers were out there, but you block the noise after a while. You do not want to loose balls under the leaves. Holes go from easy, moderate and challenging for all playing abilities. Highly recommended. It is a public course that can brag with the privates.

The course seemed a little weather beaten, could use some landscaping improvements.

Where to start.

How about you can only get a discount if you book it through online. Doesn't matter if you call ahead in advance. Instead of paying $31 I payed $49. Whatever. I can get past that and the "front desk" guy who couldn't give a hoot.

Best part was the Starter. Friendly, helped us out, etc.

Then we get to golf. Or I thought. We hit off the short par 4 first when the group ahead of us left the green. We finish the 1st hole and we see the group ahead of us looking for their ball. Now let me say that our group consists of 2 people who shoot near 85 and 2 people near 100 so we aren't scratch but we aren't slow paced either. We wait. We wait. They finish.

Now we get to my second gripe. The score cards are 100% incorrect for distances. You can't go by them. You need GPS because my supposed 130 stone marker in the ground, I hit a SW to the green after I flew it with a PW and had to hit a provisional.

So we finish the 2nd, get in our carts, and ... what ... the group in front of us is teeing off. What? That's right. About 15 minutes have passed and they are teeing off. 2 guys in their group top, and top, and shank their way into about a 50 yard gain before we start talking about how we read online how this course is HORRIBLY slow.

Well, there has to be a ranger right? Wrong. Not 1. We finished our front 9 with a 1:20 tee off time at 4:45. Thats right people 3 hrs and 25 minutes for 9 holes is roughly 23 minutes a hole and most of it was us waiting.

The course played out well. Was in good shape. Except for the bunkers. My god. It's literally concrete with dirt on top and rocks everywhere. I destroyed my Titleist Vokey wedge trying a normal bunker shot after clearing rocks and acorns around only to see a huge buried rock underneath after my shot. Literally just chipped out of the bunkers the rest of the day if I even could otherwise I would just pick up and play from the rough.

So we finish the front 9 in the slowest time I've ever played 9 and we head to the back. Anyone to check if we are playing 18 or 9? Nope. You could easily pay for 9 and play 18 if you wanted. I bet you could walk on and pay nothing if you wanted. No rangers or security.

So we start our back 9. Nobody in front of us. We tee off and there are people in front of us who are walking up the green while 3 others try to find a ball. Now these people aren't pros nor good amateurs, heck they aren't even good so why are they taking 5 minutes to find a ball?

Whatever, that passes. Next hole happens. I crush a drive and wait 200 yards out to hit a 5 irons when ... ouch ... I get hit by a ball on my right leg. No four. No warning. Nothing. Great. We finish the 11th and I wait for the guy to drive by and apologize. Nothing. Nice people.

We wait and finish. This repeats over and over.

Funny side note. There was an abandoned cart filled with cheap beer that broke down in between the 16th and 17th and was just "there" in the middle of the cart path. Just sitting there.

We finally finish around 6:30 p.m. and it occurs to me that this course is a shell of what is was when I played it through my youth.

In my opinion save your money up and go to Traditions or if you live upstate play Wintonbury.

TL;DR - Laurel View is a slightly below average course that is made unplayable by the pace and absence of regulation.

Course had taken a lot of rain early morning but very playable. Tee boxes did not drain well and were the wettest part of course. The course had been maintained which made for an enjoyable round in spite of wet conditions. Greens were in good shape. Course was challenging but fair. Would play there again.

Great value with Golf Now. Course was in great shape. Only problem was slow play, however the pace got a little better except for the par three holes.

Very pleasant course with an interesting layout. A pity it took almost 6 hours to play 18 holes. And not only once a golf marshal showed up to explain the reason for such an amazingly slow pace and try to remedy to it.

Decent course for the money. Gets a lot of play because of pricing. Course conditions could be better....Greens are decent, but bunkers not raked. I think it was a fair value for the price. It's worth playing for sure.

Foursome in front of us had a hole and a half open in front of them. No ranger to help speed them up. Finally we just skipped a hol;e and passed them.

Worst day of my life on a golf course. Over a 5 hour round, ranger said he took care of the problem on the 9th hole. Never done !!! We had 2 foursomes and left after 15 holes. A true disgrace ... wrote to management never received a reply. Pay $5 more dollars and go to a course that respects golfers. If not load up the cooler with beer and tear up the course that already down the tubes. Wouldn't return if it was for free.

Great layout, not to busy, greens were quick but need attention, not sure if problem was excessive heat we had this summer?

We played on a Sunday around 1 pm,,,pace of play was slow; but not due to course. Some of the 'golfers' ahead of us were either learning or merely challenged. Not sure of how to play cart golf, guys were weaving back and forth, especially on Par 5's. Next time will stick to week-days, when these hackers are in their offices. L.V. should one ranger out on BOTH the front and back.

Took an hour and twenty minutes to play five holes. Greens were in our condition. When we went to the pro shop after our five hole crawl the staff was not willing to admit that they had overbooked the course and doing a poor job of maintaining a reasonable pace. They were unwilling to refund our purchase or even give us a rain check for nine. Staff was completely unaccountable or kind. Do not waste your time if you value your free time!

Overall this is a nice little course. There is a lot of tree line tee shots, so you better be straight, The staff was one of the friendliest I have dealt with. Fairways need a little attention. I recommend this course for your average golfer.

First time here, had a lot of fun. Some really interesting holes, lot's of trees. Will definitely be back!

The staff was helpful enough. The course is in fair shape. The greens are quite soft and need some work.

Great value for your dollar! Challenging greens , the bunkers were a bit too rocky rather than sandy! Overall I do recommend this place , however it may be too long and narrow for the novice or child.

I played this course years ago and it was a fun place to go. I honestly believe they have stopped caring. Terrible conditions and loaded as many people on the course as possible. I know it's a Sunday but I have never heard four!! More in my life.

Nice layout and fun course. This is the second time I played it and really enjoyed it both times. Course is in good shape, greens are firm, a few tricky blind shots and good mix of long and short holes.

They postponed our tee time so a few "mens lub members" could get out with twosome in front of us. Then they proceeded to take forever to play. Five+ hrs for 18 holes on a Sunday is just awful.