Indian Springs Golf Club

Course is in phenomenal shape. Lisa is wonderful at the pro shop.

The course is green! Greens should be nice by end of April.

It's a challenging 9 hole layout.

Can't wait to come back .

Played with a new golfer and she really enjoyed the course.

The folks that run the course are fantastic people.

By now most Connecticut golfers have packed it in for the year--and for good reason. Golfers had to be fairly hardy to be out here today, with temps hovering in the mid-40’s and wind chill making it colder. Indian Springs had quite a few visitors, however--mostly in three and foursomes--especially for a day that falls within a week of the outset of meterological winter (coming December 1st).

I had begun to think myself foolhardy for even attempting to play today when reaching the crest of the second hill (at two) and the wind began to gust. Playing in the wintry breezes on holes two through five, I remembered my trip to Scotland, especially Royal Dornoch, as hitting shots here now felt nearly the same as hitting them on an oceanside links. Another similarity: average November temperatures in Dornoch, Scotland--only 8 degrees below the Arctic Cirlce--are a mere three degrees cooler than Middlefield, Connecticut. At hole three I became focused on playing the game after a long chip-in. I knocked down an 8-iron approaching the fourth, though the shot fell just short of the green. The golf soon became as engrossing as it always seems to be at this challenging nine-holer, easily among the best of this category in the state.

The course’s conditions, always strong for a public course, were good considering this late date for golf (Even courses on the more temperate coastline, some of which, like Shennecossett, stay open year-round, can’t maintain excellent conditions from late November to mid/late April.) The fairways here were more than acceptable and the greens rolled smoothly. Some of the greens that sit in the shade for part of the day were too hard.

Once again the overall level of management at this facility impressed, and it’s clear that consistency is a hallmark of the operation. Service is quite friendly here.

There are several standout holes here, but I like the first and eighth above all. The opener is a graceful, dogleg-left par-4 with a plateau green. And what a green it is: canted from front to back with all manner of clever undulations. Putting at the first green should provide an immediate ‘wake up call,’ and the alarm may sound loudly if you haven’t warmed up. The other fascinating hole is eight, a moderate par-4 that plays uphill all the way to the green. Out of bounds left, out of bounds right. This is exactly the kind of hole that will eat up even a small banana ball. The green complex, positioned atop a small but rugged hill, demands your utmost; you’ll need a purely struck approach to be on in regulation.

What makes Indian Springs unusual, by contrast to the typical nine holer, is a near dearth of genuine birdie opportunities. The aforementioned fourth, a straightaway 363-yarder, is one, but it’s complicated by a tricky approach to a green generally not all that receptive--though it’s huge. The only other chance typically comes at nine, the airy drive-and-pitch closer.

I walked 9 holes alone, overall great course, the two par 5s are both blind so it’s a bit dangerous. The course pro gave me a layout of the course since it was my first time there. Overall experience was great.

Nice and challenging course with very friendly staff. Good course to walk!

I've played this course several times and the length, condition and layout of the course is nicely challenging and fun.