Indian Springs Golf Club

Indian Springs is a great big little course , really challenges you and keeps you honest . Fast greens and blind fairways make it fun and never repetitive .

Indian Springs, a short but hilly nine-hole venue, looks easy on the scorecard but packs a hard punch—largely from its slew of pitched, swift, and fortified greens. This seems like a nice formula for an appealing track to both mid-handicappers and accomplished players. If you read these reviews, indeed it is. Currently this attractive Middlefield course is the second highest favored in Golf Advisor's 2019 "Choice" list for Connecticut. In my view, there are some great holes here that make Indian Springs well worth repeated visits. Placing your round on cruise control here is not an option.

The three opening holes at Indian Springs are anything but routine ones. You are thrust into the action with a tight drive on the dogleg-left opener, a par-4 that may often leave only a short-iron approach, yet one travelling uphill to a green that is heavily pitched back to front, making for a difficult two-putt by any standard. The second, a mini-monster of a par-5, starts with a drive up a massive slope to a landing area that tips sharply off to the left. Equally fierce is this hole's ending: a slick and drastically contoured green at the base of the hill is well-defended and bounded by uneven terrain. Pitching, especially, may have nightmarish consequences around the carpet unless you're on form. Hole three is a short, devilish uphill 3-par with (I'm sure you're seeing the pattern already) another uncomfortably pitched green where three-putting is fairly commonplace.

By the fourth hole, then, the golfer may feel a bit like she or he is being slowly constricted to death by a giant boa. Fortunately, however, help is at hand: this straightaway, moderate 4-par might actually present a birdie opportunity following a well struck drive and short-iron. But on the approach you've got to hold a green that resists being held and then two-putt another speedy, rolling surface.

On the trying par-5 fifth, however, you're facing a hole that tests clubbing skills (on shots two and three) and straight hitting. Sitting at the base of a sharp and long slope is the fifth green, and behind it, the woods. It is hardly my favorite, but I respect Al Zikrous (the architect) for following his instincts on this unusual hole; I've never encountered anything quite like it.

Six and seven revert to the classic mode. An uphill par-4, the sixth will demand your most carefully placed and straightest tee shot of the round, the road intruding into play for those who hit through the dogleg. Seven is a perfectly excellent downhill par-3, with contours around the green reminding me of those at several Donald Ross courses I've played (no surprise, as Zikorus trained under Ross in his early years).

Next you'll face the difficult eight, and will have to thread, on the drive, what seems a needle of a fairway rising uphill. On both sides are out-of-bounds, and the towering treeline on the right makes the tightness of the hole even more awkward. There is a pronounced downslope to the left, often taking what are good, straight drives down into thick rough; there is an uprise to the green, which falls off drastically on its left flank. Most importantly there is the green itself sitting on the perch, its surface rolling, waving, and sloping in several directions so that anyone who negotiates it —including those who use the flatstick well—will often have cause to three-putt. The eighth, a test of accuracy and judgment on every shot, may steal the show at Indian Springs. It may also steal the great round you have going.

Nine wraps things up simply but beautifully. A downhill short par-4, it’s a basic drive and pitch home to another well-contoured green flanked by big bunkers.

Other observations, comments:

A) Part of the experience, inevitably, is also pace of play, and our foursome's 2 hour and 55 minute time made for a trying nine. I still enjoyed the golf itself, as usual, but this was a Sunday afternoon round moving at the speed of an arthritic tortoise (course was packed—no sign of a marshal).

B) Staff was unfailingly polite and professional.

C) Tight quarters around the clubhouse (especially narrow-ish pathways) make physical distancing somewhat difficult. Clearly, several golfers I noticed could not stay six feet apart. Oftentimes this was due to carelessness on their part. Signage and other reminders were more than adequate.

D) Recommend the food and drink served on the patio, with accommodating service.

E) Had fun with my three playing partners today. Though I just met them, I found I had, based on my place of work, indirect connections with two (one an accountant, the other a social worker). They were very pleasant and interesting, and we chatted for an hour after the round.

Been playing this course for almost 3 years now after I came across it on Golf Now. Great friendly staff, easy to get tee times and very accommodating. Course is always in great shape and they have a great little bar area and cafe in the club house. shhhh... but I love Indian Springs! Go play!

Walked and thoroughly enjoyed, although was a bit of a hike. Ok for 9, but would not walk 18. People were nice, well maintained, pace of play had it been 18 would have been not so great. Will be back to walk and if playing with non-players a really nice option.

I have played this course many times, great course for the money. Tee boxes in good shape, and greens are also very well kept.

The grill is also a nice place to enjoy a beverage after round.

Best course condition of any course I’ve played this year

Fun course with a lot of hills and a lot of elevated shots...Had a great time

Went out with a friend and had a great time. The course was in excellent condition, everything was great fairways, tee box and the greens was perfect. The pro shop was close due to the Corona virus. They had all the sign what not to do and they had all the rules about the Corona virus and all the golf rules to stay safe for everyone to be safe on the golf course. The staff was really friendly. They also told us to make sure to stay six feet apart with ur golf buddy and everyone else on the golf course. I just wanna say thank you to the staff at Indian Spring!

Very hilly course but well maintain and challenging for a hacker like me

Tfhe course is well maintained. The staff is friendly. There is challange and had a good pace of play. The flowers and flowers give it an added plus to other courses.