Black Birch Golf Club

About
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men | 72 | 6158 yards | 68.9 | 118 |
Senior | 72 | 5488 yards | ||
Ladies | 74 | 4924 yards | 70.8 | 121 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue M: 67.8/123 | 332 | 321 | 410 | 319 | 117 | 480 | 482 | 151 | 382 | 2994 | 480 | 351 | 377 | 393 | 420 | 172 | 498 | 153 | 344 | 3188 | 6182 |
White M: 66.3/115 | 324 | 314 | 402 | 302 | 111 | 468 | 354 | 145 | 308 | 2728 | 356 | 322 | 370 | 295 | 408 | 147 | 384 | 144 | 334 | 2760 | 5488 |
Red W: 71.8/118 | 286 | 284 | 355 | 224 | 107 | 393 | 346 | 138 | 300 | 2433 | 350 | 315 | 354 | 284 | 308 | 140 | 376 | 137 | 227 | 2491 | 4924 |
Handicap | 16 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 11 | 13 | |||
Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Course Details
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Reviewer Photos
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The first green in the late afternoon shadows (green three sits in the background). Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022
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View from the fifth tee down to its green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022
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The sixth fairway, with a view to the landing zone at the base of the hill. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022
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From behind green seven at this par-5. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022
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8th hole: near dusk: Two deer (both behind green–to left and right of white pavilion) are about to hightail it over to the ninth tee. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022
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8th, picture two: The first is now out of the picture; the second is now hightailing it out to the left. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022
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The par-3 seventh (seen from its left flank), plays from a high tee down to this green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 07/26/2022
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From the right rough, a view of the eleventh green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 07/26/2022
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Twelve is a par-four dogleg-right that leads to this double-tiered green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 07/26/2022
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Your tee shot at the par-3 fifteenth must traverse a mashy pond. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 07/26/2022
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Seventeen is a stern par-three and runs uphill to its green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 07/26/2022
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The finisher’s fairway angles slightly leftward off the tee, then runs straight for the green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 07/26/2022
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Hole four plays uphill to a two-tiered putting surface. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/02/2022
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The fifth drops down to a postage-stamp green. It's also well-protected. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/02/2022
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Eight is a classic downhill par-3 requiring accuracy with your mid or short iron. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/02/2022
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The eighteenth. I reflected on my rounds here this week walking up eighteen. The pond was equally reflective. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/03/2021
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The seventh is a terrific par-five which culminates on this green, set on a tall plateau. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/03/2021
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A view of hole eight’s green. This par-three plays downhill. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/03/2021
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Fourteen, maybe the best four-par on the course, will make you work hard for a par. Seen from behind the green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/03/2021
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Fifteen, a downhill par-three, is set in the most secluded part of the golf course. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/03/2021
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The par-5 sixteenth’s green, seen from the rough in the late afternoon shadows. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/03/2021
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3rd: par-4, 410: Fine tee-to-green test ending on this green, defended by two sizable bunkers. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/04/2021
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5th: Postage-stamp par three. Nice scenery as backdrop in the Moodus countryside. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/04/2021
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10th: Tight par five, 480, over tree-line fairway. This is its green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/04/2021
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11th, par4, 351. Great, wavy Zikorus-designed hole, canting downhill--as well--from the right side. Should be drive-and-pitch. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/04/2021
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15th, par-3 of 147. Downhill from a high tee, over the marsh, onto this raised green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/04/2021
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16th: Superb hole: par-5 of 498. Plays over the marsh, then uphill to a well-contoured green. Hard to hit in two. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/04/2021
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Ten. Par 5 of 480. The wraparound bunker poses problems on any approach shot. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/09/2021
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Twelve. A 377-yard four-par that plays longer, moving uphill on the approach, seen here. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/09/2021
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Thirteen: A demanding par-4, 420. At its small green, made smaller recently. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/09/2021
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Fifteen. A tough target. This classic par-three maxes out at 172 from a high tee. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/09/2021
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Fifteen. Closer view of the marsh and green complex. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/09/2021
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Eighteen: The closer, a 344-yard par-4, features a pond within the holes last 100 yards. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/09/2021
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The third hole. Downhill, short, tricky three-par. But the setting should calm your nerves. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/28/2021
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Eight. Conclusion to another good par-three on the front side. Seen from its left flank. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/28/2021
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View from 10th green back to fairway Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/14/2019
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Green 14 from a shady left side. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/14/2019
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The fifteenth: par 3, over the marshland. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/14/2019
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The 16th fairway: view of approach for 2nd shot. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/14/2019
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Pond on the sixteenth. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/14/2019
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Green at the finishing hole. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/14/2019
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1st fairway and green Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/29/2019
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3rd green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/29/2019
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Looking back over fairway 7. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/29/2019
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The 7th green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/29/2019
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View down to green 8. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/29/2019
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Part of u-shaped bunker preceding 10. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/29/2019
Getting Better
Played Black Birch a few times this year and the condition of the course has improved each time. It’s getting greener since the drought. Greens in pretty good shape. Today, we played in 3 hrs and 15 minutes. Can’t beat it.
Challeging Layout
Black Birch offers a fine, old-school rolling layout with lots of up and down ground movement, especially on its front side. Most of the greens are bunkered; many of them are set upon knolls, meaning that you’ll have to be careful with club selection. The par-5s are not long on the card but seem to play longer, due to either twists and turns down the fairways or some strategically-placed hazards near or next to their greens, not to mention plenty of woods on their margins. A couple of long four-pars will challenge you, but for the most part they’re of moderate length, so making a good score here is possible when you strike the ball well: the course isn’t tricked-up or unfair. Without too many water hazards, you’ll mainly be concerned with hitting relatively straight shots on the tighter back nine, where the toughest holes–twelve, thirteen, fourteen, seventeen–require some careful and precise shotmaking.
The course’s one deficit is still its conditioning. Greens are passable but still pockmarked too frequently; tees are rough; the roughs are sometimes sparse. Fairways have improved since summer as they’re now pretty well grass-covered, but much of it is crabgrass. It’s all fair but decently playable.
I played here three times over the past week–all nine-hole afternoon rounds. The first time I spotted three white-tailed deer behind hole eight near dusk, and on the third occasion a family of five in the same location. Prior to that I encountered a flock of wild turkeys near the pond on the seventh.
The setting was invariably beautiful on these early fall afternoons.
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The first green in the late afternoon shadows (green three sits in the background). Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022
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View from the fifth tee down to its green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022
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The sixth fairway, with a view to the landing zone at the base of the hill. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022
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From behind green seven at this par-5. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022
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8th hole: near dusk: Two deer (both behind green–to left and right of white pavilion) are about to hightail it over to the ninth tee. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022
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8th, picture two: The first is now out of the picture; the second is now hightailing it out to the left. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/02/2022

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us, AptlyLinked. We are going to pass on your feedback to the team. Thanks for visiting Black Birch Golf Club, and we hope to see you again in the future.
Mike’s review
The 4 star rating I gave is probably more than the course deserves because of condition issues. I gave that rating because this is such a nice course to play and I keep hoping that the owners will wake up some day and realize what a gem they have and do what is needed to make it the first call course it can be.
Just the rains we had the past few weeks has improved things greatly, the fairways are green and the greens are looking good. Of course all the rain in the world won’t help the traps, that will take money.
Value for $
Three and one half hours for the round. Fairways coming back with the rain. Greens in good shape. Friendly staff.
Matthew Lynch
Unfortunately my first time seeing this course was after an extreme prolonged drought of a summer, so it's not fair to really go into the course conditions.
However, the sand traps had rocks in them.
I found the course design a bit boring, with the primary challenge of this course being blind hills.
I had a pleasant round. I've seen much worse courses for the money, and I've also seen better for the money.
We didn't wait on any tees even with 10 minute gaps in tee times. They seem to keep play going well here even on tournament days.

Hi! Thank you so much for leaving us with your feedback. We value our customer experience, so your review is important to us. We will make note and we hope to see you back at Black Birch Golf Club!
Bad weather year
Outstanding layout and diversty. The drougt in CT has hurt the course. Black Birch relys sole on rain for it watering. The greens are good but very slow as the drought has slowed mowing to save the greens. Fairways are in very bad shape presently but will improve if they get rain. People are great which adds to the experience.

Hi,
Let us first say that we are so glad to hear you enjoyed your visit. We work hard to create an enjoyable experience so you can focus on enjoying yourself and let us do the rest. We also want to thank you for your honest and constructive criticism of the course.
We are going to escalate your review to our team in charge and do everything we can to improve before your next game.
Thank you for visiting and playing at Black Birch Golf Club. We hope to see you again soon!
Course needs water on fairways, needs water stops ,, needs better carts

Hi! Thank you so much for leaving us with your feedback. We value our customer experience, so your review is important to us. We will make note and we hope to see you back at Black Birch Golf Club!
Hot Deal during a not busy time was worth it
If you get on one of the hot deals and get in before the turtles it’s worth it…
I played the course in 2 hours 50 minutes. Was alone most of the time, was a pretty nice time.
Front 5 holes you feel like you might have a drive land on your head/ hit you in the face. But after that the Holes don’t really run next to each other. Honestly don’t like the first three holes, as it feels like your playing in an open field, but after that it gets much much better.
Back 9 is better than front 9
$25-40 with a cart is a great price, especially when not busy.
Friendly staff, lounge / restaurant/ bar looked pretty nice too.

Let us first say that we are so glad to hear you enjoyed your visit. We work hard to create an enjoyable experience so you can focus on enjoying yourself and let us do the rest. We also want to thank you for your honest and constructive criticism of the course.
We are going to escalate your review to our team in charge and do everything we can to improve before your next game.
Thank you for visiting and playing at Black Birch Golf Club. We hope to see you again soon!
$18 w/ Cart on Golf Now
I think I paid $18 for 18 holes and a cart.
Greens and fringe were in good shape
Fairways were okay. Dry.
Forgiving. Good course for practicing
Don’t go when busy, you’ll lose your mind.
Front 9 watch out for stray drives as fairways are close together.
Wouldn’t play on a busy day
Wouldn’t pay more than $30

Hi. We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. We see you rated the course 1 star and are interested in learning what we can do to improve for your next visit. We take single-star feedback very seriously at our course. You are welcome to comment further or reach out to our team in the golf shop. We always appreciate the feedback. Thanks for choosing Black Birch Golf Club.
Some Good, Some Bad
Overall, a lot of positives and some glaring negatives here.
Pros:
The staff was incredibly friendly. You can tell they’re working hard and doing the best they can to make the course playable and fun. They were insanely kind and told me from the get-go the course isn’t in the best shape but to enjoy the day, which made me understand what I was getting into.
I played 18 holes in 3 hours walking for $20, no deal exists like that.
Cons
Course conditions are tough. Dirt tee boxes, fairways don’t really exist, basically like playing in a open field. Greens were in decent shape I would say, no real bumps. People were working out there so it’s not a lack of effort. They’re trying, just probably don’t have the manpower.
The layout was interesting, with the front and back being very different. Some good holes (3, 6, 10, 11, 15, 16) some very bad holes (7,8,12,14) The greens were almost comically small, which made it hard because you couldn’t run it up (the long grass would stop it) but it was hard to hold them if you did land it there (smaller greens), if the greens were larger, with better run-ups, it would fit the layout better.
I realized pretty quickly it was hard to categorize this as real golf, so about the 4th hole on I decided to hit a couple balls off the tee and work on some things, and it became much more enjoyable. If you actually want to play as opposed to beating balls at the range or practicing your putts, it’s a good place to work on aiming at your targets and honing in some of the short game stuff. And again, for $20, that’s a solid deal. Other than that, I would look elsewhere.

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. We are going to pass on your feedback to the teams in charge so they can work to make changes.
Your feedback helps us do better. We are looking into this issue and hope to resolve it promptly.
Thank you for visiting Black Birch Golf Club. We hope you'll give us another try in the future.
Open course
Forgiving course, I guess you could call it links style golf course, no discernable fairway/rough etc. The greens were long, weedy and slow, needed to be rolled, but then again we are in the dead heat of summer. Course is very enjoyable for a novice like me, some long par 5s...

We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. Your feedback helps us do better. Thank you for visiting Black Birch Golf Club. We hope you'll give us another try in the future.
Stay Away
Even though it was only $40 for 18 cart included, it was not worth the money. The course was in horrible conditions, all the fairways were burnt, the bunkers have not been raked in months(weeds growing in them) many greens were too long and full of weeds. One of the tee boxes had gravel on it....
The pro shop had nothing in it and the pace of play was extremely slow. The highlight of the round, was when the beer girl served lukewarm drinks because she had no ice in the beer cart.
Don't waste your money
Will never go back

We’re sorry to hear of your less-than-satisfactory experience and hope you will accept our sincerest apologies.
We value our customers' opinions and would like to make things right and determine how we can provide a solution that makes you smile.
Please contact us directly at the pro shop. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Black Birch Golf Club
Course was in good shape. Greens were a little thick but the ball traveled well. Fairways were well taken care of. Course provided a good challenge but was not too difficult. My only real critique was that there was no water offered through the course, which can be a huge help especially during the 95 degree days.
Hello, ralltj. Thanks for taking the time to leave us a review. We see you rated the course 2-stars and are interested in learning what we can do to improve for your next visit.
We take customer feedback very seriously at our course. Please reach out to our team in the golf shop and tell us what's on your mind.