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.

I enjoyed my speedy round here today–a little more than 2.5 hours–and the weather was good.

The course played mainly as I remember it, but current conditions detract from playability in several respects. The greens are good, yet almost everything else, including tees, fringes, fairways and roughs, ranges from fair to poor. Some fairways have decently covered, grassed-in landing zones, but others are nearly bare. Conditions are highly variable in the roughs, where I saw several of my tee shots., along with approaches on par-5s, bounce around wildly because they were landing on sizable areas of hardpan or sparse rough. One point, then, is this: very little hardpan existed when Black Birch was in better condition. Another problem with weak conditions is that the layout begins to play not like itself, but something altogether different. I’m still unconvinced that recentlhy down-sized, smaller greens work here, simply because you can’t be hitting six irons into postage-stamp greens. Al Zikorus, architect of the back side here, designed virtually no small greens on any other layout I’ve played, including this one.

On the bright side, service is excellent here, as Keith is an excellent Course Manager, and the value is good for those who can overlook the fair overall conditions. This is a pleasant, secluded countryside golf course and, if you’re lucky, you may find it uncrowded as I did this morning.

This could be a decent course but the course conditions were the worst I think I've seen at any course I've played in CT. The fairways were mostly dirt, tee boxes were mostly dirt, bunkers had 1/2 of sand over what felt like concrete, and the greens were bumpy and dry.

Course was in poor condition. Fairways very scratchy. A few greens were in good condition. While the bunkers had decent sand grass was growing in them. Would not make the drive again.

I enjoyed the course layout. Not too long- great for seniors and family with kids. Fairways are a bit scruffy but the greens were in very nice condition. Course was not too busy- finished 18 holes in 2.-1/2 hours. All in all good value for the price.

I haven't played Black Birch in a few years it was in better shape this year.. The Greens were in good shape !!

The course is in good shape and worth the money .

Keep up the good work !!!!!!!!

This course has very good potential but it missing some basic maintenance. Most greens were good but dry. Fairways and first cut rough were in need of irrigation and mowing. Cart paths were fair. As a course it was challenging due to narrow fairways and smaller greens.

The course is pretty rough. It does not seem like there is any maintenance. Greens were pocked an bumpy, roughs covered in clippings.

Not the most beautiful course but def the most friendly! Great people good layout average conditions? Perfect!!!! Love this place for the hospitality.

$50 for 9 holes, 2 players, and a cart. Good pace of play. Conditions aren’t the best but improving. Good value for the price

Course could use some improvement on the fairway. Although they been trying to make it better. Most of rhe greens are not good.

18 holes with cart on a Saturday , $23.99 for deal of the day! Conditions improving but to be honest it could have been in worse shape and for that rate I still would have been pumped. Pace of play was great and it’s a course that has you using everything in your bag which is great.

Cheap but not worth it, bad lie every shot even in fairway and approach.

The front nine at Black Birch is an enjoyable, parkland test of golf, enhanced by open, field-like expanses, studded with interesting holes, ideally suited in most cases to the driver, and, on the par-fours, balanced between shorter, drive-and-pitch holes and some tougher ones that make you work for pars. The back-to-back par-fives at six and seven, especially, are cleverly-designed, risk reward holes, the latter demanding an excellent second shot over a sizable pond–if only for those who hazard it.

I’ve always liked this layout, not least for its quiet and rural setting, but unfortunately it is mid-spring and the course is behind schedule, it seems, on getting into shape. In 2021, after the first pandemic year in which BB was shut down, the layout’s overall conditions did not rebound, essentially, until mid-summer; it finally seemed somewhere in the average range by early October, when I last played it. So it’s been two steps forward, one back, despite the strong efforts–I think–from the maintenance staff here. The main problem, though: they don't seem to get the necessary funds in the budget for grass seed.

Today most fairways were patchy with some significant bare spots (only a few landing zones were decently covered in grass), meaning drives were subject to bounce erratically and unpredictably. Certain shots run into the greens might likewise bounce off course; greens were somewhat better but still bumpy, leaving the ball prone to move off-line depending on your angle to the hole. Conclusions: any handicap-submitted score may be unrealistic, and right now I’d consider this mainly a course for shotmaking practice.

I expect the course to be better by summer, further into the growing season. As for now, you’ve got to be patient with it.