Hop Brook Golf Course

This short course was in pretty good conditions considering it was New Years Eve. The greens in particular were in great condition. The par 3 greens were all shut down so provisional holes were in place. A little annoying they didn’t mark the green or cut it down to shorter length (fairway). The major issue was the pace of play and confusion at the tee box (since there’s only 1). A starter and ranger(s) should have been keeping things moving.

Usually like coming to play here and like the course. This time, the Course was closed due to wet conditions but they made no effort to contact me about it. Took my money from convenience fee and not a word was said. Glad we got on a course nearby instead.

Great place to play . Great value . A few different hole layouts makes this 9 hole course interesting

More than any course I’ve returned to recently after many years, Hop Brook stands out as the most improved. How so? Much of the added oomph derives from longer holes, because deep tees, moved much farther back, have been added on nearly every hole. It seems like common sense to do this, given longer-flying golf balls of this modern age, but far too many clubs, who actually have the real estate to achieve such improvements, do not, sadly. Give Hop Brook credit for being one of the few to manage this intelligently and comprehensively. They’ve also made the smart decision to add bunkers on holes three (numerous) and eight (a few). I’m also thinking the wetlands zone on the left side of six was not there when I used to frequent the course so long ago: my last round here was in the early eighties.

The other major change is the course’s superior conditioning today, representing a quantum leap forward from the only fair grooming the course once delivered. Consequently, HBGC seems a wholly different animal--and a fiercer one that will threaten you a bit more. With quicker greens and better groomed fairways, it plays faster and better. The bunkers are particularly manicured and cared for; they’re well raked and filled with fine white sand. One small weakness was a bit of brownout on most of the fairways, surprising and unusual given all the heavy July rains.

The course, set nearly in downtown Naugatuck, benefits from its position next to the cascading Pigeon Brook (if I’m correct) running alongside the sixth hole; you begin from a tee positioned just behind and alongside the brook. Fairways are well-proportioned and the first five holes are separated well enough. The six hole does parallel and border, directly, holes eight and nine. Even though this is a ‘river valley’ course, holes one through five have some striking elevation changes. Variety, then, is a strength of this nine-holer.

The vigor of this track comes mainly from the par-threes and fives. Each one of these holes features character, variety, and some unusual aspect that sets it apart from the ordinary. The par-three seventh exemplifies this well by its raised green, armed with ideal defenses: bunkers on either side and a large hump guarding the middle. And if you’re long, you’ll be chipping from an awkward, downhill lie.

The par-fours fall closer to the side of routine than exciting, though a couple are dog-legged and most all have some of the ground movement characteristic of Golden Age layouts (this was designed in the 1920’s). But a standout is the third, which begins on an elevated tee, presenting a beautiful view of a landing area framed by woods left, a row of mature trees right, and bunkers sprinkled alongside the fairway. The hole concludes at a clever green complex with a sand bunker on the left flank and two grass bunkers to the right.

An Outstanding Hole: Six, Par-5, 512.

A great dogleg-right, strongly encouraging a fade from the tee. But the second shot will be the clincher if you dare slam another long shot down to the green, as the smallish surface is protected by a high-lipped bunker on the right, and, further right, the brook.

An Exhilarating Hole: Five, par-3, 152.

Wow, what a downhill tee shot! This was good when I used to play it way back when, but now, with the longer tee, the vista amazed me. It’s a sheer pleasure to hit a solid shot and watch your ball descend what seems like eight stories to the putting surface.

Some Conclusions:

Hop Brook ranks among the better nine-holers you can play in Connecticut. With great conditioning and a solid layout, this is a very good option for anyone who wants to sneak in a quick yet serious round. Clearly, this is a popular course, busy upon my arrival and positively packed when I left today at 3:30. I paired it up today with Sleeping Giant in Hamden today and enjoyed both rounds thoroughly.

Don’t hesitate to play it.

The course was in pristine shape - except the ruff was uncut & too long!! If you didn’t stay on the fairway - you were in trouble, it didn’t matter where.