Connecticut National Golf Club

Very interesting course with a few quirky holes but overall a very enjoyable course to play.

People at the Pro-shop and bar were a joy to deal with.

My first time playing and I will be back soon!

Played CT National on a chilly, early April day but was surprised how few golfers were out, so pace of play was not an issue. Despite the date, the course was in tremendous condition. The greens were recently aerated but putting on them wasn't the problem... the problem on these greens is that many of them are treacherous. The course condition and layout are excellent but you better bring your putting A game... if you're not near the pin on your approach, a 3-putt is probable. Overall, this is a fun, enjoyable,, but challenging course. Give it a try, you'll like it.

I play this course at least 5 times a season, Awesome layout and the greens are always in EXCELLENT condition. Great challenge for all skill levels!

Last fall I attempted to play Connecticut National, but due to a booking mistake (see my 9/16/2015 review below) I did not. Yesterday I played there and I’m glad I gave the club another chance and this good review. It’s a great course and was well worth my 75 minute ride in terms of the course itself and cost. We paid $44 (18 holes w/cart) which included a $5 food voucher. Connecticut National is located in the “sticks”, i.e. rural Putnam, the extreme northeast corner of Connecticut/CT. However, it is easily accessible by highway (I-395) or back roads (I-84 & RT 44) from central CT. Have a GPS handy as once off the main road (RT-44) finding the course could be difficult. If you are coming from the casinos (Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun) CT National is a short ride and a lot less money than the casino-owned golf courses.

This beautiful, public golf course should be on your golfing bucket list. Once on the course the peaceful quiet and pure air is immediately noticeable and the views superb. This is pure, colonial New England with fieldstone walls and deep woods surrounding the layout. It’s the type of course where you can soak up nature and truly forget the job or yard work.

The course is designed as a links style course: wide, rolling/sloping fairways, tall, wispy grass throughout and plenty of fairway bunkers. The layout is challenging due to the elevation changes, blind approach shots and undulating, slick greens. Your drives need to be precise to avoid the many fairway bunkers and grassy lumps. Your approaches spot-on so you land and keep the ball on the slick greens and below the hole. There are six ponds to contend with but none overly troublesome.

Course knowledge is crucial and I was fortunate to have playing partners who had played here before to guide me. One hole in particular, the 312 yard par 4 eighth, is a real challenge in course management. From an elevated tee your view of the valley and hills in the distance is spectacular. However, your view to the small green below is scary. There’s a small pond of the right side of the green, out-of-bounds, deep woods and a stone wall down the left side but an ample landing area in front of the green. Don’t get greedy on this hole. The smart club choice off the tee is a club you can control that leaves you a wedge to the green. Being all downhill you will gain distance yet control with a long iron or hybrid.

The course is long: Black 6935 yds, Blue 6321, White 5913, Gold 5002 and Red 4815. The finishing hole is a long par 5. Its 688 yds from the tips and 527 from the whites. Fortunately it’s all slightly downhill. The course is walkable but you’d better be in shape to handle the elevation changes.

In conclusion here are some basics: Large gravel parking lot, friendly staff, low rates, putting greens, driving range, restaurant w/ outdoor dining overlooking the 18th hole, immaculate tee boxes, lush fairways (despite limited rain in weeks) Pace of play? We got off on-time and finished just under 4 hours. Would have been even less if not for spending time looking for lost balls. Which reminds me: bring extra balls. The tall grass on fairway mounds and rough will eat any wayward shots. Searching for ball in this grass is most often fruitless.

This course must be beautiful in the fall. Go Play!

I was anxiously looking forward to playing the course, but after driving 75 minutes, with an 11ish tee time (made by someone else in our foursome) we were told that we could not play due to a scheduled tournament that day that was booked in the spring. There certainly was one happening soon, as there was activity everywhere.

Okay, so how did we get a tee time? There was no attempt to see if there was a mistake (wrong course/date/time) and there were no apologies. The desk person was not at all willing to help us. He was quite rude.

I will try to play here next season but for now I have a rather bad first impression.

Have played here many times as I live only 5 min away from the course. The course itself is a good course not very hard and not very long from the white tees. I feel though that it is highly overrated and the staff is not the nicest ever almost like your bothering them when you go to check in. Also unless you can find a good deal it is defiantly not worth what they are charging.

This is like a little secret this course, we were on our way to Philadelphia on a road trip and looked into the course.. the reviews seemed great so we took the chance.. we're glad we did!! Staff was friendly, the course was amazing, so many different types of holes, and although it was early October, the course was in great shape.. highly recommend this course.. would love to play it again!

the course is in very good condition. If you haven't played the course you should

This Course Was in great shape for being the end of the year! The greens are hard to read the first time out but I thought that was awesome! The view from hole 8 is like you are playing in the mountains! I will make it a point to play here at least twice a year!

I live an hour away from this golf course, it used to be a hidden gem, not any more! Ct. National is awesome and worth every minute I spend to get there. They built this place from the middle of the fairway out, with the golfers intended eye. The greens are true with lots of interesting slope, keeping you thinking. Cool contours frame the fairways and anytime I have played it's always in great shape. Staff are really nice, if it were closer it would be my go to course. GO PLAY THIS PLACE!!!

What a gem!!! This course is beautiful. Well maintained fairways, bunkers and greens. Greens fast but always a true roll. Elevation offers spectacular view of valley. The afternoon special is a steal. Have played many courses all over Southern New England this year, this is the only repeat course and I am already planning a fall return.

Great course. 36$ to walk 18 (very easy course to walk), greens were perfect, very interesting design with lots of risk reward, elevation changes that feels like an old New England course. 1 hour drive for me from central CT but I would say it is top 3 public courses in the state and the best value.

Love this place! Always in excellent condition. Challenging greens, great layout. You get to use almost every club on your bag.

If you like hills and elevation changes then you will really enjoy this course. Manage your misses and you can have birdie putts and plenty of par putts. The greens have a lot of slope and can be very quick so making putts can be a challenge. If you walk this course has plenty of hills but the greens and tee boxes are close.

played lare in the day, had course to ourselves. elevations were a blast to play. overall a great day! i will be back

I'll put the "X" on CN. Got a good t-time through GolfNow, and did join 3 guys on this Sunday Morning. On the first par 5 green, one guy hit on the fly in regulation, and never even went to look for a ball mark. I suppose perhaps using the rules of golf is over the head of many, with 'mulligans' several times, dropping near where you lost your ball, etc. I tried to keep up with ball marks, replacing divots, but could not chase them all day.
First of all, they need a couple more signs on the road giving directions. The guy in the shop was nearly surly. They didn't even do the courtesy of wiping the cart seat, or offer a towel.
Course conditions were fair at best, some areas very poor, and the Mungeon design reinforces the notion that just 'cause you have land, doesn't mean you can build a quality a golf course. The greens were green, and rolled smooth, but were slowish, and way overboard with undulations, bumps, ridges and unseen slopes. All apparently 'designed' in. There were a couple of interesting holes and/or greens, but all in all, not worth the price. I played fairly well, but spent a great deal of time searching for my fellow players balls in the heather. Made pace difficult spending time waiting for our and other groups in front looking. Contrived.
So, all in all, there are many other, less expensive and/or more worthy courses around. I won't make the trip back, and recommend others bypass this place. Sorry to be so blunt, but I'd felt it was 3 strikes by the time I reached the first green. Peace.

I love this coarse. It reminds me of a modified Sunday River and Sugarloaf with not such extreme terrain. The setting is wonderful, the coarse challenging and interesting. I don't think there is a hole on the coarse I do not like. Though I had never played it till this year I understand the previous owner had let the coarse go. The new owner is doing it right and this is the first time I have seen new asphalt cart paths being installed. The maintenance manager is a pro and proud of what he has done and what he intends to do. Selfishly, the only problem I have with writing a review is I would like to keep this gem to myself. If I didn't live in Newport I would join in a heart beat. A GREAT COARSE!

Challenging course. Not too long from the blues but staying on the fairway is more important than distance Greens are full of subtle changes and fast enough to roll considerably by of you're not careful. Also great scenery.

Played CT national for the first time this year and have already been back twice. One of my new favorite courses. Fairways and greens always in great shape. Greens can be lightning! Nice layout and friendly staff, always a fun round.

It takes time to reach the geographic center of nowhere, but when you do you are rewarded. The course is pristine and the use of mounding and bunkering elevate CTN from a nice track to worth the hour ride. Great staff, great views...and if you have a long ride home have a beer & burger before you leave because they are good.