Hawk's Landing Country Club

We have been playing this course for over 50 years.This course plays well for us from the senior tees.

Located in a peaceful Southington neighborhood, yet having three holes near I-84, the siting of Hawk’s Landing is a bit unusual. Still, the course’s overall feel is mainly secluded, and nearly every hole of this Geoffrey Cornish/Bill Robinson layout remains largely separate from the others. This scenic course is routed through both woodlands and open spaces, around ponds and wetlands, and up and down a few imposing hills. It is especially scenic on several holes, particularly on the back nine. Some of the more interesting green sites are set upon hillocks; others sit upon small rises and are well protected by strategic bunkering or often sizable mounds. Although the front nine is the shorter of the two, it gains rigor from several forced carries and a few water hazards that lurk on the sides of fairways. The back side, by contrast, has a single threatening water hazard (at 17), yet plays quite a bit tougher. It also encourages you to shape shots and play a bit more strategically. Although two of the three par-5s at Hawk’s Landing offer birdie opportunities, every one of the par-3’s is relatively long and demanding.

As I’ve reviewed the front nine several times already, here is my take on the four most impressive holes on the back nine:

13th, par-5, 480, index 3. “Wow” may be an understatement for this tight, uphill three-shotter. The tee shot’s landing zone has OB left and scattered, huge trees right. The second shot involves crossing a huge bunker and finding another well-protected strip of fairway, while the contoured green (quite easy to 3-putt) sits at an offset angle to the fairway.

14th: Par-4, 390, handicap index 5: A fine downhill test of both accuracy and strategy; perhaps the finest hole (along with the 5th) on the course. Reach the fairway’s downslope (on a longer drive) and you’ll pick up an extra twenty yards. But the landing zone is well guarded by bunkers. On the approach, hitting the green may sometimes mean bouncing it on. Outstanding par-4.

17th, Par-4, 475, index 7: Another ingeniously designed hole, with a premium put on both the drive–a risk-reward proposition which must traverse a large pond–but also the second shot. The drive, which allows for a diagonal choice of flight over the water, is characteristic of this Cape design, inviting braver golfers to bite off as much as they can chew. On the second, the safer play is to fly the ball to the right of the tree (the left side is fraught with trouble); what usually follows is a short pitch to a large but nicely sloped green. Sounds oxymoronic, but this is a “classic Modernist” hole that features target golf.

18th, Par-3, 180, index 9. Hard to believe that this tough-as-nails hole is the 9 handicap, as it plays dramatically uphill to a strongly contoured green. Missing the putting surface usually means a tricky up and down. But enjoy the king-of-the-hill feeling as you finish.

Conditions: Good. The course appears to be making a comeback from last summer. Fairways and greens were very good, though the tees and some areas of rough proved inconsistent.

Other: Greatly enjoyed my two playing partners during this round, one of whom is a course starter. Nice conversation!

Some Conclusions:

The late Geoffrey Cornish, New England’s most prolific architect, produced dependably good courses with his associates–time and again. Having played over thirty of his courses, it is clear to me that Mr. Cornish has made a massive contribution to the architecture of public courses over his career. Readily apparent in this layout are the designers’ imagination, their knowledge, their sense of variety, and their utter dedication to the creation of a fair and challenging set of eighteen golf holes. All are thoroughly playable.

The range could use a little love. Tee’d off at 6:30. No one else around. Just me and the birds. First tee box grass could use a little love by after that it just got better.

Fairways good and friendly. Keep the driver in the bag most of the round.

Greens also friendly but tricky. Lines not what they seem but roll well. Slow because of all the rain.

The highway is close by and won’t let you forget it’s there. Became white noise after a while though.

There is restaurant/bar situation but I didn’t get to try it. Next time.

Didn’t get the starter’s name but Nick helped me in the process shop. What a couple of super nice guys! Even the gentleman driving the modernness pleasant!

Definitely going back.

Play early and play often.

Greens were a little bit slow. Otherwise, I like the layout and it was in good shape.

A great local course that has challenging long par 3. Course design is very well thought out. Greens were on the flat side but fast and true. Would play again

The tees, Fairways and greens were in good shape for so early in the season.

What a waste of $60! Where do I start?

- Carts are pieces of junk, with ripped seats and dirt piled up on them from the days and weeks without being cleaned.

- the t-blocks are actually dirt blocks. Meaning there's no grass on them and they are beat to death, clearly receiving no water in months.

- the bunkers are merely unmanicured dirt pits that kids play in a at the school yard.

- the greens are inconsistent and super dry in areas. I don't remember hitting a 75 yard wedge into any green that stopped without bouncing over.

- I asked the guy at the bar if there was water on the course, he didn't know the course... said there was a drink cart out there but you have to flag it down. After 4 hours of unhappy golf didn't see the drink cart once.

- I could keep going but, you get the idea. Needless to say I won't be returning. It's unfortunate because, it's a neat little layout, too bad they didn't put some of the money that they are ripping people off from back into the course!

Short course, but with several interesting holes. Course was in good shape. However, they had an outing with shotgun start and it backed everything up. We teed off 30 min late and then had to wait at every tee box for 5-10 minutes and on every fairway shot. In 4 1/2 hours, we only completed 15 holes. Hopefully, they plan better in the future.

I don’t usually write bad reviews but I feel I must with this course. The cost even with a “Hot Deal” was $48! The course and cart paths, when there were any were not good at all. My friend and I will save our money and never play this course again.

Hawk’s Landing makes a statement as a classic Geoffrey Cornish/Ted Robinson layout. Typically these holes play far closer to moderate than easy on the outward half; they often become difficult on the back nine. Two of the foundation posts on which this course was built were first its varied and imaginative bunkering, and second its optimal use of the site’s frequently rolling and bold terrain. Ten of the holes roll up or down sizable hills or hillocks. Fairways here are guarded throughout by mature fir and broad-leafed trees. I played the front side today; it doesn’t match the back for challenge, but it’s still well worth a spin. The bottom line is that this is a good-looking layout with some genuinely well-designed golf holes.

The fifth is one of the top holes here, a steeply downhill par-4 which is protected by hazards both left and right. The seventeenth, a driveable risk/reward hole, ends on a small hilltop, while the eighth, another four-par, follows up with a tough tee shot: it must be both long and well-placed to open up the green.

By the eighth hole, then, the course has fully hit its stride until conclusion.The best stretch may be the closing holes, fourteen through eighteen. For me, the signature hole is seventeen, which starts off with a stunning tee shot that must avoid water on the left, then demands an even more precise second shot where numerous hazards–including trees, water, and sand–must be eluded in the tight landing zone. Seventeen stands as a superior test of placement and accuracy.

Conditions:

Decent overall, yet with some real flaws. The greens, fringes and fairways were good. Tees in general lagged behind, while greenside areas and roughs were average at best (much of the rough seemed like it hadn’t been cut in some time). Bunkers were mostly poor. In general, this course has lost some of its luster, especially when compared to what it had been a couple of years ago, which was excellent in nearly every respect.

Some Conclusions:

Enjoyed my quick nine-hole round here today, despite some mild disappointments in the conditioning (let’s hope it returns to form). Still, this i’s a fine layout, increasing the intensity and challenges on the inward nine. The amenities, including a bar & grill, a driving range, and a good practice putting green, are also solid at Hawk’s Landing.