The Spa at Norwich Inn

I enjoyed coming back to Norwich on this second occasion since playing it for the first time last fall. Among the course’s most attractive aspects are its demands as a driving test. The fairways are shaped and built in ways that reward good driving without harshly punishing mediocre or somewhat sub-average efforts. Green complexes, on the other hand, seemed to be as testing, almost, as what we see—nearly week in and out—on the PGA or LPGA Tours. Norwich’s greens won’t measure, of course, as high on the Stimpmeter. But talent is required to hit them, to chip and pitch to them, and to putt their surfaces. Ultimately, though, Norwich is about well-designed golf holes, often playing tough but also with a decided sense of fairness about them.

Best Hole Sequences, Front and Inward Nines:

A) The front sports a killer hole sequence (perhaps in more ways than one, if you’re playing poorly) of excellent holes running from three through eight. Sharply doglegging right, the par-4 third’s key shot is not the drive—which still must be well-placed—but the second shot. Its green sits on a large, forbidding mound that rejects less than full-blooded and lofted approaches. Five, an artful downhill par-5 of 510, will be hit in two shots only if each is solidly struck and accurately directed. The green complex and its surrounds put your short game to the test. A drive-and-pitch affair, the sixth should net you a par if you’re careful, but the pitch requires high precision. Seven—arguably the best hole on the course among several gems—can be a bear if misplayed on the approach. Eight is another short but clever four-par, but complicated by a tee shot to an offset and awkwardly angled fairway. It’s also guarded by a humungous and very hungry bunker left and front.

B) On the back, twelve and fourteen are both excellent five pars. The former boasts some clever angles and a downhill, roller-coaster fairway en route to a small green not easily hit in two. On the other hand, the fourteenth, a behemoth dogleg-left of 560 yards, demands two precise shots to reach the preferred lay-up zone (before a small stream), then a wedge into a double-bunkered green, a surface better not missed short. A par-3 of medium length, fifteen features a raised and well-protected green. And sixteen, a two-shotter, plays to an open driving area, then uphill to a perched, two-tiered green with complex contours.

Two Best Holes: Seven (380) and Twelve (412) , both par-4’s.

Seven may not be long, but it fights you tooth and nail, tee to green. A fine two-shotter of 380 yards, this dogleg-right features a steep uphill climb on the second to a perched green, which is guarded by three deep leftward traps—all submerged out of sight from the fairway. The right side may seem like a safer miss from the fairway, but this is an illusion: you’ll find yourself having to lob a shot up to the putting surface from the right greenside rough. Fade your tee shot, ideally, for best positioning.

Again at twelve, the second shot may also feel bone-crushing if not played well: it must cross a deep gully to another beautifully elevated and undulating putting surface. And given the seventh’s green contours, a three-putt is as easy as A, B, C. At least the tee shot is played to an open, inviting fairway.

Toughest Hole: Four, 410 yard par-4

The steeply uphill and heavily tree-lined fourth has a fairly generous fairway, but you’ll be hemmed in far more on both sides on the second, leading to a raised green.

All of this certainly suggests a fairly unforgiving track—for those who want to produce something close to their best scores—in several respects. Sloping at 131 from the blues, indeed it is. Keep in mind that this matches Cromwell TPC, so it will not be ideal, even from the whites (123 slope), for higher handicap players. And two things make add challenge for short hitters: first, many of the greens require a carry all the way because the fairway is not mown in some fashion directly before them; and second, perched greens are simply harder to hit, and most greens are set above fairway grade, ranging from slightly to markedly. What balances some of this are the relatively wide fairways at Norwich, so it’s not generally a test of precision driving—although this always helps.

For better players, Norwich should be close to an ideal track, especially if they like vintage, Golden Age features on a golf course, well exemplified here by holes like 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12, 15, and 17. And although a water hazard has been added in the past offseason—between 11 and 15—it seems just a moderate issue off the 11th tee, not detracting from the original spirit of this design.

Norwich’s layout ranks as one of the best in eastern Connecticut. Though Alfred Tull, the architect, was not quite Donald Ross, his work speaks for itself here. His style reflects a concern for no-nonsense golf by which golfers only earn pars or birdies, hole by hole, with solidly struck and carefully thought-out shots.

Other comments, facts, opinions:

A) Conditioning ranges from good to very good: fairways were very good; greens, fringes and rough all good; tees were fine overall. Though very respectable, the conditioning doesn’t match the best in the state, which is generally not an expectation, anyway, for munis that undergo heavier play.

B) Covid-19 response was adequate.

C) Pace of play was slow: 4.5 hours for 18. We experienced frequent waits on the front nine.

D) Played in a foursome with three fine gentlemen: Stevie Morgan, a former member here who competed well in tournaments here, along with New Yorkers Daryl and Marty, both of whom enjoy playing here because of both the course’s quality and its proximity to Mogehan Sun. Clearly they were also enjoying a spirited (and sometimes humorous) match between themselves.

E) Friendly attitude in the clubhouse; the staffer at check-in allowed me to play ahead of my tee time after I had arrived early.

I play this course often and usually the pace of play is good; but today it was awful. All caused by a 4 sum that was two groups ahead of us. The front 9 took 2 1/2 hours to play and by the time we got around to the back 9 there were 3 holes open in front of the slow group. We quit after hole 12 because we spoke to the ranger about the issue and he refused to speak to the offending group. What he told us was “ they ( the slow group )are doing the best they can “.

My son and his friend and I played match play today. The iurse was challenging and in good shape. We had a great round and a great day.

Thanks.

4:00 pm was a perfect time to head out to walk 18. Course in fantastic shape even after Friday's heavy rain. Pace was perfect and the one foursome I caught up to generously let me play thru.

Kerry makes our day every time. The most professional and the biggest sweet heart. Everyone there goes above and beyond. Terrific public course.

Have played this course many times. Been better conditions this year. They have really been stepping up to make nicer. As with most places, could use more water, but they do well with what they have. Pace of play right at 4 hours. Course plays well from Blues or whites. It was hot yesterday to be walking, but with covid, no club so I guess it’s a good deal of exercise.

Rec

Fairways and greens were well kept

Great course to play

No rangers and play was very slow, stacked up after 5th hole

I must say that after the new pond was put in I was blown away of how well the course looked like and Played. Greens were in incredible shape and rolled nice and the rough was full and thick. A wonderful challenge for early season play. I would recommend to all to come play this track

My first time playing Norwich & thoroughly enjoyed this course. Tee'd off at noon on a Monday, Pace of play was great for the first 10 holes & slowed considerably from hole 11 on, finished in 3:45. Course layout is interesting, greens are small & were fastest I've played this year, rough was punitive in spots (thick & long - US open like is some spots around greens). Mounding, bunkers, rough, & small greens place a premium on accuracy at this course. This combination is likely to lead to slow rounds on the weekends & holidays.

Holes 11 & 15 have undergone construction recently -

11th hole has a new pond to right of fairway & right rough was just starting to grow in, marked as ground under repair.

15th hole Tee box was closed & had a temporary tee @ only ~ 90 yards

Always nice for me to return to my hometown course. It's in great shape and the virus precautions were very apparent. It is a very challenging course with a beautiful layout. Always worth the trip for me.