Best golf courses in Connecticut.

New Haven, CT

Yale Golf Course in New Haven opened in 1926 on land given to the university by Sarah Wey Tompkins. It was laid out by C.B. Macdonald with Seth Raynor doing the construction work, on a rocky, heavily wooded property that had to be blasted and cleared before golf could be routed through it. The course is built on the template holes Macdonald and Raynor used throughout their work, including a Redan, an Eden, a Short and a Biarritz. The greens are enormous and heavily contoured, and the par-3 ninth plays across water to a Biarritz green split by a swale deep enough to hide a golfer standing in it. The course is home to Yale's golf teams and is open to public play at set times. It went through a long stretch of deferred maintenance and has been the subject of ongoing restoration work aimed at recovering the original green sizes and bunker shapes.

North Stonington, CT

Rees Jones resort design in eastern Connecticut

Putnam, CT

Connecticut National Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-71 public golf course in Putnam, Connecticut. It opened in 1994 as Putnam Country Club and was purchased in 2007 by Jim Dandeneau and Brad Rabitor, who had the course redesigned by architect Mark Mungeam into a blend of links and parkland golf. The layout plays to 6,936 yards from the Black tees, with a 73.3 rating and 131 slope across five sets of tees. A new clubhouse added a pro shop, restaurant and function space for outings.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Bloomfield, CT

Wintonbury Hills Golf Course in Bloomfield, Connecticut, is a Pete Dye design credited as his first golf course in New England. The par-70 layout measures 6,711 yards from the Black tees, with a 72.4 course rating and 129 slope. Situated 15 minutes from Hartford, the course combines open, links-style holes with tree-lined fairways and sits near the Bloomfield reservoir. It is owned by the Town of Bloomfield and operated for public play. The back nine plays through tighter, more wooded terrain than the front.

West Hartford, CT

Rockledge Golf Club is a public 18-hole golf course in West Hartford, Connecticut, designed by Al Zikorus that opened in 1940 and marked its 100th anniversary in 2024 by the club's own account of its origins in the area. The town of West Hartford has owned the course since 1961. The tree-lined, gently undulating parkland layout plays to a par of 72 across 6,436 yards, with a course rating of 71.1 and slope of 129. The clubhouse includes a golf shop and the Rockledge Grille.

Hartford, CT

Keney Park Golf Course is a public 18-hole golf course in Hartford, Connecticut, set within the 693-acre Keney Park, one of the largest public parks in New England. Designed by Devereux Emmet, the course opened in 1927, with the front nine built first and additional holes credited to Robert Ross. The layout plays to a par of 70 across roughly 6,449 yards. The city renovated the course and clubhouse beginning in 2014, and the surrounding park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Danbury, CT

Richter Park Golf Course is an 18-hole, par 71 municipal golf course in Danbury, Connecticut, designed by architect Edward C. Ryder and opened in 1971. The course plays 6,740 yards from the back tees with a 73.0 rating and 130 slope, featuring Bent/Poa greens, Blue/Rye fairways, and water in play on 14 of 18 holes across 49 renovated bunkers. It is part of the city-owned Stanley L. Richter Memorial Park.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Groton, CT

Shennecossett Golf Course is a public 18-hole golf course in Groton, Connecticut, founded in 1898 and designed by Donald Ross. Set along Long Island Sound and the Thames River, the course offers coastal views from several holes, including sightings of tall ships and submarines on the water. The Town of Groton owns and operates the historic layout as one of the state's most recognized public courses. It remains a fixture of New England golf history along the Connecticut shoreline.

Bloomfield, CT

Gillette Ridge Golf Club, located in Bloomfield, Connecticut, is a magnificent Arnold Palmer design that stands as a tribute to the traditions and challenges of golf. Crafted by the legendary golfer and world-renowned architect, the course, opened in 2004, capitalizes on the site’s natural beauty, featuring streams, lakes, and significant elevation changes. Palmer’s design philosophy at Gillette Ridge aimed to create a dynamic layout that tests all aspects of a golfer’s game while providing an aesthetically pleasing experience. The course is known for its tree-lined fairways, spectacular carries, and a variety of terrain that challenges and excites. While many holes present unique challenges, the par-5 second hole is often highlighted as a signature, offering a true risk-reward opportunity from a tee box with views of the Heublein Tower. Another memorable feature is the peninsula green, which was formerly the 18th hole and is now the 9th, demanding precision. Gillette Ridge is considered one of Palmer Course Design Company’s best creations, offering a challenging yet enjoyable round amidst a beautiful natural setting.

Manchester, CT

Manchester Country Club is a private club in Manchester, Connecticut, tracing its origin to 1917 when it opened along a reservoir with a design credited to Tom Bendelow and Devereux Emmet. The course was reshaped in 1935 by A.W. Tillinghast, giving it the routing largely still in play today. The layout follows an old New England style, using natural land contours rather than heavy earthmoving, with small, well-guarded greens and several blind tee shots. Two pairs of par fives and a mix of short and mid-length par fours give the course variety without relying on great length. Manchester Country Club operates as a semi-private club with a membership base and outside events including weddings and tournaments; it plays to a par of 72 at roughly 6,300 yards from the main tees.

New Britain, CT

Stanley Golf Course is a 27-hole municipal facility in New Britain, offering good value on a parkland layout.

North Stonington, CT

Rees Jones resort design: the South companion to the North course at Foxwoods

Baltic, CT

Mohegan Sun Golf Club is an 18-hole course at 7 Dows Lane in Baltic, Connecticut, operated by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. The course was originally built as Pautipaug Country Club in 1960, designed by architect Geoffrey Cornish, and has since undergone several renovations, including a multi-year project completed for the 2026 season with design guidance from Ron Garl that reshaped several holes and updated bunkers, irrigation, and cart paths. The course plays through the rolling hills of southeastern Connecticut with a mix of open and tree-lined holes. Open to the public as well as Mohegan Sun guests and Momentum members, the course includes a clubhouse, pro shop, practice facilities, and the Greenside Grille & Pub, and typically operates from mid-April through mid-November.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Lakeville, CT

The Hotchkiss School Golf Course circles the campus of the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, with views of Lake Wononscopomuc and the surrounding Berkshire-Taconic hills. Seth Raynor designed the course in 1924; Charles Banks, a Hotchkiss teacher who later became Raynor's design partner, reconfigured several holes in the 1930s after Raynor's death. The nine-hole course plays to a par of 35 across just over 3,000 yards, with undulating greens and moderate elevation changes that give it a reputation among golf architecture enthusiasts for its Raynor template holes. The course closes to the public in afternoons during the school's athletic season and otherwise operates on a membership and daily-fee basis, run through the school's pro shop.

Farmington, CT

Tunxis Plantation Country Club is a public 45-hole golf complex in Farmington, Connecticut, operating since 1962 in the Farmington Valley. The facility includes three courses: the White Course, a par-72 layout of 6,638 yards featuring island greens along the Farmington River; the Green Course, a par-70 links-style track of 6,446 yards with narrow fairways and demanding mounding; and a third nine-hole course. Located minutes from Interstate 84, Tunxis also hosts banquet and wedding events alongside its golf operations.

Norwich, CT

Tucked into the hills of eastern Connecticut, this historic municipal layout has served Norwich golfers for generations. The course plays over rolling terrain with mature trees lining most fairways, demanding accuracy off the tee. At under 6,000 yards from the tips, it rewards shot-making over raw power. The greens are modest in size but can be tricky when the wind picks up. Ideal for beginners and high-handicappers looking for an affordable, walkable round in a classic New England setting. Green fees are among the most reasonable in the state.

Southington, CT

Southington Country Club is a public 18-hole golf course in Southington, Connecticut, established in 1922 when local golf enthusiasts formed the Parsons Golf Corporation to bring a course to the town. Located in the area known as "Apple Valley" between the Meriden and Waterbury mountain ranges, the course plays to a par of 71 with a hilly, open front nine and a narrower, flatter back nine. Water hazards come into play on ten of the eighteen holes. The club has operated continuously in Plantsville for more than a century.

Oxford, CT

A modern semi-private course in the Naugatuck Valley, Oxford Greens features well-conditioned, rolling parkland.

Hebron, CT

Tallwood Country Club is an 18-hole golf course in Hebron, Connecticut, that has served the New England golfing community for more than 40 years. The course offers four sets of tees to accommodate a range of playing abilities and includes practice facilities with two large putting greens, a chipping and bunker area, and a driving range. Located on North Street in Hebron, the club combines recreational and competitive play for area golfers. It remains a long-running public golf destination in the region.

Portland, CT

Quarry Ridge Golf Course is a public 18-hole golf course in Portland, Connecticut, designed by Al Zikorus and Joe Kelley and opened in 1993. The course sits high on a hill overlooking the Connecticut River and Meshomasic State Forest, winding through rolling terrain and granite rock outcroppings. It plays to a par of 72 across 6,369 yards, with a course rating of 70.8 and a slope of 129. The elevated, forested setting gives the course a distinctly northern New England character.

Coventry, CT

Twin Hills Country Club occupies about 130 acres of rolling countryside in Coventry, Connecticut, convenient to Hartford and the University of Connecticut. Built in 1972, the 18-hole course plays to a par of 70 from most tees and features stone walls, a covered bridge, and a signature stone bridge on the third hole. Bentgrass greens and bluegrass fairways cover the layout, which totals roughly 6,275 yards from the back markers. The club runs a full outing program with shotgun and tee-time formats, on-site catering, and a golf shop. Twin Hills operates as a public course open to daily play, with season passes and junior, senior, and twilight rate options.

Last verified 2026-09-17

Orange, CT

Orange Hills Country Club is a family-owned golf course in Orange, Connecticut, that has operated for more than 60 years. The club is a member of the Connecticut State Golf Association and the USGA and is recognized by the Audubon Society for its environmental practices. Located on Racebrook Road, the course offers golf shop services and instruction from a PGA staff. It is positioned as a public facility with private-club-style conditioning.

Middlefield, CT

Gary Player’s design on historic orchard property offers a scenic round with rolling terrain in Middlefield.

Middlefield, CT

Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed course, companion to the Player Course at Lyman Orchards.