New Haven CT Golf Weekend

AssociatedContent.com, 6/08

Drinking Made Easy, 12/11

New Haven, Connecticut's, Best Public Golf Courses

Associated Content, 6/08

"New Haven County, Connecticut, is known, in general, to be less expensive and crowded than adjacent Fairfield County. It is that much farther away from New York City, and in a lot of ways, the New Haven, Connecticut, area represents the unofficial gateway to the rest of New England.

The public golf courses in New Haven, Connecticut, as one might expect, are less crowded and less expensive than many of their Fairfield County brethren. But don't worry; that doesn't correlate to lesser quality. New Haven, Connecticut, has many fine public golf courses. Here is a list, listed alphabetically by town, and some information on eleven of the top public golf courses in the New Haven, Connecticut county area:

1. Guilford Lakes Golf Course

Address and Phone:

200 North Madison Road
Guilford, Connecticut
(203) 453-8214

Guilford Lakes Golf Course in Guilford, Connecticut is about a 15 minute drive from downtown New Haven, Connecticut. It is a nine hole Par 3 golf course and is an ideal place to get a quick round of golf in and perhaps work on your short game. It is about 1,319 yards from the back tees. Guilford Lakes has, in the past not always been in the best condition, but by most all accounts this has changed and it a nice little par 3 golf course that is enjoyable. You can call up to 3 days in advance for tee times. Residents of Guilford, Connecticut can play the course very inexpensively as on the weekends, nine holes will cost only $14.00 and during the week, residents pay only $12.00. For 18 holes, residents pay $24 and $26, respectively, for weekdays and weekends, respectively. Non residents pay significantly more on the weekend, paying $28 for nine holes, but they will get a significant break if they play 18 (or basically the course twice) and will pay only $32.

2. Laurel View Country Club

Address and Phone:

310 W. Shepard Avenue
Hamden, Connecticut
(203) 287-2656

Laurel View Country Club is an excellent public golf course located in Hamden, a town adjacent to New Haven, Connecticut. It is only minutes away from downtown New Haven, Connecticut and offers one of the conditioned courses in the area. Laurel View Country Club offers 18 holes at very reasonable prices. This club is a Jeffrey Cornish designed course and plays almost 7000 yards from the back tees.

Greens Fees for residents are $18 and $27, respectively, for 9 holes and 18 holes during the week. For non-residents it costs $20 and $31, respectively during the week. On weekends, residents pay $19 and $31 for 9 and 18 holes and non-residents pay $22 and $35. Golf carts are $20 for 9 holes and $32 for 18 holes.

3. Sleeping Giant Golf Course

Address and Phone:

3931 Whitney Ave.
Hamden, Connecticut
(203) 281-9456

Sleeping Giant Golf Course is a nine hole public golf course located only minutes from downtown New Haven, Connecticut. Greens fees are $23 during the week and $25 for the weekend, including a golf cart. This course is a regulation size nine hole course and is 2671 yards from the back tees. The course opened in 1924 and usually the place of play is quite fast. This is a good course for the beginning golfer as well as there are some fairly forgiving holes and the layout is conducive to those trying to work on the basics of their game. Of course, more experienced golfers can play here as well and enjoy it, but unlike some courses that will 'eat alive' the new golfer, this golf course near New Haven, Connecticut is a good place to play and work on the basics.

4. Hunter Golf Club

Address and Phone:

688 Westfield Road
Meriden, Connecticut
(203) 634-3366

Hunter Golf Club is a public golf course located in Meriden, Connecticut, about a twenty minute drive from New Haven, Connecticut. This is a demanding golf course that will test even the best players. Residents pay $18 for 9 holes and $27 for 18 holes during the week and $19 for 9 holes and $30 for 18 holes on the weekends. Residents pay $20 and $35 during the week and $21 and $21 and $38 during the weekend.

The golf course itself is well maintained and has been now for nearly 20 years when new management began making dramatic improvements. It plays nearly 6600 yards from the back tees and has quite a bit of water that can look worse than it is.

5. Great River Golf Club

Address and Phone:

130 Coram Lane
Milford, Connecticut
(203) 876-8051

Great River Golf Club, in Milford, Connecticut, bills itself as "Connecticut's Premier Public Golf Course" and is about fifteen minutes from downtown New Haven, Connecticut. You will think you are at a private golf club, not a public golf course. It is located on the banks of the Housatonic River and has some breathtaking views. The service and course itself are first rate. And its restaurant, Monty's River Grille, is a first rate dining experience.

If you're not a member of this New Haven, Connecticut area golf course you can still play. The greens fees, including the cart, are over $100 and vary depending on when you play. There are some twilight options available as well.

This public golf course is long; the back tees play close to 7200 yards, making it one of the longest public golf courses in the New Haven, Connecticut area.

6. The Orchards Golf Course

Address and Phone:

137 Kozlowski Road
Milford, Connecticut
(203) 877-8200

The Orchards Golf Course is a nine hole, executive size public golf course located about fifteen minutes from New Haven, Connecticut in Milford, Connecticut. The distance for this golf course is only 1600 yards. There are five par fours and no par 3's. Tee times are available six days in advance. This course has the reputation of being well kept and play is typically pretty quick. You can expect to generally play this course in under two hours. It is $16.50 for 9 holes for non residents on the weekends, and $15.25 on the weekdays for non-residents. For Milford, Connecticut residents, it is $11.25 for nine holes on the weekends and $10.00 during the week.

7. Alling Memorial Golf Course

Address and Phone:

35 Eastern St.
New Haven, Connecticut
(203) 946-8014

Alling Memorial Golf Course is the only public golf course actually located within the boundaries of New Haven, Connecticut. Tee times are not accepted during the week, it is a first come/first serve public golf course.Tee times are accepted for the weekends. This is a course that is very price competitive; New Haven, Connecticut residents only pay $18 for 18 holes during the week and $20 for 18 holes on the weekend. Carts are not included in this pricing and cost $26. But the carts are not required.

This public golf course in New Haven, Connecticut , which measures ab out 6250 yards from the back tees, underwent an extensive renovation in 2005 and the quality of the course has improved dramatically since then (I've played it before and after). This is dollar for dollar a very good value. Play can be a bit slow at times, but often there is not a large number of people on this golf course. There are an assortment of leagues to pick from as well if that's an interest. There is a grill there offering mostly basic sandwiches, cheeseburgers and similar type on the go meals.

8. Orange Hills Country Club

Address and Phone:

489 Racebrook Road
Orange, Connecticut
(203) 795-4161

Orange Hills Country Club is a public golf course about 15 minutes from New Haven, Connecticut. It is a moderately priced course and kept in very good condition. Tee times are available seven days in advance for weekday times and at 6:00PM on Wednesday for the subsequent weekend. Greens fees range from $38 to $48 for 18 holes, not including an optional cart, which is $30 for 18 holes.

This public golf course is one of the better values, dollar for dollar, in the New Haven, Connecticut area. There are extensive tournament opportunities should you decide to join the men's or women's club. Nine of the holes have out of bounds stakes and it plays to a reasonable 6500 yards from the back tees. This is a very solid overall course that is good for all abilities.

9. Grassy Hill Country Club

Address and Phone:

441 Clark Lane
Orange, Connecticut
(203) 795-1422

The Grassy Hill Country Club is one of two public golf courses in Orange, Connecticut and is about a fifteen minute drive from downtown New Haven, Connecticut. Tee times are available seven days in advance for weekdays and three days in advance for the weekends. Greens fees for weekends are $60, including a cart which is required, for 18 holes. This public golf course is known to be in pretty good shape and plays a relatively modest 6200 yards from the back tees.

10. Oxford Greens

Address and Phone:

99 Country Club Drive
Oxford, Connecticut
(203) 888-1600

Oxford Greens, a public golf course near New Haven, Connecticut, boasts one of the most beautiful holes in all of the state. Golf Digest called it one of the three best public courses in Connecticut in 2006.

This is a tremendous public golf course that has very little problem with slow play or too many people. I've played it several times and aside from the lack of traffic, the layout is challenging but fun. I highly recommend it if you're planning on playing on a public golf course in the New Haven, Connecticut area. I always really feel as if the golf course were carved into existing terrain and not a big field of side by side holes. The rates are quite reasonable as well; at last check, it was $65 for 18 holes during the week and $95 for 18 on the weekends. Tee times can be made on-line, or by calling the course. There are a number of different residents and club packages available, so if you love this course, and I think you will, you may want to inquire after playing it.

11. Highland Greens Golf

Address and Phone:

122 Cook Road
Prospect, Connecticut
(203) 758-4022

While it is only a 9 hole executive style course, Highland Greens Golf near New Haven, Connecticut, stands out for a very "bright" reason: It is Connecticut's only lighted course! it's a nice course on its own, though the real attraction here is the ability to go out and play golf at night. I've done it a couple of times on warm summer evenings and it is really a fun experience. I compare it a bit to spring skiing!

Tee times are not taken at Highland Greens. Greens fees are under $20 for 18 holes and unlimited golf after 6:00PM! It is not for a golfing purist, but certainly is fun if you're looking for nighttime golf near New Haven, Connecticut!

12. Tradition Golf Club

Address and Phone:

37 Harrison Road
Wallingford, Connecticut
(203) 269-6023

The Tradition Golf Club, a public golf course about 20 minutes from New Haven, Connecticut, is always in excellent condition. I've played there a handful of times and it's impressed me and I have friends who've played it and their feedback was very consistent with my experience.

This is conveniently located right off the highway. The golf course itself plays to just under 6100 yards. The Tradition Golf Club has an excellent restaurant called Seasons, which many from New Haven, Connecticut go to eat at even if they are not golfers! The Tradition Golf club takes care to pay attention to details and provides entertainment and music in the restaurant.

Greens fees are staggered throughout the day, but they peak first thing in the morning on the weekends, where, with a cart (which is required on the weekends), it will cost nearly $60 for 18 holes. But given that that includes the cart and that this is a very well maintained course, it's worth the money.

All in all, the New Haven, Connecticut area has some excellent public courses serving a variety of abilities and budgets."

Where To Grub:  Fat Guy Research:  New Haven might have an argument for the top spot in America to get New York-style pizza outside of Brooklyn.  Playboy named Modern Apizza (874 State Street) to it's Top 10 Pizzeria's in America.  "No, your pizza is not burnt. You’re in New Haven, and that’sa thaway they do “apizza” around here. Romances and families have been broken up over New Haven pizza debates, and we’ll admit that local establishments Frank Pepe and Sally’s Apizza do make some pretty good pies. But Modern continues to come out on top year after year. Maybe it’s the 75 years of experience, the inferno tower they call a brick oven, the perfect balance of sauce-to-cheese-to-crust...or maybe it’s because Modern nails the New Haven signature pie: white pizza with clams. This garlicky, sauceless pizza topped with fresh littleneck clams comes with lemon wedges alongside for spritzing, but order it “casino” and they’ll add crispy bacon and hot peppers to the mix as well—just the right additions to distract your seafood-phobic friends."

And Travel Channel put two New Haven pizzerias into their Pizza Paradise special.  "For some authentic, New Haven-style pizza, head to Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana. The pizza crust is thin and flaky but not, well, round. According to its founder, Frank Pepe, the pizzas are not perfectly round because they are hand-crafted, then baked in a coal-fired, brick oven. Is Pepe's the best place to grab a slice in New Haven? It depends on whom you ask. While half of New Haven locals name Pepe's Pizzeria as the "best pizza in New Haven," others swear that Sally's Apizza is as authentic as it gets. Sally's is famous for its coal-fired brick oven which stays lit at a constant and steamy 700 degrees. The result? Pizza with a touch of smoky flavor. No wonder 'Old Blue Eyes' kept coming back for more."