Let’s dive into the 25 Best Public Golf Courses in Connecticut That You Can Play in 2024.
Short but sweet would be the best way to describe the golf season in Connecticut.
While the state may lack long warm months like some top golfing destinations like Carlifonia or Arizona, it makes up for it with top-tier golf courses.
Connecticut is famous for being top-heavy in private golf, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t amazing public golf courses.
In fact, some public courses have the most scenic and challenging fairways in the state.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to cast your club along the coast or tee off the coast; we can assure you that Connecticut has a perfect public golf course for every skill level.
Scroll down below to check out some of the best courses in the state. We will do a summary first, then discuss each of them in the subsequent sections.
List of the Best Public Golf Courses in Connecticut
- Keney Park Golf Course: Best Overall
- Wintonbury Hills: 1st Runners Up
- Lake of Isles, North Course: 2nd Runners Up
- Richter Park Golf Course
- Gillette Ridge Golf Club
- Alling Memorial Golf Course
- Blackledge Country Club
- Cedar Knob Golf Course
- Cedar Ridge Golf Course
- Connecticut National Golf Club
- Crestbrook Park Golf Course
- Fairview Farm Golf Course
- Gillette Ridge Golf Club
- Great River Golf Club
- Goodwin Park Golf Course
- Hawk’s Landing Country Club
- Lyman Orchards Golf Club
- Manchester Country Club
- Norwich Golf Course
- Portland Golf Course
- Raceway Golf Club
- Richter Park Golf Course
- Rockledge Golf Club
- Short Beach Golf Course
- Stanley Golf Course
Detailed Review of The Best Public Golf Courses in Connecticut
1. Keney Park Golf Course
- Location: Hartford
- Length: 6,449 yards
- Par: 70
- Designers: Devereux Emmet
- Established year: 1927
- Championships: National Boy’s and Girl’s Junior PGA Championships; Connecticut PGA Championship; Hartford Women’s Open; 2019 Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships; Palm Beach Gardens
We believe Keney Park Golf Course is one of the top public golf courses in Connecticut due to its refurbished amenities.
This city-owned municipal golf course initially started as a 9-hole course but has since undergone improvements to make it have that big course feel.
2. Wintonbury Hills
- Location: Bloomfield
- Length: 6,711 yards
- Par: 70
- Designer: Pete Dye
- Established year: 2005
- Championships: 2019 Connecticut Public Links Championship
This is another golf course in Connecticut with a challenging fairway.
It is just 20 minutes outside of Hartford city limits and is certified as a wildlife habitat.
3. Lake of Isles, North Course
- Location: North Stonington
- Length: 7,279 yards
- Par: 72
- Designers: Rees Jones, In
- Established year: 2005
- Championships: 22nd Annual Golf Tournament, 2024; Ryder Cup: Rome 2024
Consistently rated as one of the top public golf courses in Connecticut, Lake of Isles is a scenic golf course that shares a home with Foxwoods Resort Casino.
The golf course sits on a 900-acre wooded area and around a 90-acre lake.
4. Richter Park Golf Course
- Location: Danbury
- Length: 6,744 yards.
- Par: 72
- Designers: Edward Ryder
- Established year: 1971
- Championships: Hosted American Junior Golf Association championships four times latest being 2020; Connecticut PubLinks Championship (2009); Met Public Links Championship (2013)
Located in the western part of the state, this golf course is regarded as one of the best public golf courses in the tri-state area.
It is challenging yet interesting. Water is in play on 14 of the 18 holes.
5. Gillette Ridge Golf Club
- Location: Bloomfield
- Length: 7,191 yards
- Par: 72
- Designers: Arnold Palmer
- Established year: 2004
- Championships: LPGA Futures Tour Cigna Golf Classic from 2005 to 2008; PGA Tour Travelers Championship Qualifier from 2010 to 2012
Named after 19th-century politician Francis Gillette, Gillette Ridge is regarded as one of the best courses in the Nutmeg State.
The golf course tests players with water hazards on nearly half of its holes, with some forced carries over native wetlands.
6. Alling Memorial Golf Course
- Location: New Haven
- Length: 6,248 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer: Robert D. Pryde
- Established year: 1932
- Championships: Hosted several USGA, Connecticut Golf Association, and Connecticut PGA tournaments
This is another fantastic golf course with good fairways and greens.
It is well watered even in dry seasons and is conveniently situated a few minutes away from downtown New Haven.
7. Blackledge Country Club
- Location: Hebron
- Length: 6,787 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer: Geoffrey Cornish
- Established year: 1963
- Championships: The CT Women’s Amateur Championship; CSGA Mid-Amateur Qualifier; 37th Connecticut Public Links in 2022; The U.S. Kids State Championship; The SNEWGA Tournament of Champions
We love the course because it offers different layouts and challenges.
It is also one of the best public golf courses in Connecticut because it accommodates players of all levels and is fairly affordable.
8. Cedar Knob Golf Course
- Location: Somers
- Length: 6,734
- Par: 72
- Designer: Geoff Cornish
- Established year: 1963
- Championships: 2025 Ryder Cup; KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship 2024; KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
This is another high-quality, refined course from architect Geoff Cornish.
The course winds through woodlands, doglegging around bushes, running up and down over hills with holes ending on a raised plateau.
9. Cedar Ridge Golf Course
- Location: East Lyme
- Length: 3,007 yards
- Par: 70
- Designers: Joe Finger
- Established year: 1964
- Championships: The SemGroup Championship from 2001 to 2008; Ridge Club Championship 2023
Cedar Ridge Golf Club boasts a beautifully manicured and well-maintained championship course with impressive practice areas.
This par 72 facility is ideal for golfers of all levels.
10. Connecticut National Golf Club
- Location: Putnam
- Length: 6,131 yards
- Par: 71
- Designers: Mike Donovan, Sally Donovan, and Mark Mungeam
- Established year: 1994
- Championships: U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying in 2023; 30th Annual Golf Tournament in 2022; Travelers Championship in 2013
This facility features an enjoyable 18-hole golf course with a short-game area.
It also has two practice greens, a restaurant, and a driving range.
11. Crestbrook Park Golf Course
- Location: Watertown
- Length: 6,930 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer: Geoffrey Cornish
- Established year: 1962
- Championships: CIAC Division IV Tournament in 2017
Situated in the beautiful Lichfield County, the golf course sits beautifully on a 236-acre property.
We included it in this list of the best public golf courses in Connecticut because of its challenging fairways and its reputation as an exceptional course.
12. Fairview Farm Golf Course
- Location: Harwinton
- Length: 6,660 yards
- Par: 72
- Designers: Dick Christian & Bob Ferraroti
- Established year: 2000
- Championships: Connecticut Junior Amateur in 2023; PGA CLub Champion in 2020; The John F. Foley Lone Oak Challenge Annual Golf Tournament in 2021
We really love this golf course because of its numerous fairways, bunkers, speedy greens, and many tricky approach shots.
Its fairways also bend, rise, curve, and cascade dramatically.
13. Gillette Ridge Golf Club
- Location: Bloomfield
- Length: 7,191 yards
- Par: 72
- Designers: Arnold Palmer, Ed Seay, and Harrison Minchew
- Established year: 2004
- Championships: LPGA Futures Tour Cigna Golf Classic from 2005 to 2008; Connecticut Senior Match Play Championships in 2018
Gillette Ridge Golf Club is among the top public golf courses in Connecticut because it offers a course that winds through tree-lined fairways.
It is also characterized by several natural obstacles and spectacular carries.
14. Great River Golf Club
- Location: Milford
- Length: 7,060 yards
- Par: 72
- Designers: Tom Fazio
- Established year: 2001
This golf course offers a first-class experience for golfers of all levels.
The Tom Fazio-designed course also features wooded parkland and a challenging water-focused back nine.
15. Goodwin Park Golf Course
- Location: Hartford
- Length: 6015 yards
- Par: 70
- Designers: Alling Memorial,
- Established year: 1910
- Championships: Walter Lowell PGA Tournament in 2023
If you are looking for a public golf course that offers terrific views and challenging play, then you will love Goodwin Park Golf Course.
The course also has well-groomed fairways and greens.
16. Hawk’s Landing Country Club
- Location: Southington
- Length: 5,825 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer: Geoffrey Cornish
- Established year: 1967
- Championships: Club Championship, Senior Club Championship, and Ryder Cup in 2023; NWGA Egg Land’s Best Tournament in 2020
This 18-hole golf course provides flexibility and a one-of-a-kind golfing experience.
Players of all levels can choose to play 6 holes in the morning or 12 holes when they have lots of time and then add some 6 more to complete the loop.
17. Lyman Orchards Golf Club
- Location: Middlefield
- Length: 6,725 yards
- Par: 71
- Designers: Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
- Established year: 1994
- Championships: 8th Annual “Putt Fore Pink” Tournament in 2024; Connecticut PGA Open in 2023; 2024 FENN Golf Tournament; CT PGA Section Championship in 2021
Lyman Orchards Golf Club is one of the excellent public golf courses in Connecticut due to its amazing views and sunsets, central location, and farm-to-table dishes.
18. Manchester Country Club
- Location: Manchester
- Length: 6,285 yards
- Par: 72
- Designers: Tom Bendelow and Deveroux Emmet
- Established year: 1917
- Championships: Connecticut Senior Amateur Championships (1981, 1983 and 2008); the 99th NEPGA Section Championship in 2019
This is one of the best public golf courses in Connecticut due to its charming and generous fairways and amazing amenities.
19. Norwich Golf Course
- Location: Norwich
- Length: 6,228 yards
- Par: 71
- Designers: Donald Ross and Tull & Tull
- Established year: 1925
- Championships: Norwich Invitational Golf Tournament.in 2022; Norwich Golf Club One Day Tournament in 2023
This public facility is owned by Norwich City, and it features challenging courses constructed over undulating terrain.
The 18-hole course also features five different tees to play.
20. Portland Golf Course
- Location: Portland
- Length: 6,213 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer: Geoffrey Cornish
- Established year: 1974
- Championships: 1982 U.S. Senior Open; U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship of 2015; Fred Meyer Challenge
Portland Golf Course is one of the scenic courses that is both challenging and fun for golfers of different abilities.
We ranked it among the best public golf courses in Connecticut because of its tree-lined fairways and different elevation changes.
21. Raceway Golf Club
- Location: Thompson
- Length: 6,532 yards
- Par: 72
- Designers: John Hoenig and his son, Donald J. Hoenig
- Established year: 1947
- Championships: Raceway PGA Jr. League 13U in 2024; Cornhole League in 2021
This course has a great layout, tight but not menacing holes, and few water holes.
Whether you are lining up your ball on the tee or just relaxing in the spectator gallery, the course offers an unforgettable experience.
22. Richter Park Golf Course
- Location: Danbury
- Length: 6,744 yards
- Par: 72
- Designers: Edward Ryder
- Established year: 1970
- Championships: 34th Annual Danbury Amateur (every year for the last 34 years); MGA Public Links Championship (2008); CT Public Links Championship (2009); CT Open Qualifier (2013, 2015, 2017, 2023, 2024); Met Public Links Championship (2013)
The golf course is in the heart of Fairfield County and is known to have scenic water hazards and undulating fairways.
It is popular among golfers of different skill levels.
23. Rockledge Golf Club
- Location: West Hartford
- Length: 6,436 yards
- Par: 72
- Designers: Alling Memorial
- Established year: 1924
- Championships: Rockledge Women’s Group 2023; PGA Club Championship (annually)
This outstanding facility is suitable for golfers of all abilities. Overall, it has a beautiful landscape and moderately challenging fairways.
24. Short Beach Golf Course
- Location: Stratford
- Length: 1,359 yards
- Par: 70
- Designers: Geoffrey Cornish (1988) and Brian Silva
- Established year: 1988
- Championships: PGA Junior League Program 2024
This is a decent executive course that is situated directly on the Connecticut coastline.
It is also one of the few public golf courses in Connecticut that are fairly short.
But the good thing is that it has a playground for kids.
25. Stanley Golf Course
- Location: New Britain
- Length: 6,378 yards
- Par: 72
- Designers: Robert J. Ross and Ian Scott Taylor
- Established year: 1931
- Championships: Five Major Championships; USGA GHIN Handicap
This is a massive 27-hole public golf course that is well-conditioned and straightforward to play.
The golf course has a huge list of dedicated members who keep it well-groomed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
While Connecticut is fairly small in terms of size, it has some championship-level golf courses.
These include 38 municipal courses, 75 public courses, and about 80 private courses.
Yale students, staff, and faculty can play here without restriction as long as they have a valid Yale ID.
They can also introduce guests to play with them. Unfortunately, unaccompanied guests are restricted from playing during member-only reserved tee times.
Most people would easily take CT to mean Connecticut state.
But in golf, CT stands for characteristic time and is one of two important measures used for driver club heads.
Final Thoughts
Golfing in Connecticut is an extension of New York’s amazing golf scene.
While the state is top-heavy in private golf, there are several amazing public golf courses.
Some of these public golf courses in Connecticut feature well-groomed fairways and greens, while others double up as wildlife sanctuaries.
The best thing is that they are suitable for golfers of all abilities and offer value for money.
In fact, some top courses like Keney Park Golf Course, Wintonbury Hills, Lake of Isles, and North Course are fairly affordable despite their status.
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