Grassy Hill Country Club Review & Tips

Those of you who have been following me since the beginning or check the course review page read my reveiw in April about Grassy Hill Country Club in Orange, CT.  I played it again recently and wanted to give you an update and a few tips.

Review Update

I love this course.  As far as public courses go, Grassy Hill is challenging and kept in great shape.  This weekend was their club championship and the already difficult greens were rolled making them very quick.  The lack of water (rain) in the area made the entire course very dry which added a few yards to every shot, regardless of direction.

A few fairways had spots burned out which is always frustrating but it's not as if they were wasting water.  Every creek and pond on the course was bone dry.  I heard a rumor Yale Country Club was suffering a similar fate after using the water to host the NCAA Championships earlier this year. 

I'm sure they will work hard to restore these over the winter.  Since I have begun playing here 10 years ago they have always kept this course in immaculate shape and reasonable cost.  Want o to ride, the cost is $60.  To walk, it's $45 on the weekends. 

10 Playing Tips for Grassy Hill Country Club

1. The 2nd hole is the #1 handicap.  The narrow fairway has OB left and a tree-lined right.  Play your approach short of the green and let it roll up.  Long is a large bunker or the parking lot.
2. The 4th hole:  Keep your ball below the hole.  It slopes strongly towards the front.
3. The 6th hole.... Good luck.  Long could put you in a pond.  Missing right in the woods, and left OB.  This uphill par 3 is intimidating.  The narrow, but long, green slopes back to front and a downhill putt is a nightmare.
4. The 8th hole:  Everything rolls left.  Keep your tee shot to the right of the flag (in the distance) and it will roll down left.  The green slopes sharply to the left, despite what it looks like.
5. 9th hole:  Everything slopes to the right and when dry will block your shot to the green. 
6. 10th hole:  Short is better than long.  Anything long is OB.
7. 11th hole:  The creek runs at a 45 degree angle...as you move to the right the creek moves further out.  Take aim at the 150 yard marker (bird house) and you have your best chance to get over.
8. 12th hole:  Hit and iron to the landing area between the creek and pond.  It leaves about 100 in.
9. 17th hole:  Keep your ball below the hole.  Chipping from above the and getting it close is almost impossible.
10. 18th hole:  There is little bail out on your approach to the small green.  Left and you'll end up down the hill.  Long and your in fescue across the cart path and to the right is a trap which leaves minimal green to work with.  Enjoy!

If you have the chance, play here  It's a great public course and worth the price of admission!  Check out the prior review here:  Grassy Hill Country Club Review.

Note:  Thanks to my dad for paying.  It was his first round since September of last year and his par on from the bunker was amazing.  Especially when you consider it's the 3rd par of his life!  My score was 84 compared to my 90 in April.