Hawk's Landing Country Club
About
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
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Blue | 70 | 5944 yards | 68.6 | 120 |
White | 70 | 5370 yards | 66.3 | 114 |
Gold | 70 | 4570 yards | 63.3 | 109 |
Red (W) | 71 | 4015 yards | 63.7 | 100 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
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Blue M: 68.9/121 | 250 | 185 | 450 | 360 | 380 | 354 | 230 | 350 | 235 | 2794 | 410 | 305 | 160 | 480 | 400 | 465 | 180 | 475 | 190 | 3065 | 5859 |
White M: 66.5/114 W: 71.5/117 | 250 | 170 | 420 | 315 | 340 | 280 | 230 | 325 | 175 | 2505 | 385 | 275 | 150 | 450 | 385 | 450 | 160 | 450 | 165 | 2870 | 5375 |
Gold M: 63.2/109 W: 66.8/107 | 215 | 150 | 410 | 230 | 230 | 205 | 220 | 285 | 115 | 2060 | 320 | 200 | 140 | 420 | 350 | 330 | 130 | 425 | 155 | 2470 | 4530 |
Red W: 63.5/100 | 185 | 125 | 345 | 200 | 210 | 195 | 200 | 235 | 110 | 1805 | 270 | 185 | 100 | 400 | 290 | 310 | 120 | 350 | 135 | 2160 | 3965 |
Handicap | 14 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 9 | |||
Par | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 71 |
Handicap (W) | 10 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 9 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Snacks, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet FacilitiesAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top Courses in Connecticut (2022 #6)
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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The fourth is straightforward from the tee to this contoured and tricky-to-read putting surface. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
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Five is simply a classic downhill four-par. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
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In the late-afternoon shadows, the seventh hole looks inviting though its fairway is narrow. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
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Among the toughest par-3s in the state, the ninth is a Frankenstein’s monster of a golf hole. This view comes from fairway eight. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
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Twelve is a simple but good par-three that plays slightly uphill and over a small stream. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
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This snapping turtle, which I found situated near the stream alongside hole five, was not aggressive. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
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Framed by Connecticut woodland, the longish, par-3 second hole demands a good tee shot for a GIR. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
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The well-groomed fourth fairway glides uphill to a slightly-pitched green, which is guarded by a pair of flanking bunkers. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
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Five, my favorite hole on the front side, ends on a green complex that allows for run-up shots. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
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At the challenging dogleg-right sixth hole, part of the green’s backdrop are a pond and a pair of attractive homes. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
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Another view across the sixth green, with the first green and fairway behind. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
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The par-3 eighteenth may be non-traditional for a finishing hole, yet in its own right is a classic. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
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The 3rd fairway at HLGC wends its way past woods, a marshy depression, bunkers and clusters of tall trees–a short but feisty par-5. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
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Hole five plays downhill to a broad but still well-protected fairway that punishes errant drives. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
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This pond–fronting the sixth green–may seem to be owned by this pair of graceful swans. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
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Seven, a short and driveable four-par, plays steeply uphill to its fortified green complex. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
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Architect Geoffrey Cornish designed the ninth to be a brutal four-par that takes no prisoners: a watery grave awaits shots that fall short of its plateau green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
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A view of hole eleven, a drive-and-pitch affair yet one of my favorite holes at Hawk’s Landing. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
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Risk-reward holes, such as the driveable par-4 seventh, add an extra dimension to Hawk’s Landing. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
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View from behind the par-3 twelfth green, which sits on a small terrace above the small strip of fairway prefacing its putting surface. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
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Fourteen, a 400 yard par-4, should be a strategic proposition from tee to green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
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I met the course’s genial starter, Mr. Jack Fager, out on the fifteenth. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
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In the vicinity of green seventeen are plenty of hazards. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
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Eighteen, par-3, 190. The uphill closer has a lone bunker (not in view here) sitting short and right of its green. But it hardly needs it. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
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The first: Driveable, short par-4 with a well protected green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
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In late May, a pleasant, sunny view down the third fairway. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
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A tall tee at the fifth hole affords a clear view of the landing zone below. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
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The seventh tee and fairway, viewed from behind. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
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Seven again, ascending upward to its plateau green, where a foursome is putting out. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
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The par-three ninth will demand one of your best tee shots of the day. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
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HL’s fourth is a nice looking, short four-par that plays uphill all the way to the green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
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The fifth’s tee shot is dramatic–and the entire hole an excellent par-4. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
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A pond is set at the crook of the dogleg at hole six, a 354-yard challenger. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
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Seven is one of the best short four-pars I can think of in Connecticut. It’s risk-reward if you dare try to drive the green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
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The tee shot at nine (par-3, 235 from blues) must traverse a large pond and land upon a plateau green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
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At 18, you’re charged with another tough, long tee shot to an elevated green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
Fall Golf on a Warm Afternoon
I played here on a beautiful early fall afternoon today, when the weather was actually hot. The course’s fairways and roughs, still saturated from the heavy rains of several days ago, gulped golf balls and left them plugged–and I found a couple of lost balls by virtually stepping on them. Conditions suffered from the wetness, as the roughs, tees, greenside areas, and fairways needed mowing, while the bunkers remained essentially washed out. Only the greens were good, but even they had some modest detritus from the recent streams of water that had been running across them.
The layout proved fun to play, once again. After my last few rounds here, one of my favorite holes has become the sixth, a hole that was easy to dislike–initially. But now I see it, after repeated plays, as a challenging but fair driving hole, with a
forced carry over a pond to a fairway that seems just wide enough for comfort. It’s really what lies outside of the fairway borders that will make for a tricky GIR should you fail to find the short grass.
HL is still on my short list of worthwhile Connecticut courses that are enjoyable each time out. A couple of the holes–seven and eight–may seem a bit quirky, but they’re still quite playable given straight tee shots. If you’re game for it, though, seven will up the ante by its infusion of risk-reward into the mix. Just don’t hook it off the tee.
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The fourth is straightforward from the tee to this contoured and tricky-to-read putting surface. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
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Five is simply a classic downhill four-par. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
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In the late-afternoon shadows, the seventh hole looks inviting though its fairway is narrow. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
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Among the toughest par-3s in the state, the ninth is a Frankenstein’s monster of a golf hole. This view comes from fairway eight. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
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Twelve is a simple but good par-three that plays slightly uphill and over a small stream. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
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This snapping turtle, which I found situated near the stream alongside hole five, was not aggressive. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/05/2023
Breaking the Box
FRONT NINE Review: The front nine at Hawk’s Landing springs from the fine visual imaginations of Geoffrey Cornish and his associate Bill Robinson. The holes mix high tee shots from elevated mounds, greens with various forms of protection, several forced carries, and hazards ranging from huge bunkers to ponds and streams–or even mature trees that sometimes dictate the line of play. Although the rather tough par-3s will force most golfers to use longer clubs off the tee, the core of this front side resides in par-4s: two of them, from the blue tees, are driveable; four are in the range of 350 yards long; the downhill fourth hole (arguably the best of these) stretches to 375 yards. Yet from the deep tees, the course slope comes in a bit above average, largely due to a back nine that supplies the real rigor by its length and some tighter or more demanding holes.
Across Connecticut–and, moreso, all of New England–Cornish built scores of good golf courses, and Hawk’s Landing typifies his careful, balanced, and varied approach to their design, mainly based on an incorporation of the general feel that the Canadian Hall of Fame architect often sought. This sprang from what influenced him most: Scottish golf courses and their landforms. Here, then, as I’ve frequently found with Cornish layouts, there’s little of the predictability or dullness that often marks the average golf track.
On this front side, the fifth and sixth stand out–in very different ways–as break-the-box par-4s. Five is particularly good: a drive from a towering tee box; an approach that must carry a small, circuitous stream to a slightly pitched green; a threatening copse of trees (rightward), as well, that will snatch a pushed shot. Fairly enough, though, the shorter hitter can run up a shot onto this fifth green, as it’s open in front.
Cornish’s designs also may seem a bit minimalist to some, but a hole like the ninth (a complex par-3 if there ever was one) belies such stereotyping.
Conditioning here, as I found it today, was superlative overall, with ultra-smooth and fast greens that keep putts rolling purely, emerald-green fairways with surprisingly little wear for the amount of play this public course generates, and well-kept tees. If there are ‘better conditioned’ courses in Connecticut, their price-tags for eighteen holes are invariably north of $70, in my experience. The only flaw I found here occurred at the one bunker I stepped into today at nine, which had too many stones in the sand for my liking. Only the pace of play, a bit slow on several holes, disappointed somewhat today.
I’m looking forward to coming back in the near future, when I plan to play the full eighteen; it’s a course that has quickly become one of my favorites in central Connecticut.
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Framed by Connecticut woodland, the longish, par-3 second hole demands a good tee shot for a GIR. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
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The well-groomed fourth fairway glides uphill to a slightly-pitched green, which is guarded by a pair of flanking bunkers. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
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Five, my favorite hole on the front side, ends on a green complex that allows for run-up shots. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
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At the challenging dogleg-right sixth hole, part of the green’s backdrop are a pond and a pair of attractive homes. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
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Another view across the sixth green, with the first green and fairway behind. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
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The par-3 eighteenth may be non-traditional for a finishing hole, yet in its own right is a classic. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/04/2023
Short But Tough-to-Conquer
The Southington course serves up a relatively short but tough-to-conquer layout, sparked by enough challenging holes to hold your interest, but also balanced design and rolling terrain.
Playing just the front side today, I was again reminded of the various ways its designer, Geoffrey Cornish, strove for balance. Most of its short holes–notably 3, 6, 7, and 8–tighten the driving zones, contrasting to several wider fairways on other holes both front side and back. While five of the front nine holes jealously protect their greens with multiple greenside traps (often large), greens three, five, and eight are, as a group, almost bunkerless. These three instead depend on mounding to deflect errant shots. Cornish also paid attention to the ‘vertical’ dimension of course architecture: tree limbs jut out forcibly on five of the front-side fairways. But on a couple of holes, namely four and five, trees interfere minimally around fairway landing zones. The Hawk’s Landing greens, too, offer a variety of sizes, slopes and shapes.
Most Tactical Hole: Par-4 Sixth–dogleg right, 355
After a significant carry off the tee to a problem-laden fairway, the optimal angle into the green proves to be from the fairway’s left side. On the right, trees may block the approach, an approach that must carry a pond stretching close to the front of the putting surface. The green, thankfully, is mostly flat.
Most Interesting Hole: Par-4 Fifth, 380 yards
This downhill challenger boasts one of the best views from anywhere on the property on its tee, where you’ll launch your drive down a steep hill to a broad fairway fraught with a bit of danger both left and right. From there, today, I poked a 9-iron into the slightly raised and undulating green. Prior to the putting surface, a meandering brook snakes along and may consume a ball hit weakly. A hole that’s a pure pleasure to look at as you play it.
Conditions:
Impressive conditions for springtime on and around the smooth, predictable greens, and most of the fairways were good to excellent (a few are still undergoing some early season re-conditioning). Not bad considering recent dry conditions. Bunkers are filled with good-quality sand, but were not raked today–the only weak link here. The tees and roughs looked good overall, even if the latter will still need to grow more.
Conclusions:
This energetic front-side design from Geoffrey Cornish is solid, though not quite as dynamic as the more rough-and-tumble inward half, which is bolstered by steeper slopes and longer par-4s. Still, the front has a nice rhythm, created by its balanced approach, but also a gradual escalation of difficulty over the middle holes that climaxes on the tricky and tough eighth and ninth, the latter a brutal par-3. It’s no surprise that Hawk’s Landing finished sixth in the Golfer’s Choice Rankings for top Connecticut Courses of 2023.
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The 3rd fairway at HLGC wends its way past woods, a marshy depression, bunkers and clusters of tall trees–a short but feisty par-5. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
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Hole five plays downhill to a broad but still well-protected fairway that punishes errant drives. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
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This pond–fronting the sixth green–may seem to be owned by this pair of graceful swans. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
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Seven, a short and driveable four-par, plays steeply uphill to its fortified green complex. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
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Architect Geoffrey Cornish designed the ninth to be a brutal four-par that takes no prisoners: a watery grave awaits shots that fall short of its plateau green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
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A view of hole eleven, a drive-and-pitch affair yet one of my favorite holes at Hawk’s Landing. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/25/2023
Smartly Playable
Having played nine holes at Hawk’s Landing twice since April, and today the full eighteen, first impressions of the back side were more than favorable. The back seems to capture all that is best about the style of its two designers, Geoffrey Cornish and Bill Robinson, who applied ample bunkering in fairways and around greens, fashioned excellent green complexes, and crafted terrific variety amongst three triplets: three par-3’s, fours and fives, with all nine holes possessing an individual character. But there is balance, too, between open holes and a few that are more wooded (especially the thirteenth and seventeenth), while holes such as 14 and 15 have a sense of opposition–open versus tree-lined–on one side of the fairway versus the other. One of the inward half’s best aspects, though, is its constantly rolling, sliding, and bending ground movement, where successive holes tend to play down and then up (and vice versa), slopes around greens are geared to be both testing and playable, and the greens themselves pitch and roll in various directions. I used a driver on every par-four and five on the back nine today, feeling challenged to do so because each hole supplied enough bail-out room to make the slight added risk a worthwhile one. Adding to the high quality of this nine: nothing seems overdone; every feature appears as if it were chosen carefully to present some firm scoring resistance–yet the cumulative effect never crosses the line into toughness-for-its-own-sake. In terms of playability and interest, then, this nine–indeed, nearly the entire course–is first-rate.
Three Back Nine Standouts:
BEST HOLE, Par-4 14th, 400 yards.
Off the tee, this superlative tester plays downhill to a tree-lined landing zone, its major threat being the dense left-side forest. But the approach is magical: you can see the tempting green lying well below, guarded by a trio of bunkers along with some large mounding on the green’s periphery. An incoming iron shot may, for example, kick off the rightward mound and onto the beautifully contoured putting surface.
17: A TOP-NOTCH PAR-5
This Cape hole design tempts the player to bite off as much as (s)he can chew down the dogleg-left fairway, as off the tee you’ll want to carry a pond (mostly obscured by trees and sidling up to the landing zone’s entire left side). A huge multi-lobed bunker may well catch those who overshoot the fairway, so a draw is clearly the ideal play. Remarkably, the second shot may be more interesting because a towering pine presents an obstruction in the right side of the fairway, forcing you to play left, pretty much, and thus bringing that lengthy left-side pond again into play. I aimed just off the inside of the tree and managed to touch down on land. Another sprawling, multiform bunker impedes a direct approach to the green.
10: GREAT FOUR-PAR (#1 index, 410 yards)
Playing downhill off the tee and with mature trees looming on each side of the landing zone, this lean and tough hole begs for a carefully placed draw. On its heels you’ll need a precise mid-iron or hybrid to a perched green surrounded by the usual mounding–yet it’s massive here–and grass bunkering. Wow!
CONDITIONING
The whole course was in fine condition today, including greens, fairways, and tees. Roughs weren’t perfect but still good. I met the Course Superintendent, Dan Sisson, after the round and chatted with him for a bit. It’s clear he takes pride in how this course looks and plays, and, better still, believes in continuous improvement.
FRIENDLINESS
Outstanding both in the pro shop and out on the course. At the counter, Joe was personable and flexible. Out on hole fifteen, I happened to strike up a conversation with friendly starter Jack Fager (he was doing an errand) who showed his great enthusiasm for Hawk’s Landing; his picture is among the photos. I’m not sure how you can ask for anything more than a great vibe like this from a club’s staff.
BOTTOM LINE:
Hawk’s Landing is both stylish and original. With a slope of 121, this course is above average in difficulty, yet it won’t weary too many golfers. Cornish and Robinson wisely tilted the balance away from sheer hardness to strategic focus, lending it a nearly perfect playability. After a very good front side, on the back the course gets a turbo boost from a long string of excellent holes, many of them exhilarating. Despite a few unusual twists you’ll encounter in certain spots from tee to green, this layout is about the playing of smart and careful golf. The holes that feature some risk/reward possibilities add an extra dimension to the mix.
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Risk-reward holes, such as the driveable par-4 seventh, add an extra dimension to Hawk’s Landing. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
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View from behind the par-3 twelfth green, which sits on a small terrace above the small strip of fairway prefacing its putting surface. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
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Fourteen, a 400 yard par-4, should be a strategic proposition from tee to green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
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I met the course’s genial starter, Mr. Jack Fager, out on the fifteenth. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
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In the vicinity of green seventeen are plenty of hazards. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
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Eighteen, par-3, 190. The uphill closer has a lone bunker (not in view here) sitting short and right of its green. But it hardly needs it. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 06/16/2022
Well Designed and Nicely Conditioned
After today’s second play in as many months at Hawk’s Landing, which was again the front nine only (given time constraints), I want to get back soon and play the full eighteen. It was clear today that now, in late May, the conditioning here is reaching its peak, and that is a high level indeed. Excellent tees and fairways, smooth greens that putt at a perfect speed, and well-kept greenside areas–-the course superintendent does a very fine job here, and in this department HL rivals anything I’ve played in Connecticut.
The layout boasts strong golf holes in a varied package. A high-quality and balanced routing set in a suburban neighborhood, Hawk’s Landing offers plenty of bunkering, mature and beautiful trees along its fairways, a pair of long and tough par-3’s, and, in the fifth hole, one of the best-looking and well crafted par-4’s that I’ve played anywhere. Water hazards pop up intermittently in the form of a meandering creek, some large ponds, and a bit of marshland here and there. For the most part, the holes glide smoothly over this gently rolling landscape, and several high tees make your fairway targets distinct (see full review from April). Today’s only drawback was slow play, but I still enjoyed the smooth but vigorous walk. This time I noticed a driving range to the left of the eighth fairway; watch for the carts crossing over to it (on a path from the clubhouse) in front of tee eight.
This is an appealing golfing venue worth visiting.
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The first: Driveable, short par-4 with a well protected green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
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In late May, a pleasant, sunny view down the third fairway. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
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A tall tee at the fifth hole affords a clear view of the landing zone below. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
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The seventh tee and fairway, viewed from behind. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
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Seven again, ascending upward to its plateau green, where a foursome is putting out. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
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The par-three ninth will demand one of your best tee shots of the day. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 05/25/2022
Hawk’s Landing: Nice Mix of Quality and Balance
Only having had time for nine holes today, I played the front at Hawk’s Landing, finding it to be an intriguing mix of a few tame holes, of several that surely up the ante yet remain quite playable, and of a couple that prove difficult. That’s about how it should be on most layouts. After all, who wants to play something as hard as a Robert Trent Jones course every day? Geoffrey Cornish, one of the outstanding New England architects of his era, designed this with partner Bill Robinson in 1967, and the track holds up quite well in 2022.
LAYOUT
On the front side, the watchword for Cornish and Robinson here appeared to be, as it frequently was in the courses they designed, ‘balance.’ Short holes (the 1st, 7th, and 8th) are balanced by longer ones (two, five and nine). The uphill holes at four and seven are offset by three holes–the first, fifth, and eighth–that play from high tees, which offer commanding views of their fairways. Some of these fairways felt narrow, or, at the very least, hemmed in by their hazards, and a few were clearly wider. Shot values are also consistently varied–a Cornish trademark. The few constants I noticed here were relatively large and mostly circular greens along with nearly all straightaway holes; the only real dogleg is six.
It’s important to choose your tees wisely here: from the blues, two holes–six and nine–require you to fly the ball some 200 yards off their tees. Water is used sparingly and wisely on this nine, and is especially dramatic at the demanding ninth hole, a 235-yarder from the blues. It seems that Cornish here was channeling his inner Robert Trent Jones, Sr., the architect whose work he thought to be most important and admirable in his era. The hole is a brute and a hard par. Also apparent, in more subtle fashion, is Jones’ influence at the eighth, where a genuine risk-reward opportunity is at hand: you may choose to drive (or get near) the well-protected green on this 265, steeply uphill four-par, but at your own peril. It’s a brilliant hole, one of the most impressive short par-4’s in Connecticut.
DEFENSES / HAZARDS
The best defense against par here are the mature, towering pines, which, whether they line the fairway or are grouped in stands, will often play havoc with tee shots (and some approaches) that fly off course. The pines add a soothing effect and great aesthetic appeal. The other major defense comes in the form of frequent bunkering, both in the fairways and around the greens. The aforementioned ponds and marshy areas are certainly a factor, too, but just to make life a little more difficult are a huge tree jutting into the eighth fairway, humps around most of the greens, and some grass bunkers here and there. The fairways themselves have mostly flat landing zones–this is not a course characterized by strong ground movement–and there are only a couple of cross hazards on the front side.
GREEN COMPLEXES
These are fairly typical of what Cornish tended to design in the sixties. They tend to rise only slightly above grade, and are well guarded on the sides and back, typically, and almost all open in front to allow the run-on shot from higher-handicap players. Only the sixth and ninth greens are like fortresses.
CONDITIONING
The only flies the ointment today were the aerated greens, which are not surprising at this time of year, and a few too many leaves around the course. But it is early springtime. Bunkers were decent and tees above average, but the fairways, roughs, and greens (despite the aeration) impressed.
BEST HOLE
For my money, the classic fifth is superb. Offering a terrific downhill vista from the tee, the fairway is properly proportioned for a long, downhill shot. A large stand of pines impinges somewhat on the fairway not far from the green, blocking the approach from the right rough, while most players will want to steer away from the more penal woods on the left. Translation: it pays doubly to hit the fairway of the fifth tee. A small brook snakes across the fairway, while green is both sided and backed by large, pesky humps.
INITIAL TAKEAWAYS
This was only my first time playing here, but I’m already thinking about coming back this summer, as I’d like to play the whole track. The course is short but challenging enough, with an 18-hole slope of 120 from the blues. Cornish and Robinson threw just enough wrenches into the works to keep each hole interesting, and a few are bearish. The experience of playing here was pleasant, and I was particularly impressed by the Head of Maintenance, a very congenial gentleman whom I met at the 9th while taking a picture of the hole.
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HL’s fourth is a nice looking, short four-par that plays uphill all the way to the green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
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The fifth’s tee shot is dramatic–and the entire hole an excellent par-4. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
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A pond is set at the crook of the dogleg at hole six, a 354-yard challenger. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
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Seven is one of the best short four-pars I can think of in Connecticut. It’s risk-reward if you dare try to drive the green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
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The tee shot at nine (par-3, 235 from blues) must traverse a large pond and land upon a plateau green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
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At 18, you’re charged with another tough, long tee shot to an elevated green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/15/2022
Windy Day
The course was in great shape. The wind tested our club selection and on a couple holes our putting. All in all enjoyed the round and played well despite the 20 gusting to 30 MPH winds.
Hawks Landing is a very nice course
Always enjoy playing at Hawks, nice layout, well maintained
Early season surprise
The course was in great condition for this early in the season. The greens were fast not very bumpy.
Out with a friends!
Today was worse than yesterday! They started on hole number #10.. the pace of play was so slow that the beverage lady was coming around the course twice before we could even off. It took three hours to finish the back nine.
We went to the first tee box and waited fifteen minutes before we could tee off. This people was so bad. they don't have no respect for the game or other people around them. One of the women had a cast on her foot and she's out there playing golf on a busy day, how crazy is that this game golf is hard enough when your healthy, how dare you show your face on a golf course on Sunday on a busy busy day. A golfer like you guys should know your place. You guys should should try playing the pot-pot instead. The pace of play is four hours not six. I will never book here ever again. This past weekend was the worse ever. This was my worse nightmare of my life. Never play here again!!!! The Ranger need to do his job. We didn't even see him all day they should give that job to the beverage lady, cause we saw her at least thirty to forty times today alone. I don't understand how those people could pay that kind of money you guys are charging to play there. I don't usually get mad about anything but today just put it above the boiling point. Six hours to finish 28 hole, come on guys. You wasted my whole weekend by booking a tee time at your course. I'm a Golfpass+ member and played all over and I never had a weekend like this!!!
Out with a friends!
We went out to have a great day at the golf course. Instead we end up playing behind a foursome that was so slow that it took us 5:23 minutes to finish our round.. our tee time was 10:00am and we didn't finish our round until 3:23 pm. The Ranger should of done a better job. You cannot have a foursome that have no respect for other golfers. The Ranger gotta make his round more often. We asked if we could play through and they just ignores us. There was nobody in front of them!!!!
IOther than that, we had a great time. Those golfers make other golfer wanna stop playing .this guys shouldn't be playing on a course like this. They should learn the golf rules, before they go out and play.
" This was really the Rangers fault"
Great venue for a tournament
This was a great course for our group's Oktoberfest today. The weather turned out to be beautiful and we had a wonderful day. Nick and his staff did an amazing job in organizing our event and stayed in constant communication. He was there to start us off on our shotgun and things could not have run smoother. The course, though short demands your attention on several holes.. but it was in great condition considering the dry weather we've had this year. The greens were some of the best we've seen in our travels. Our group stayed for refreshments after golf and both food and service were superb. Play there if you get a chance and enjoy a fun day of golf. Thanks Hawks Landing for a special day!
Good value on Tee off
The course is in great shape. Beautiful greens. Unfortunately with lack of rain this summer the ponds have dried up. The 19th hole is always nice for a snack and cocktail after your round.
family fun
I like playing this course, this is the 2nd time so far this year, and I will be back for sure before the season is over.
Fun course to play.
From tee box to green in very good condition. Really nice deck to enjoy a beverage and lite meal after. Weekend is always a slower pace.
Excuse my error on the third photo: the birds are Canada geese, not swans!
---Aptly Linked