Mohegan Sun

[JTK37]

Hey, I had posted this in the Mid-Atlantic area but then realized it may be better off in the New England Section...... Anyway heading up to Mohegan Sun on Fri and looking for a good place to play Friday mid morning, unfortunately the hotel has been of no help. Any advice and any price range would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Joe

[Pitch'n'Putt]

Shennecosset is near there and pretty good, though crowded.

If you want to spend a bit more you are not too far from Fox Hopyard either, I believe.

If you want to drive to RI, I would recommend Meadowbrook... great course at a very reasonable rate.

[Dbogey]

Lake of Isles at Foxwoods is really good as well.......don't know how the conditions will be but we've had a preety mild winter and my course is way ahead of where it usually is for April.

Dbogey

[geoangus]

Here are a few choices:

Darn near across the street is Norwich golf course. Nice little municipal course, you won't find anything closer: http://www.norwichgolf.com/

Approx 15 minutes north on I-395 is River Ridge golf course in Griswold. Starts out kind of boring, but it's decent mid-range course. This time of year, you'll be battling little black gnats: http://www.riverridgegolf.com/

Maybe 20 minutes away, in Groton is an old Donald Ross course, Shennecossett. It is owned by the city of Groton and has been re-worked from the original Ross design. A southeastern CT favorite: http://www.shennygolf.com/

Probably 30-40 minutes away is one of Connecticut's highly regarded courses, Fox Hopyard. Great design, forced carries of some tees, but probably my favorite course in the state, but a bit more expensive: http://www.golfthefox.com/hopyard/welcome.html

Okay, back to 15 minutes away is the course at Foxwoods, Lake of Isles. Challenging, beautiful and expensive. Forced carries as well. I think it is currently the #1 public course in CT. Unfortunately, they just aerated: http://www.lakeofisles.com/golf.html

Finally, at approx 45 minutes away, is Meadowbrook golf course in Rhode Island. Same designer as Fox Hopyard. A very nice and affordable course: http://www.meadowbrookgolfri.com/club/scripts/home/home.asp

It is still early in the season here, many greens at the local courses are still bumpy and furry, and some are starting aeration already. You might want to call ahead. If money is no object and aeration doesn't bother you, go to Lake of Isles. As my memory serves, Norwich was always well maintained for a muni and as I said before, it's minutes from the casino. You can see the casino from the first tee. There might be a more direct route to Fox Hopyard that would cut down some on the time (Rte 85?). It's my favorite, picturesque, wide fairways but not a driver every tee box kind of layout.

Have fun.

[BTP]

[quote name='JTK37' timestamp='1333485804' post='4641917']
Hey, I had posted this in the Mid-Atlantic area but then realized it may be better off in the New England Section...... Anyway heading up to Mohegan Sun on Fri and looking for a good place to play Friday mid morning, unfortunately the hotel has been of no help. Any advice and any price range would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe
[/quote]

Lake of Isles is a beautiful course, and considering you've got some game, a good challenge too. Have to take a cart for the course

[JTK37]

Guys,
Thanks for the info, researching them now. Probably staying away from Lake of Isles with the aeration. Have to check with the other courses now. Thanks, Joe

[BNich0622]

[quote name='Dbogey' timestamp='1333487531' post='4642135']
Lake of Isles at Foxwoods is really good as well.......don't know how the conditions will be but we've had a preety mild winter and my course is way ahead of where it usually is for April.

Dbogey
[/quote]

I second this. Sick course. Beautiful views on every hole, got lucky and was able to play for $40, its usually around $200 during high time. Not sure what it would be during this time of year. Very challenging golf course, a lot of elevation changes and shot making needed.

[geoangus]

[quote name='JTK37' timestamp='1333504634' post='4644421']
Guys,
Thanks for the info, researching them now. Probably staying away from Lake of Isles with the aeration. Have to check with the other courses now. Thanks, Joe
[/quote]

The aeration comment I made was based upon info from one of the other CT guys here. If you've ruled out Lake, I'd call the guys at Fox Hopyard for conditions. Looking at Google maps, it is 16 miles, 28 minutes away. Friday rate is around $75 w/ cart.

River Ridge is okay, but [b][i]nowhere [/i][/b]near the caliber/conditions of Fox, Lake or Meadowbrook.

[dartboss04]

[quote name='JTK37' timestamp='1333504634' post='4644421']
Guys,
Thanks for the info, researching them now. Probably staying away from Lake of Isles with the aeration. Have to check with the other courses now. Thanks, Joe
[/quote]

You can always give the course a call to see how they are running. They use a small aeration tine there and fill well. It is pretty pricey for aerated greens, but the views and scenery are great.

[dartboss04]

[quote name='geoangus' timestamp='1333537484' post='4646261']
[quote name='JTK37' timestamp='1333504634' post='4644421']
Guys,
Thanks for the info, researching them now. Probably staying away from Lake of Isles with the aeration. Have to check with the other courses now. Thanks, Joe
[/quote]

The aeration comment I made was based upon info from one of the other CT guys here. If you've ruled out Lake, I'd call the guys at Fox Hopyard for conditions. Looking at Google maps, it is 16 miles, 28 minutes away. Friday rate is around $75 w/ cart.

River Ridge is okay, but [b][i]nowhere [/i][/b]near the caliber/conditions of Fox, Lake or Meadowbrook.
[/quote]

You can call to confirm Lake of Isles aeration, but I had a scheduled Monday tee time this week and they called me and cancelled because they were shutting the course early because of the warm weather this spring. We were booked to play Sun and Mon for their promotion, and they took care of us for the inconvenience.

I'm going off on a tangent here, but I like resort courses. Lake of Isles has some of the best customer service (and should at their price). I've played at a few courses where it's like they are doing you a favor letting you play.

[tincup09]

Fox Hopyard is in fine shape now.. They aerated firtsbweek of April and the greens are good now. The course will be firm, but so Are all courses in CT right now. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[Togatown22]

Old thread; trying to revive as I'm headed to Mohegan for a batchelor party this weekend. Golf has been arranged at Mohegan Sun Coutry Club at Pautipaug. Not seeing any reviews in the CT course threads. What am I in for here/ is the course any good? The course website looks nice enough... Thanks guys!

[Imp]

Didn't even know they had their own course!

--kC

[dartboss04]

I had a couple opportunities this year with BAGS tour but wasn't able to make it. They just played it on Monday. I emailed the guy who runs the tour for a little feedback.

[RhodyGolf]

That course had some major upgrading since Mohegan bought it. I heard it's really nice now (compared to the old Pautipaug), but I don't know much about how it plays now as it is a private/hotel guest-only playable course. I am curious, so by all means let us know.

I'm not sure what type of golf experience you were seeking with the past thread/trip (memorable or just wanted to play) but Norwich Golf Course is pretty much across the street from Mohegan sun. It's a muni, but it's in good shape and it's a pretty open course. I know most people who use this site have pretty high standards for courses, but if you just wanted to get out and play, there or River Ridge up the road are just fine. I wouldn't consider either one of them "dog tracks" and they won't break your wallet. Both are the 2 closest public 18s to Mohegan, I believe.

[ptjn1201]

I agree about Norwich -- nice layout, good for all levels of golfer. Was in nice shape both times I played there

[Togatown22]

I will absolutely report back. A few years ago, for my bachelor party at Mohegan, my buddies and I played Lake of Isles, Shenny, and Fox Hopyard. I loved them all for different reasons. I would be checking out Norwich if I had planned this trip; but it has been set up by someone else so I'm just along for the ride.

[dartboss04]

Below is from someone who played less than a week ago. Looks like you will just be missing aeration which is good. Sorry there isn't much more info. The pictures on the web look really nice, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. What it does have going for it is that it is Mohegan's club. Based on their attention to detail on site at the casino, I would imagine the course would be very nice.

"It's in good shape, they're aerating on the 25th. The rough is VERY tough. The greens are VERY VERY tough."

[Togatown22]

Ok; back to provide the review of Mohegan Sun Country Club at Pautipaug. Green fee / cart was $125, which for a resort style course near a casino on a weekend in New England isn't really too bad, IMO. My first impressions were solid; I was met at my car by a cart which brought me to the locker room so I could change (drove 3 hrs from upstate NY to get there for a bachelor party). Locker room / club house are clean and seem very new. Pro shop staff and bag attendants were very friendly and directed me to the range. The course obviously has recently had a lot of money put into it and is run in a very customer service oriented manner. The starter on the first tee was very friendly, gave us a quick primer and told us to drive up and take a look at several holes' (5 and 6 come to mind) landing areas.

The course itself has obviously undergone a thorough renovation. Tee boxes were in great shape with immaculate landscaping (pavers lining the cart paths, new signage, new tee markers, etc). An example of this would be on the 2nd hole; a straightaway shortish par 4. It was clear where large, fescue grass edged bunkering had been added along both sides of the fairway near the landing areas, and how the same was done around the slightly elevated green. The rough was thick and well grown in, and the bunker sand was clearly new and high quality. The greens were running fast, they were spiked up in places but overall they rolled out nicely and were very true.

A member told me that this is the first year the course has been re-opened and re-branded as the casino's course. He wasn't extremely positive about the greens; a few of them were totally ripped out and re-done. These few greens are very different from the older greens, although all of the grass is the same so they look and roll the same. The new greens are extremely undulating and almost "gimmicky" as they are close to being too severe for how fast the greens were running. Fairways and rough were all in good shape.

There are holes that have blind landing areas off the tees, and several with blind approach shots. I'd say that my score would have been 3-4 shots better if I had known where not to be on a few of the holes. I'd guess that in a year or two this course is going to feel a lot more grown in and comfortable with itself. It is very difficult to find in the middle of a small neighborhood. My GPS had it right, but honestly until I was in the parking lot it didn't look like there could be a course anywhere nearby. I liked that the course itself is not in the middle of any housing; it really feels like it is out in the middle of nowhere (I guess similar to how that whole part of the state feels).

My overal recommendation would be to give it a shot. $125 on the weekend seemed fair to me. I wouldn't call it an outstanding value, but it is a well-run resort style course with good conditions and a few very unique holes.

[dartboss04]

Very nice write up, thanks. I will look out for the next time it is on my men's club schedule.