Country Club of Fairfield - Connecticut - USA

Fairfield in my opinion is the 2nd best course in CT. It has a great group of par 3's. It has excellent conditioning. Subtle yet challenging green complexes. Spectacular views. The course benefited immensely once they removed so many trees to open up the views. The finish coming up the hill to what should have been their clubhouse, makes one wonder...Why didn't they?

A mishmash of architects have this great piece of property firing on about half its cylinders - good thing for Fairfield they were originally working with a V12 engine. There are some obvious weak holes but for the most part it's a fun layout with beautiful views. It would be great to get someone in there to restore the course to it's old glory but I'll still gladly head out there and enjoy the loop knowing it could be a top 100 course pretty easily.

Last week after some days at hot and humid Trump Doral and running away from Hurricane Matthew I was invited to play this jewel by my good friend Alberto Agrest (former Argentine and South American Junior Champion) and his friend Mike. It was a sort of rush as I flew that day from Miami, landed at Manhattan and after a 1.5hr drive we arrived at this breathtaking place. With almost no time to warm up (really I didn't need it) and after hitting some putters we went off to 1st tee.

About the course there are many great holes and the greens roll true and very fast, sometimes it is even tough to read the breaks. One of the special features of the course is that par 3 4th was the only hole designed by AW Tillinghast and it is one of the best ones! The stretch around the lake (4-5-6) is the best part of the course, but also 8th, fantastic Redan par 3 9th, par 5 10th from the elevated tee and the final 2 holes are also something really special.

4th hole is a semi island short par 3 usually into the wind where everything right wil be wet, a small target green that needs accuracy. 5th is a risk reward short par 4 where longer hitter can go for it, but you need to carry 260yds over the water. Then 6th a great long par 4 with water all along the right side of the hole. 8th is a great par 5 with OB all along the right side with a tough elevated green. 9th is a true redan hole who plays really similar to National Links of America´s one. 17th a long par 3 with a 170yds carry over water and 18th a straight uphill par 4 with one of the toughest greens of the course.

It was a great experience walking the course with Mike, listening to stories about the past years and playing one of Raynor´s masterpieces. We staying for a long 19th hole beer and saw college golfers putt of the green on 18th.

A small charming Club House, very kind staff and a nice hat I took as a memory completed one of those very special golf days.

Are there better courses? Maybe yes, but the piece of land and the setting of CC of Fairfield is really very tough to beat!

It's the most wondrous place with unsurpassed New England seasonal beauty overlooking the Long Island Sound and Southport harbor. The land once served as onion farms where produce was shipped from Southport Harbor. The Country Club of Fairfield was one of Raynor’s first solo efforts. But Raynor was not the only architect of note to work on the Country Club of Fairfield course, as A.W. Tillinghast and Robert Trent Jones Sr. also added their touches over the years. The result is a layout that not only serves as a superb member’s course, but also as a challenging venue for tournaments such as the Met Open, the Connecticut Open and the Met PGA Championship. It is rightfully regarded as one of the best in the country. With the obvious exception of Fisher’s Island, there aren’t many Raynor courses with ocean views serving as the backdrop. All of the iconic named holes are on display and it’s enjoyable to see how he created them on a seemingly flat piece of seaside land. Click the link to read Fergal’s full report on The Country Club of Fairfield.