Rolling Greens Golf Course

This course has definitely improved over the year. The greens are licking their wounds, little by little they are recovering their original image.
The pace of play is not a problem here and people are friendly to each other.
The cart paths are a little bumpy and should be smoother, but you barely notice it.
No tee times are needed to play here, anyone can show up and have a good chance to play soon after they show up.
The playing conditions have improved since I played it last and the food there is really good.
Overall, I'm surprised that the conditions have gotten better and will play here again.

Played an enjoyable nine here today on a perfect early-autumn afternoon. The course wasn’t too busy though the pace was still about average. Highlights on this nine (as I’ve probably noted in previous reviews) are the strong par-3s, a great short par-4 in the fourth, and a pretty stern opener that doglegs hard-left to a green set upon a small hill. In general, the greens are well-protected, their shapes varied, their contours sometimes prominent, and their surrounds problematic in places when you miss them. Many of them have large drop-offs, making pitching a challenge if your ball ends up down their slopes. No two holes are alike, and architects Geoffrey Cornish and Bill Robinson infused each one with both quality and strategic interest. Then there is the pair of wild–and wildly unconventional–holes to be played at the fifth and sixth, the latter being the better of the two. The long and short of it: you’ll need to play well in nearly all departments of the game to score well on this challenging nine.

The one notable departure from the original, early-70s design, however, has been the removal of several large fairway bunkers (for example, at hole two) and likely some greenside versions, which would seem regrettable for more serious golfers.

Course conditions, sadly enough, failed to live up to this smart layout, since the greens and most tees were poor and everything else unimpressive–though the course was cut pretty well. The putting surfaces seem to be diseased (my guess) and need rehabilitation. Today I felt that you could play the course tee to green, but the rest was more than questionable. It’s too bad, because overall conditions here were at least decent last year and better still in 2022.

Rolling Greens benefits from a pretty setting and could be an exciting nine-holer, but its Achilles heel these days is conditioning.

Fairways not even cut greens horrible
I only played 5 holes I was so ticked off

Rolling Greens, which is set in a large hilltop area among a housing complex, is mostly low rolling terrain itself. But there’s a large hill to climb to reach the sixth tee, if you’re walking, along with a huge descent to green six. Most players take carts.

This was my fifth or sixth play of this Cornish-designed nine-hole course, and again I enjoyed the challenges it lays out. Perhaps the course’s most interesting hole is the par-3 eighth, a mid-length but somewhat uphill affair with a big, undulating, two-tiered green. Trees may block a tee shot coming in from the right, but I found I could hit over them with a hybrid from the back tee. Other than that–as I’ve detailed earlier–the course is marked by good design: well-sited greens (mostly protected by elevation) that roll and pitch in varied ways, holes that favor different shot shapes off the tees, tees that are frequently elevated above fairways, a few water hazards, trees that pinch the fairways in certain spots. This last effect is sometimes overdone to a fault, as at the ultra-narrow approach to green five. It was good to see, however, that the trees have been pruned recently around five’s tee box.

The fair conditions today meant a downturn from what I experienced this spring, as greens were dried out and pockmarked occasionally, with their surrounds (fringes and roughs) damaged somewhat by summer heat or perhaps something else. The greens were still playable although dicey on a few putts. Some of the fairways were well mowed, some not, and they all exhibited too much clover. Fairways were very green, though, from all of the recent rains.

While conditions may disappoint a bit here, Rolling Greens is still a solid Cornish layout that’s worth a try as a full test of your game. I expect the situation will improve this fall with more temperate weather.

Rolling Greens, a well-designed and older Geoffrey Cornish nine-hole course that opened in 1973, greets you with a nice clubhouse set among mature, towering trees. The land flows over rolling hills, as well, and itself sits atop a large crest near the Century Hills complex in Rocky Hill. On the shorter-side at 6,000 yards (blues), the holes ramble through a housing development, though the units are prominently visible on only a few holes.

The layout’s appeal stems from challenge: mostly tight fairways; sometimes narrow or small putting surfaces; a few tricky doglegs and a longish pair of par-threes; several semi-plateau greens with large falloffs–some of them ghoulish. Adding drama are a pair of ponds that threaten approaches on both the second and fifth. The latter, with its tight, nerve-wracking fairway angling through houses and trees, can quickly add a stroke or more to your card. And with so many trees–mainly lining fairways but some impinging on their margins–it’s probable that you’ll be snared, along the way, by at least one of them. But you won’t be trapped by many bunkers, as, unfortunately, most were grassed in over the years.

Some high dramatics come at hole six, where the tee overlooks a huge and steep hillside that plummets to the green far below. Here, something less than a driver may be the club of choice, as any shot hit even down the middle may follow the tilting slope into the right rough. Without any long par-4s and a single, relatively narrow par-5 whose green is water-guarded, this Rocky Hill nine rewards finesse and positioning off the tee, and not necessarily power. My favorite hole is number four, a short four-par that lets you swing away without much worry off the tee. It then demands a precise pitch to an elevated green, a green with a right-side falloff that reminds me of severe slopes I’ve seen in the U.K.

CONDITIONS:
Since I played here at the close of last summer, it is clear that real conditioning efforts have led to lusher fairways. The fly in the ointment today, however, was that they weren’t well mowed. I couldn’t discern the rough from the fairway on, for example, the second hole. Greens ranged from average to good (with all putts rolling smoothly), but tees and roughs were about average.

CONCLUSIONS:
At Rolling Greens, the suburban setting is more than pleasant, and the backdrop seen from the sixth tee, especially, is a stunner. Still, this course could be a very good value with a bit more attention to detail. I enjoyed playing here again today on a challenging and inviting layout over which Mr. Cornish made the most of the varied terrain. You can certainly exercise your driver on more than a few tees, if you so desire, but common sense–along with solid ball-striking–will be the prime determinant of a good score.

As I wrote in the spring, Rolling Greens is a solid Geoffrey Cornish-designed course, which my second play reinforced today.

Conditions, unfortunately, have fallen off since springtime, partially because of the drought. Greens were still good, but fairways and roughs below average–and many of the tees poor (almost all dirt). The course is simply not keeping pace with other tracks in this area.
It is still playable and because of the good greens my score was little affected.

Rolling Greens is very handy from 1-91 (about three or four minutes) and not far from Hartford. From what I’ve heard from a frequent patron, the on-site restaurant–Casa Mia on the Green–is excellent; I’d like to give it a try.

This layout will challenge you, and holes four, six, seven and eight impress the most here. And the third, an uphill par-3, will make you work hard to earn a par.

I decided to play Rolling Greens despite the poor reviews because they offer twilight for $20. The "tee boxes" were as long as the rough. The course is not maintained. There are no green side bunkers, just grass where they clearly used to be. There is no rough or fairway, it's all the same length. The layout is squeezed in between condos where there wasn't enough room. After I finished the terrible 9 course there was still an hour until sunset and I figured I could get my monies worth since I paid for "twilight" and get a few more holes in. The staff raced over to me and treated me as if I stole something when I was tried to continue to play. I apologized and told them that Twilight generally means that you can play until sunset and the women looked at me like I was crazy and continued to yell. Rude staff, terribly maintained, terrible layout. I will not be returning

I decided to play Rolling Greens despite the poor reviews because they offer twilight after 5pm for $20. The “tee boxes” were as long as the rough. To say the course is poorly maintained would understatement. There are no green side bunkers, just grass where they clearly used to be. There is no rough or fairway, it’s all the same length. The layout is squeezed inbetween condos where there wasn’t enough room. After I finished the terrible 9 hole course there was still an hour until sunset and I figured I could get my monies worth since I paid for “twilight” and get a few more holes in. The staff raced over, yelled at me and treated me as if I stole something when I was tried to continue to play. I apologized and told them that “twilight” generally means that you can play until sunset. The women looked at me like I was crazy and continued to yell. Rude staff, terribly maintained, terrible layout. I will not be returning.

I had a great time playing this course with my son. They could do a better job keeping up with some of it, but at the end of the day the layout is great and you'll have a good time. The staff is always so friendly and the prices are very reasonable. I especially like that you don't have to make a tee time, you can just walk in and they'll send you out. If you call ahead they'll let you know how busy it is so you can plan out what time to go at. Make sure you ask for military/senior discount too!

First, let me say that I've been playing Century Hills (now Rolling Greens) regularly for decades. For those who don't know, it was designed by Geoffrey Cornish, a nationally known architect who's done a lot of work on Cape Cod and elsewhere. The routing is magnificent and it's a real challenge given tight fairways, ponds, trees and a number of elevated greens. Sadly, due to lack of funding, they filled in all but a handful of bunkers years ago so they play as grass "depressions." The small maintenance staff does what it can with limited resources, but there's sometimes no definition between fairways and rough and the tees are universally horrible -- not only divots everywhere, but cut VERY high (If at all. When's the last time you teed up a driver and the ball was below the top of the driver? It's like teeing up in the rough.) and many are crowned so there's no level lies. Greens, surprisingly, are always in decent shape despite the lack of care. I play here at least once a week and dream about years past when it was in good shape. Too bad, because if it was manicured with bunkers restored I believe people would flock to it -- but then, I wouldn't have the course to myself, as I often do. I recommend this course, reluctantly, to die-hards who can appreciate what it could be with some attention.

I live very close by to this course and I'll play nine there, once, maybe twice a year. The layout is good, especially from the tips. However, the course is in really bad shape. I can deal with the fairways full of clover patches and brown spots b/c we've had such a dry summer. What is unacceptable are the tee-boxes. There is NO hope trying to find a somewhat level lie, they are poorly mowed, and you can forget the divots being filled-in. For $15 - $20 for nine holes, that's reasonable. They charge $28 during the week! Again, I really like the layout, but you can find a MUCH better course for the price. The bar and outdoor patio have been a nice addition.

A good niner that will continually excite you... Holes number 2, 5 & 6 will test your inner golfer instinct to "go long or go home". Sometimes it pays, sometimes... you wish you were not that aggressive.

This course is way overpriced for a nine hole course. The condition is poor and the pace of play is slow.

Friendly pro-shop staff and reasonably good playing conditions. The cart path is a bit rough, but that's my only knock.

Fairways are well kept. Greens are somewhat hard
and are crowned. Tee boxes are worn though.
But Interesting holes design.

First time I played this course and I was pleased with the course and staff. The course offered some challenge but seemed fair for the average golfer. I would recommend this course to anyone looking for a nice nine hole round.

Showed up for my 10:34 tee time at 10am and when I walked into the pro shop I was told that the course was closed to the public because there was a tournament being played. I explained that I had booked a tee time the day before, to which the gentleman told me "Sorry, but there's nothing I can do." This course is a dump anyways but it's close and for my first time out on the season I didn't really care, just wanted to swing the club. I won't make the mistake again, and won't return here. I wouldn't recommend anyone booking a tee time at this place. Ever.

Early in the season so conditions ok. Course is good for a quick 9 as long as pace of play moves along.

FOR BEING THIS EARLY IN THE YEAR I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE COURSE WAS FIRM.HOLE 7 WAS MOIST IN THE FAIRWAY.GREENS WERE AIRATTED BUT PUTTABLE.DIDNT HIT TO ANY TRAPS
WHICH WAS STRANGE.THIS COURSE IS A VERY GOOD TEST FOR WHERE YOUR GAME IS,YOU HAVE TO THINK AHEAD OR BE DEAD.PLAY THIS COURSE 4-6 TIMES A YEAR WILL BE BACK

never knew how far we really were when hitting off the tee box, the blue and white markers weren't out so we were clueless where to hit. Not a lot of markers in the fairway but for the price it was ok..the staff was wicked nice and warned me about 2 dangerous holes