Player at Lyman Orchards Golf Club
About
Lyman Orchards is a popular Connecticut destination most known for the nearly 100 varieties of pick-your-own fruit but it also offers two championship 18-hole golf courses and a nine-hole course. One of the longer courses was designed by Gary Player and the other by Robert Trent Jones. Lyman Orchards' Player Course is a seemingly mild 6,600 yards from the tips but don't let the yardage fool you, this layout is a tough but fair test. There are over 30 bunkers strategically placed along the small greens and deciduous trees and beautiful white pines line the fairways. Routed through the orchards across gently rolling hills, the golf course is as scenic as it is challenging. The terrain provides the course with plenty of ups and downs, as well as great views, especially on the 11th and 13th holes.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gold | 71 | 6725 yards | 72.7 | 133 |
Blue | 71 | 6325 yards | 71.0 | 130 |
White | 71 | 5890 yards | 68.9 | 129 |
Red (W) | 71 | 4900 yards | 68.3 | 113 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 72.9/134 | 408 | 378 | 395 | 198 | 397 | 357 | 228 | 592 | 388 | 3341 | 386 | 219 | 437 | 217 | 493 | 346 | 196 | 536 | 554 | 3384 | 6725 |
Blue M: 71.2/132 | 400 | 367 | 374 | 173 | 386 | 342 | 191 | 578 | 381 | 3192 | 348 | 211 | 427 | 181 | 473 | 306 | 165 | 520 | 502 | 3133 | 6325 |
White M: 68.8/129 W: 73.3/123 | 368 | 339 | 344 | 153 | 352 | 321 | 180 | 511 | 364 | 2932 | 318 | 195 | 407 | 154 | 449 | 294 | 151 | 508 | 482 | 2958 | 5890 |
Red M: 64.3/118 W: 68.6/117 | 290 | 296 | 204 | 118 | 300 | 303 | 148 | 380 | 345 | 2384 | 250 | 170 | 309 | 140 | 411 | 280 | 110 | 432 | 414 | 2516 | 4900 |
Handicap | 9 | 11 | 3 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 14 | 4 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 18 | 8 | 6 | |||
Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 36 | 71 |
Handicap (W) | 7 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 4 | 2 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
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Food & Beverage
Bar, Snacks, GrillAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet FacilitiesReviews
Reviewer Photos
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The third hole is a brutal par-4 that plays over a brushy, deep pit. The view here looks backward down the fairway, toward the abyss. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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At the par-4 sixth, the fairway “runs out” alongside the green, where most pitch shots will be blind down the the putting surface (situated to the left, out of view). Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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The seventh, a classic downhill par-3 that drops precipitously to a well-defended green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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A view from tee eight, looking up toward the driving zone on a monstrous par-5. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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Tee-to-green, the eighth concludes with a third shot (typically) over a sizeable waste area. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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The closing eighteenth: as aesthetically pleasing as it is difficult. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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Photo submitted by u314159836253 on 01/22/2023
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The Player’s 2nd is a straightaway par-4. A stream crosses its fairway; the green is well-guarded. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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The fourth: a challenging par-3 of about 200 yards. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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Six is a scenic par-4 playing to an elevated fairway, its green hidden below in a small dell. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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Eight demands this tough tee shot to a perched fairway, requiring a carry of some 200 yards from the blues. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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The eighth fairway, as seen from the high right-side rough. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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Under late afternoon shadows, a view from the ninth fairway into its green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 09/22/2022
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The opening hole glides uphill all the way to its green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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Seven travels 228 yards downhill. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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View from the blue tee at eight: Par-5, 578. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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Green eight is set behind a large, marshy depression. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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Fourteen is a downhill five-par of 493. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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Eighteen qualifies, a long, uphill par-5, qualifies as strong closer. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 04/13/2022
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Five: par-4, 397. Plays downhill to a two-tiered fairway, then farther downhill to a well-defended green. First-rate hole. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Five: A view of its green, from the left rough. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Seven: A fine three-par with big contouring--reminiscent of Scotland-- around the green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Eight: Par-5 of 592. One of the longest par-fives in Connecticut. And one of the toughest. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Eight: A view over the large thicket that precedes the green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Eighteen, 40 minutes prior to sunset: A 554-yard par-5, with its green set upon a large plateau. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/29/2021
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Tee shot on par 5 #8 Photo submitted by u314159379595 on 08/08/2021
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Photo submitted by John4576224 on 07/26/2020
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Photo submitted by u1732467322 on 07/15/2020
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Photo submitted by nugentmk on 07/05/2018
Needs maintenance
Challenging "Gary Player" Course, lost 12 balls, but mostly because we could not find them in the thick rough! Cart paths need major work. Dont go left or right, you will lose your ball to the woods, not much room off the fairway on 80% of the holes. Nice scenery through the orchards.
Autumn Play at the Player
On a fine autumn day this afternoon, I enjoyed playing this challenging track once again. As my previous reviews have detailed, the Player Course puts a premium on good ball-striking. And there are still plenty of trials and tribulations that await you around the greens if you misplay approach shots by too much.
I’ve seen an improvement, overall, in course conditions since playing here last time. The fairways were very good, greens good (they’d been aerated, but some time ago), and greenside areas fine as a rule. Only some of the roughs and some tees were in average condition. Bunkers could also use a little work, but—let’s face it–most courses are not putting the full court press on conditioning in late October.
All in all, a fine day at Lyman. The scenery is a terrific bonus here.
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The third hole is a brutal par-4 that plays over a brushy, deep pit. The view here looks backward down the fairway, toward the abyss. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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At the par-4 sixth, the fairway “runs out” alongside the green, where most pitch shots will be blind down the the putting surface (situated to the left, out of view). Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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The seventh, a classic downhill par-3 that drops precipitously to a well-defended green. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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A view from tee eight, looking up toward the driving zone on a monstrous par-5. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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Tee-to-green, the eighth concludes with a third shot (typically) over a sizeable waste area. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
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The closing eighteenth: as aesthetically pleasing as it is difficult. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 10/24/2023
Skip the Player course, Jones is much better value
Played the Player course the day after playing the Jones course. Surprised to find Player was 33% cheaper when making tee time, though the reason became clear very quickly.
Player course has sustained damage from the very wet season with rot/disease causing sparse areas on the fringe around most greens and many of the tee boxes. The poor conditions were exacerbated by the lack of maintanence of the forced carry natural areas on the front 9. The fairway could not been seen from the third tee due to overgrown vegetation leaving us to wonder whether the group in front had cleared the fairway, same issue exists on the 5th hole approach shots. Tee shots on the 14th hole were effected by the close proximity of the tee to the vegetation.
The rough was thick & lush though populated with crab grass in several areas, greens were slow & covered with unrepaired pitch marks. All bunkers had not been raked and featured firm compacted sand.
Overall our 4some was left with the distinct impression the Player course does not receive the same TLC as the Jones course. The conditions combined with the peculiar layout of the Player course made for a very unsatisfying experience. Recommend you skip this one...
Lyman
Nice course. Need to cut some trees on 3 and 5. Can’t really see the fairway or green from the tee. Few cart paths need paving and shrubs trimmed away from path. Rough very thick and hard to find the ball, cart path only and not that wet. Lots of potential
Nice course but!
For the beginning of the season the greens and fairways were in great shape. The downfalls are, to much visible garage on the edges of the cart paths from disrespectful people! Plenty of garbage cans on the course. Also the cart paths themselves could use some work. All being said, it was a nice challenging course!
Cart path only
The course was in good condition but soft so they had cart path only rule. Most of their cart paths are a good distance from fairways so play time increases. They heavily overbooked course and ran out of carts. Poor planning!
Course in good shape for this time of year. Still wet in spots and cart path only can make for a long day . Can get some good deals using tee time or golf now.
Restaurant & bar are closed at this time for renovation. Bummer because one reason I go here is they have a nice selection of draft beer.
Great winter golf
Everything you would expect on a cold day in February. Course was very playable.
Winter golf in CT
It’s Winter golf in CT. Wet but no fault of the course. Cart path only but it is just nice they have the course open for play… January 21, how nice is it just to play. So much better than indoor virtual golf.
Too Slow Can't Finish
The day I played, I was hoping to play 18 holes. They apparently had zero open tee times withheld by the course, to offset a frost delay. So, the course was still affected by it after Noon. I booked a tee time before 1pm, thinking a four hour round would have me finishing about 5pm. I didn't finish no.9 until 4pm and was told by dome members that the course calls carts back in at 4:30pm. So much for 18. I left. The tees on several holes were almost impossible to access due to severely wet ground. The course should put down some pavers or something so golfers don't risk their neck trying to walk from cart path to tee. Especially white tees on no.8.
Great day to play winter golf
Crowded due to the holiday but Greg did an awesome job getting us all out on the course !!!! Course was wet but playable. Pace was slow as expected. Felt great to play some winter golf.