Miner Hills Golf Course

Buddy backed out last min. played alone, nice experience.

It may seem blatantly obvious, but I’ll start with this: many executive courses, if we’re on our games, can seem easy. On longer, tougher courses (especially those with big par-4’s and with writhing, trouble-laden three-shotters) the very aspects these ‘execs’ lack are what often cause our scores to rise and bogeys to proliferate. At an executive course, on the other hand, we often find ourselves side-stepping those conventional burdens, and so may well run off a string of pars sprinkled with a few birdies. But the better executive nines do not fall prey—at least, not completely so—to the ‘too-easy’ trap. If cleverly designed, they add the something more, frequently enough—meaning the something that irritatingly stands in our way of a routine par. This brings me to why I enjoyed playing Miner Hills today, in the waning hour before dusk. It was quick and it was fun, but I never felt it to be a simple pushover. It seems ideal for families and beginning golfers, but more experienced players may still take to it.

Here’s what make this course tick:
FOR OPENERS: One is a decent enough opening par-3, but the better of the first two is the downhill, 150-yard second: it has a hidden bunker behind the green, along with a hemispherical line of cedars farther back and downhill.

HEART OF THE COURSE:
THREE PAR-4’s: These are the third (298 yards); the fourth (250) and the seventh (260). Hole three is quite flat, and (perhaps expectedly for an executive) includes the simple green without much contouring. What is unexpected on this hole, however, is its elegant attractiveness and the semi-hidden pond to the left—a threat to hookers. Next up is the fourth, which may be the best of the four-pars. Doglegged and curving gently left, it invites the possibility of becoming a one-shotter for those with the prowess to hit a nearly perfect draw around the bend. Great stuff on the drive! If you opt to take two shots to get on, your approach must fly (or be run up) into a small plateau that is the green. And here is a green complex with some artful side mounding, particularly leftward. The third par-4 on this course, number 7, makes the most of a hill that runs upward—in excess of 300 yards—parallel to Miner Street. The road is OB, so steer clear of it when teeing off. And leftward is plenty of open space for a softer and safer landing than at right.

TWO STRONG PAR-3’s: A) FIVE: Although competent and even good holes, none of the aforementioned will demand the best from our games. But on the fifth, I was a bit shocked to come across a superlatively challenging par-3 (I’ll repeat: this is an executive golf course!). The green, blind from the tee, may be hit only with a high-precision short or mid-iron (173, blue; 150, white), and it is well defended, given the large greenside bunker that awaits erring rightward shots. Beyond the bunker is a deep falloff threatening the green’s right flank; miss right, then, and your pitch, back uphill, may require tour touch. The green itself is canted strongly with the hole’s slope. B) SIX: Less dramatic than five, this is nonetheless a 210 yard one-shotter that will require, mostly likely, the best hybrid or FW you can muster should you want to be on in regulation.

SOLID FINISH: In 8 and 9, we have two more good holes, both short par-3’s, both uphill, and both unpredictably designed. Neither will be a pushover. A cleanly struck short-iron is required to hit the 16-yard- wide eighth green. Avoid veering much right (you’re in the woods here), but the left has problems, too. As the land slopes left-to-right, any leftward miss will leave a downhill chip to a green that runs away fiercely. The closing hole may only require a short-iron. It sweeps uphill to a handsomely contoured green complex, where the green sits on a plateau with a big downslopes left and front; it is sided on its left and back with large ‘walls’ that form a kind of partial amphitheater.

OVERALL COMMENTS:
--As a group, the holes are not so difficult that they will frustrate beginners or those that prefer something not overly challenging. There is plenty of open space and the hazards are used with restraint: you won’t find scads of big bunkers or other obstacles that are customary in full-scale golf courses.
--The conditioning at Miner is mediocre by the typical standards seen at conventional golf courses, but actually between ‘above-average’ and ‘good,’ I would say, when judged by those of the average executive offering. The greens are on the slow side. For a family-oriented golf course that caters to children, would we really want fast greens—leading to more putts taken and slower play(?) In truth, I would say slower greens are preferable on an executive links. On this one, the putts rolled smoothly enough. The only genuine weakness in conditioning was of the tees, which were not fully level and rather rough, and in a few cases too narrow or small.

IN SUM: This nine-hole golf course falls short—by the yardstick we may use to judge executive courses—of classic status, yet there are more than enough good holes here to satisfy. And several challenged me, genuinely. The experience of playing here, for more serious golfers, can be a nice alternative to spending the comparable $12-14 dollars on a large/XL bucket of golf balls at a driving range, should we want to tune our golf games—as one example—for an upcoming match. It has enough to test our ball-striking capabilities or hone our short games a bit. That’s a cost-effective proposition: At $14 dollars to walk, Miner Hills is more than fairly priced for a quick, executive-styled nine-hole jaunt.

Author’s Note: I received no compensation for writing this review from either this website (GA) or the golf course. The incentive refers to entry into a sweepstakes.

Basically a glorified Par 3 course. I honestly don't think I'd ever go back unless there was a special for like $5 for 9 holes/$10 for 18. At the end of the day it's not as bad as Laurel View in Hamden, CT (the gold standard for worst Golf course I've ever played). I still wouldn't bother when there's so many more options available nearby for usually around the same price.

This course is cart path only (not 90*) and they do not tell you that until after you have paid. The golf cart was dirty and in deplorable condition. The paths are large gravel stones and filled with large pot holes. We followed two young men who seemed high and hit numerous balls at every hole. We saw no rangers monitoring play. After 7 holes we had it and left.

Course is affordable for what it is and condition it is in . Would go after work once or twice a week for a few months now with multiple people from work. We are not the best and still have to perfect out short game. However on 2 separate occasions the older woman who seems like an owner gives us an attitude. we are always respectful and try to be curious to everyone else. on hole #7 which i find most challenging because it is uphill, the woman was mowing grass and never really gave us a chance to concentrate. so my first ball hooked into the woods and i decided to take a stoke and play one more off the tee since there was no one behind us. As i approach the ball she starts to yell "come on, hurry it up, swing already". so since i was being rushed and she got into my head, it wasn't the nicest shot. so she throws her hands up starts to cut again and told me" thats it your done done". I personally felt like she should not have rushed me and as a paying customer if i want to play another ball off the tee i should be able to do so without feeling like I suck and get in my head. needles to say the rest of my golf game was off and rushed. I will NO longer give this place my business and would gladly pay more money somewhere with more friendly costumer service skills.

Miner is a nice little course, it could use some upkeep, but considering the hot dry summer and the very reasonable green fees you can't be expecting to play Pinehurst.

Staff is very friendly, the pace of play is always great as well. The course is small and pretty tight, lots of elevation changes and slopes which will force you to use several different shots per round.

The driving range is a driving range, you're hitting across a pretty good grade so it's hard to really gauge how you're flying the ball, I wouldn't recommend it for legitimate practice but it does the job for a quick warm up bucket.

I would give the course 4 stars, but the tee boxes are fair at best and in some cases basically unplayable, too hard to set a tee in, some are in grave need of regrading, and so sparsely covered in grass that you're uncomfortable hitting a club off the deck.

All in all a good spot to work on the 100 yard game, and it's easy enough to get in a quick 9 before work or as a nightcap after an 18 somewhere else.

course was great to get your Iron work in, only 2 holes to use your driver the rest are short par 3 holes the course was in immaculate shape and the carts are ONLY allowed to be drive on cart path ( persevering the course )

Miner Hills Golf Course is my go-to course when looking for an affordable, enjoyable, and close-to-home round of golf. The greens are always in great condition, but off-fairway can get a little hairy. Overall, I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to play an enjoyable round, boost their confidence, and lower their scores!

I brought my son(11) and it was fun. Not a lot of people so we didn't feel rushed. The down side was that there was dog poo ALL over the course.

They put tee times on golfnow for the middle of a scramble tournament they were holding. It's essentially a par 3 course, so you can imagine how that went. They charged $25 for 18 w a cart- comparable to a lot of par 72 18 hole courses in CT. We were put out on hole 8 to start, after we waited for a group to play through, then were backed up once we got to 1.
Great company saved the day, but I won't be returning.
Thank you mr minor. Thank you mr Hood.

Nice little executive course in Middletown CT. Greens though slow were in excellent shape. The fairways on the three par 4's were also good. Everywhere else was very dry and hard including the tee boxes. The price of $14.00(including the fee) through a Golf Now Hot Deal was a good buy. I would not pay more than $20.00 for 18 holes. Staff was very friendly and courteous. Went around the 9 hole course twice as a twosome in 2 hrs.

Greens were very receptive for the regions lack of water. Slow greens made for tough putts on the ungulated slope. Great time

Even if it is a smaller course, its great for iron practice and you can drive at least 3 of the holes. No water coolers on the course which is odd, how much does that cost the facility as a courtesy? Greens are in good shape, a bit slow, but good condition. The tee boxes could use some work, hard to get a tee into some of them. Looks like they are continuing to upgrade the property. Geared more towards "Daddy and daughter" for a round of 9 holes. Play it twice in 2.5 hours. Its good for a round a year for the more intermediate golfer.

Good course for keeping up on your game considering I usually play on flatter terrain.

For a par 3 course it has a nice layout Also has a couple of holes that you can hit a driver on if you want to. Cart paths need some work but the condition of the course was in nice shape. We had a good time playing there

I have played here a few times, this course is good to work on your irons and that's it......tee boxes are terrible, sloped and like hitting from the rough! The greens are always painfully slow. Unless your a beginner or weekend hacker stay away from this one......I paid $15 for 18 and a cart so you get what you pay for here.......

Greens weren't very good. Course is very small and decent to work on iron play.

For $15 for 18 holes w/cart it was worth it. The greens were a little bumpy and tee boxes a little rough and uneven. But it only took 2 1/4 hrs for 18 holes. Overall it was OK.

Hilly 9 hole course for iron practice only. It is just hills! I had to play the nine hole course twice for 18 hole fee I paid for. You, Golf Now should clearly indicate this is a nine hole course. One out of nine holes desinged for using a driver. Not well kept. It is cheap. You get what you pay for,

Nice experience with very friendly people that run this facility!!7