Stanley Golf Course - Red/Blue

overall the course is in good shape. Only bad was the greens. Very bumpy. Puts were all over the place. Must have been airrated.

Average to above average course. Very fair though.

Great fairways, rough and greens despite the month long drought.

Stanley’s White/Red combination is a worthwhile eighteen and a solid overall test of golf. Twenty-seven holes are assembled here, with the course situated on the edge of New Britain and bordering West Hartford. I found the White nine, not having played it in over 20 years, basically a bit above average (it does have a few flourishes) and the Red—with several of its holes newer and more modern—much improved and very impressive overall. Both nines are of nearly equal length and difficulty.

The White’s holes are long and varied enough; most are conventional. There are exceptions: the second, doglegging rightward, is a long and tough four-par demanding a fade off the tee; the 5th another dogleg-right that adds water right of the landing zone and an elevated green; the sixth an exciting little 4-par that swings rightward again, this time encouraging you cut its corner. But cutting the sixth’s corner involves lofting your driver or three-wood over a mature, very tall tree. It’s a great risk-reward affair. Green six is also tilted sharply downhill back-to-front, and may induce putting headaches from above the hole.

By contrast, the Red (and back) nine nearly had one strong hole after another and constantly generated some sparks. The standouts, I thought, were the two par-fours running along the course’s east end: 12 and 13. Both of mid-length at 352 and 340 (blues), they featured both subtle design and high-quality trapping. The twelfth is a bit more strategic with its three punishing fairway traps down its left side; the thirteenth tends toward subtlety and requires a shot along the landing area’s left side for an optimal angle of approach into the green (its centerline is angled 30 degrees from the fairway).

The Red’s opening hole seems a nearly perfect short four-par, having as it does a dogleg-left well- guarded by trees, a fairway traveling steeply uphill to a large green, and a pitched green unlikely to be simple two-putt when your approach lands far from the hole. You’ll also need a carefully judged wedge or short iron to hit this tenth green, which is guarded by a pair of large frontal bunkers and set at 45 degrees to the fairway. The closing pair of holes lends Stanley White/Red a fine finish. Seventeen is a gorgeous, steeply downhill three-par of 168, backed by a pond and fronted by a small trap. Eighteen not only looks like a classic finisher; it plays superbly. The drive is to a tightly guarded fairway, the approach uphill to an equally well-protected and sloping green.

The rest of Red’s holes are good ones. Only the single par-five on this nine, an exercise in careful shot placement, seemed fussy to me on the tight second shot. I’ll chalk it up to a first play. All in all, the Red gives you more significant elevation changes (on a majority of holes) than does the White, as well as holes that typically require more strategic play and shot placement from tee to green.

Conditioning here was also better on the Red, which was uniformly close to excellent, while comparatively ‘above average’ on the White. The greens on the White were fine and rolled smoothly enough. But its fairways, along with some of the tees and even the rough, did not meet the higher standards I’ve seen here in the past. Part of this, of course, goes back to a dry last month, but the Red didn’t seem much affected by it.

As a whole, Stanley’s Red/White should appeal to a wide range of players: it’s not overly difficult or long, but there are enough challenges sprinkled throughout to make for interesting golf.

Other notes, comments, and opinions:
1) Wow! Great restaurant. We all enjoyed the first-rate burgers with a nice selection of toppings. Service was friendly and quick.
2) The White nine is flat enough to walk on the front, but I was glad I used a riding cart on the Red—it’s much hillier.
3) Even though you at times play alongside an enormous Costco on the Red side, it’s fairly well shielded by trees and doesn’t intrude upon the proceedings.
4) Covid precautions are good.
5) The course features a handy driving range to the left side of the parking lot, with enormous nets (the biggest I’ve seen, ever) to catch straying hooks and slices.
6) Business was brisk at Stanley today, despite the hot weather. Pace of play was smooth and uninterrupted.
7) Stanley would be a nice choice, being close enough to the city, if you’re vacationing in the Greater Hartford area.

I like the course and layout. However they sent us off the white which had a lot of downed trees from the recent storm. That wasn’t the bad part though. The tee boxes were ok the worse shape of any course I’ve played this year. Greens were meticulous though. The biggest complaint was the group ahead. We played a 3-some and the group ahead was four. We understood we’d play a little quicker, but they were “brutal.” One guy would hit his ball, then the next guy would walk to his ball to go hit. Then they’d follow that pattern throughout the round. We stood there and waited almost a combined extra 45-50 mins to hit our shots. The “red” course is in great shape. But since the redesign our GPS watches don’t give the accurate yardage. I’ll come back, but definitely at an earlier time next go round.

Stanley is consistently in good condition. Greens and fairways great as usual

Conditions are always good. Fairly easy layout. Great value for the money.

Corse is in great shape but you need to hit the ball straight or you'll pay the price. Greens were rolling true and moderate speed.

All three nines are challenging and the course is always in great shape. I play at courses around the State and I don’t think you can be the value, taking into account the layout and course conditions. Great food and service at the 19th hole, I highly recommend this course.

The course was in awesome shape as it normally is most times. Played with three work colleagues and had a great time. Weather was awesome for a early evening round. COVID-19 protocol was in effect… Mask in Pro shop, social distancing everywhere else.

Stanley: White to Red (5.5)
Conditions: 6.5
Good shape for a municipal course. Greens and the white were a bit bumpy, felt like a 8.5 stimp. Greens on the red were much slower, and a bit inconsistent. Fairways were great.

Layout: 6.5
Solid, easy layout. Strange walk on the red nine from 14 to 15. Not a fan of multiple 9s meeting at the clubhouse, but good signage and self explanatory.

Design: 5
Not many memorable holes. White is difficult but fair. Red is short and simple. Good par 5 on 16. Simple is the word that comes to mind. Very municipal.

Amenities: 4.5
Basic clubhouse. Practice area on mats. Putting green is large enough. Outside of that nothing outstanding.

Feel: 5
It’s a municipal course, that feels a bit better. The further from the clubhouse you are, the more of a golf it’s it becomes. Nothing special.

Overall: 5.5

Course was in great shape. Only got to play the blue 9. Place was packed but we played at normal pace. Some holes were very interesting. Only gave average for off course amenities because we didn’t get a chance to use or see them . They should put an N/A as a choice. Can’t give something 5 stars I didn’t use but don’t want to kill a good review either. Come on golf now get with it.

Well kept fairways and greens. Staff is great. Play this course

Very wide open on the white course and short but challenging on the red course.