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I've been playing Middletown since 2001. I've seen it's ups and downs - I have to say it's currently down.

The course was in decent shape overall, better than when I played in 2020.

However, the weaknesses are glaring - particularly the renovated greens of 11 and 13. The renovations appear to have been a complete failure as the "greens" are sand and it doesn't seem like there is a prayer that'll change. Even if the renovations were successful and the "greens" actually had grass growing on them, I'm personally not a fan of the design changes that were made. Both 11 and 13 had severe greens but were playable in my opinion and were in decent shape for the nearly 20 years I had been playing the course. The money could've been better spent elsewhere in my opinion.

12 was changed to a Par 5? Easily the shortest Par 5 I've ever played in my life. It's a par 4. I guess I understand the logic because the tee shot is pretty difficult and if you don't hit a good shot it plays like a par 4 and a half, but changing it to a par 5 is a stretch.

Also, pace of play can be brutal on a crowded day. There are a couple of bottlenecks on the course that really screw up pace of play. I've walked off this course multiple times due to slow play.

The good - the course design is fun. Elevation changes, never a flat lie, fun short par 4's, a few really difficult par 4's, trees keep you honest, slopey greens. It really does play longer than the score card indicates and if you don't hit it straight it will humble you. If the course was better maintained it would be an old school gem. Course has been around forever and has a great history. Hope it gets to that point.

Overall, in my opinion Middletown unfortunately has been losing ground to other courses in the area in terms of conditions, amenities, etc. The price to quality ratio for me just doesn't make sense compared to the other choices. When it comes down to it, I don't have a ton of free time and I work hard for my money - there are better options in the area where my time and money are better spent. Might seem harsh and I'm sympathetic to the difficulties of running a golf course, but I think it's a fair review. And yes, I've had my butt kicked by Middletown many times - I've also gotten a few pretty good punches in too : )

I've been playing Middletown for 20+ years. The time has come and gone for the benefit of the doubt. I understand golf course economics are tough and believe Middletown is doing the best they can. Enough is enough though, the course is in terrible condition. You can't expect to play a fair round of golf given the current shape of the course. Course has great bones and great history. - a gem of a design that forces you to play golf, not just grip it and rip it. The conditions have always been questionable, but playable. In my opinion, the conditions have deteriorated significantly. I sincerely hope management is able to make improvements - i love Middletown and it will always have a special place in my heart, but my money is better spent elsewhere for now.

I've been playing at Middletown since 2000. It's a sentimental favorite, fun course with some warts.

First off, never play before mid-afternoon. The pace of play on a weekend morning is horrible and the $55 price tag is a poor value. The course gets really backed up starting at 6, the first par 3 and gets really bad once you make the turn. 10 is another par 3, so expect a back up. Then 11 is a really short par 4 that virtually requires you to wait for the group to clear the green. Not to mention 11 tee is in prime landing area for tee balls off 12 tee. This is the bottleneck of the course and really screws up the pace of play, not really much management can do to fix the problem because there is no space to expand to open up the course/change the layout. I think Middletown is the only course I've ever walked off of due to pace of play (done it at least 3 times, I've learned my lesson).Twilight price of $39 is a more reasonable for this course given the condition and the course is usually pretty empty in the afternoon so no pace of play issues.

The course layout is really solid. 1 and 2 are tough opening holes. 3 is a nice little breather but plenty of ways to get in trouble. 4 is a solid par 5 - dogleg left that funnels towards the green. Can reach in 2 but there's not much room for an errant shot. 5 is a tough short Par 4. If you play driver there is trouble right and a Tree that blocks your approach if too far left with a very sloped back to front green being the last defense. 6 is a picture-esque par 3. Could be really nice with better maintenance. 7 is a really tough tee shot which requires a carry over hazard and trouble left (made more difficult by an uneven tee box). 8 is a below average par 3. 9 is an ok short par 4. They've done some maintenance around the green which makes the prospect of going for the green more fun. 10 is a nice par 3, requires mid to long iron to a small green with a steep slope back to front - par is a great score. 11 is a short par 4 reachable by 3 wood. Another severe sloping back to front green is the challenge on this hole (they've been cutting the hole in an unfair position (front right on a ridiculous slope) this year, basically impossible to make birdie on what I feel was intended to be a birdie hole before the start of a pretty tough closing stretch. 12 is a really tough tee shot. They did some tree maintenance to make a little easier (and more fair), but still demanding - either need to lay up with a 5 iron or fade a longer club. Anything over 200 and straight is dead OB. Good solid hole. 13 is a tough hole, dog leg right, probably the most severe sloping front to back green you'll ever come across - par is a solid score. 14 is an ok mid iron par 3. 15 is a really difficult long dog leg par 4. This tee shot to me has gotten harder over the years as the trees grow in. Used to be able to have a chance to get a 3 wood over the trees but now seems almost impossible. Have to play a draw around the tree which if you execute is rewarded with a nice run out. Still have a tough iron on a sloped fairway to a small green that is protected visually by a false front. Hit a straight tee shot and you've got 200+ approach. 16 is a solid hole, hit a good drive 250 to the left side of the fairway and you have 150 in to a two tiered green protected by OB right behind. Hit a poor tee shot and you're laying up because of the pond protecting the green (which is probably the worst conditioned green on the course). 17 is a short par 4 reachable with a solid 3 wood. Green slopes severely from front to back, so the ideal tee shot if you don't land the green is to be long of the green pitching back into the slope. Otherwise requires a nearly impossible short pitch off the slope to get close to the hole for a birdie look. 18 is a solid closing hole (in terrible shape - cart path is a disaster, it's an unfortunate cosmetic ending to your round that I hope is addressed for what otherwise could be a solid closing hole). Shortish uphill par 4. Left is safe but leaves a tough shot from poor conditioned area to a green which is well protected by a bunker in front. There is a sliver of fairway on top of the hill which is only accessible by a fade or dead straight shot as OB is tight to the right. If you can execute you have a better angle into the green with a wedge in your hand. Green is severely sloped front to back, not a lot of makeable putts on that green, just hoping for a two putt.

Fairways aren't in great shape/virtually non existent on some holes. When you do find the fairways don't expect a plush lie.

Greens have a ton of slope. You'll be faced with a lot of short putts with decent movement to avoid 3 putts. They're in decent shape. If you're above the hole it's impossible to make putts.

Tee boxes aren't in good shape. A lot have some slope to them and a few aren't necessarily set up square to the hole, so it's visually annoying.

Condition of the course aside, I really enjoy the layout. It's not long in terms of yards and doesn't require a lot of drivers, but it demands accuracy and shaping the ball, strategic shot placement off the tee and smart approach shots that must be below the hole. I've had some really low rounds and some really high rounds. If you're not hitting the ball straight, you're in for a frustrating day.

If this course was in better shape, and a little more spread out to help with pace of play it would be a gem. Ultimately, I think management does the best they can do with what they have. I would recommend the course to anyone with couple caveats re course condition and don't go on a weekend morning.