Courses We Love: Fenwick Golf Course

Courses We Love: Fenwick Golf Club

I was first introduced to this little seaside gem in Old Saybrook, CT on Episode 30 of the Golfer’s Journal Podcast with Tom Coyne and Anthony Pioppi of the “Finest 9s”.  If you enjoy charming 9 holes right by the ocean, this is the course for you.  A summer beach resort town with gorgeous homes surrounding the course, but not in an intrusive way, Fenwick is the definition of charming and quaint.  A par 35 of 2,900 yards, length is by no means a requirement at Fenwick, but the small undulating greens and constant seaside breeze provide the defenses here.  A wonderful course to enjoy walking along the sea.

The first three holes of the course were laid out on a peninsula between Long Island Sound and the Connecticut River in 1894.   Three more holes were added in 1895 and the course was completed in 1896, making it the oldest public course in Connecticut.  

2nd Hole - par 3 200 yards

The first glimpse of the sea occurs on the first of back-to-back par 3.  A neat little hole across a pond to a narrow green surrounded by bunkers.  What really stands out here is the mansion on the right side of the hole that once belonged to Catherine Hepburn.  

4th hole - par 5 443 yards

More of a long par 4 than a true par 5, this hole is one of the most fun on the course.  The tee is situated out on a peninsula in the marsh area and your tee shot must carry the marsh.  A slight dogleg right allows the golfer to choose how much they would like to bite off.  Go further right and have a shorter iron into a receptive green that slopes back to front.

6th hole - par 3 153 yards

The sight of the oldest original green in Connecticut greets you on the 6th hole.  A large berm runs across the front of the green and makes the hole semi blind.  The green provides a challenge with some big swales that make putts tricky.

8th hole - par 4 290 yards

A drivable par 4 with a large bunker short left of the green provides the challenge on this hole.  Laying up to the right provides a better angle into the green and avoids having to deal with the bunker on the 2nd shot.