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Hidden Pond DGC reviews
12
0
A New Gem in the Woods 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Nov 24, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
Two loops starting on opposite sides of the parking lot (go to the left for #1)
+ The course has been ambitiously redesigned to feature 18 holes with two layouts: two sets of baskets, two sets of tees, and in several cases, entirely different holes
+ The course is completely in the woods with little elevation change, but incorporates some old stone walls running through the property. There are hiking trails, but they don't seem to interfere with the layout
+ The course designers have made every effort to differentiate the Green and Gold layouts, and to make navigation clear: the course is covered with short wooden stakes color-coded to lead you to the next tee or fairway
+ This is not a particularly long course (4026 / 6332 par 58's), but it's been carved out of some pretty thick woods and you'll need to be able to aim your shots with some degree of precision
+ The course has been ambitiously redesigned to feature 18 holes with two layouts: two sets of baskets, two sets of tees, and in several cases, entirely different holes
+ The course is completely in the woods with little elevation change, but incorporates some old stone walls running through the property. There are hiking trails, but they don't seem to interfere with the layout
+ The course designers have made every effort to differentiate the Green and Gold layouts, and to make navigation clear: the course is covered with short wooden stakes color-coded to lead you to the next tee or fairway
+ This is not a particularly long course (4026 / 6332 par 58's), but it's been carved out of some pretty thick woods and you'll need to be able to aim your shots with some degree of precision
Cons:
- Although the tee signs are excellent, there's a big difference in distances on a few holes when compared to uDisc. This isn't unusual on new courses (I think uDisc maps get better as people tweak them). But that said, I think Hole #6 green is a lot closer to uDisc's 145' than it is to the 180' on the sign. I wish I had used my rangefinder, because I trusted the sign and blew way past the basket
- Teepads are a combination of mats and dirt. Given the amount of work that's been invested here, I expect there will be mats throughout as some point in the near future
- Teepads are a combination of mats and dirt. Given the amount of work that's been invested here, I expect there will be mats throughout as some point in the near future
Other Thoughts:
COURSE AMENITIES SUMMARY: Excellent signage, new baskets, terrific guidance hole-to-hole; rocky terrain makes it not cart-friendly
~ Hole #10 is unusual in that the green and gold baskets use entirely different fairways but use the same mat. The holes are set 90 degrees apart - so you tee off the "right side" of the mat for the Green, and the "front" for the Gold. I spent a long time looking for the Green basket, and decided to play the Gold instead. It wasn't until I got to the next tee that I saw I had been looking in the wrong direction
~ Hidden Pond has the makings of a very solid wooded course. I played only the Green so far, and it gets the job done as an "easy" woods layout. The Gold provides more distance, along with some challenging pin placements. I'm happy that I stopped by on my way to Bristol - it won't rival the experience of big courses like Rockwell or Page, but it's well worth the play. It reminded me a bit of Waveny Park in New Canaan: another short hardwood course that shows a lot of promise
~ Hole #10 is unusual in that the green and gold baskets use entirely different fairways but use the same mat. The holes are set 90 degrees apart - so you tee off the "right side" of the mat for the Green, and the "front" for the Gold. I spent a long time looking for the Green basket, and decided to play the Gold instead. It wasn't until I got to the next tee that I saw I had been looking in the wrong direction
~ Hidden Pond has the makings of a very solid wooded course. I played only the Green so far, and it gets the job done as an "easy" woods layout. The Gold provides more distance, along with some challenging pin placements. I'm happy that I stopped by on my way to Bristol - it won't rival the experience of big courses like Rockwell or Page, but it's well worth the play. It reminded me a bit of Waveny Park in New Canaan: another short hardwood course that shows a lot of promise
7
0
WDM3
Experience:
6.2 years
46 played
2 reviews
Scrappy but fun 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Updated:
Played on:Jun 16, 2018
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
- Location: Not many courses in this particular area of CT, so it's nice to have a Saturday morning option that doesn't involve driving 30+ min
- Quiet/Scenic: Distance from major population centers and colleges keeps it mostly empty and quiet. Mid-day on a beautiful Saturday there was only one other pair on the course. Nice views of pond with wildlife.
- Quick: With only one hole over 300 ft, you can fly through this nine-hole course in 30 min.
- Technical/Variety: Yes, every hole is in the woods, so no real opportunities to flex your distance muscles. But each hole does a nice job of using trees and some elevation to present diverse challenge. A few serious doglegs (1 & 3) and some narrow hallways through trees (7 & 9) keep you on your toes.
- Beginner Friendly: This is a very achievable course. I really suck and was knocking down pars like it was my job (until hole 9, ugh). Not so easy, though, as to be boring. No birdies for me today.
Reasonable Rough: A few of my ladyfriend's drives faded off into the rough ... finding them was not tough. For the most part, the rough is low and open.
- Quiet/Scenic: Distance from major population centers and colleges keeps it mostly empty and quiet. Mid-day on a beautiful Saturday there was only one other pair on the course. Nice views of pond with wildlife.
- Quick: With only one hole over 300 ft, you can fly through this nine-hole course in 30 min.
- Technical/Variety: Yes, every hole is in the woods, so no real opportunities to flex your distance muscles. But each hole does a nice job of using trees and some elevation to present diverse challenge. A few serious doglegs (1 & 3) and some narrow hallways through trees (7 & 9) keep you on your toes.
- Beginner Friendly: This is a very achievable course. I really suck and was knocking down pars like it was my job (until hole 9, ugh). Not so easy, though, as to be boring. No birdies for me today.
Reasonable Rough: A few of my ladyfriend's drives faded off into the rough ... finding them was not tough. For the most part, the rough is low and open.
Cons:
- Navigation: I know that this course is under construction and I'm sure that this is on the eventual to-do list, but even the lamest attempt at some temporary on-course signage would be a huge upgrade. Anything ... Sharpie on a wooden shingle nailed to a tree. Seriously ... It would bump my review up one whole star.
- Tees: They're natural, and rough. Some are quite short and many have exposed roots/rocks. Some aren't quite level. Again, I'm sure this is on the list for an eventual upgrade, but currently they leave much to be desired.
- Paths: The course is built though an pre-existing trail system so sometimes the trail between holes will fork in two or three directions with no clear route to next tee. Not terrible, but confusing once or twice. Ironically, some of the fairway paths are quite young, still being developed, so it may feel a little like bushwhacking.
- No lost disc return box
- Tees: They're natural, and rough. Some are quite short and many have exposed roots/rocks. Some aren't quite level. Again, I'm sure this is on the list for an eventual upgrade, but currently they leave much to be desired.
- Paths: The course is built though an pre-existing trail system so sometimes the trail between holes will fork in two or three directions with no clear route to next tee. Not terrible, but confusing once or twice. Ironically, some of the fairway paths are quite young, still being developed, so it may feel a little like bushwhacking.
- No lost disc return box
Other Thoughts:
Overall, this is a young but fun course that plays a little rough around the edges right now but will surely shine as improvements are made. And it's close to I-84 so, if you're passing through, it's an easy 2-3 minute detour to get in a quick round.
With some fresh signage and tee upgrades, this short course would score a solid 4 stars.
With some fresh signage and tee upgrades, this short course would score a solid 4 stars.
