Manchester Country Club opened in 1917 and was designed by two early 20th century course architects, Tom Bendelow and Devereaux Emmett, the latter creating famed Congressional Country Club in Washington, D.C., and Keney Park golf Course in Hartford, CT.
A.W. Tillinghast, who designed over 265 golf courses, with notable examples including Winged Foot Golf Club, Baltusrol Golf Club, and Bethpage Black Course, redesigned the course in 1935. His designs are recognized for their strategic bunkering and undulating greens, making them challenging and memorable.
Manchester Country Club is a fine example of what is called “old New England design.” To the knowledgeable golf buff, this means the natural character of the land has been used to advantage, not bulldozed away to fit an abstract concept. It means challenges that do not require great length or power, but can reward those assets when properly used. It means greens that are generally small, contoured and well protected, often in subtle ways. It means alternate ways to play many holes to allow players with different skills to be challenged and be competitive. It means giving a golfer, regardless of his level of skill, the opportunity to leave the eighteenth green and say “the course gave me the chance to use everything I know and did not force me to try things I can’t do. I was tested and had fun.”
8th Hole
Those are the attributes that describe the Manchester Country Club course and make it special…the kind of course everyone likes, but no one will build today, because it doesn’t fit the modern television image.
Manchester has bunkers placed strategically around fairway landing areas and putting surfaces, which puts a premium on accuracy both off the tee and on approaches to medium-sized greens. The course plays 6,298 yards from the tips, 6,021 from the white and has a par of 72. There are some elevation changes and water comes into play on several holes.
18th Green
The variety offered at Manchester starts right away. Hole 1 is a short par 4 with a fairway that slopes right to left towards water. Most players will hit a short iron into a well-undulated green that makes you concentrate on even the shortest of putts. Most greens at Manchester have undulation and subtle nuances that require total attention if you want to score.
The varying hole layouts makes it fun for any golfer. To us, the back-to-back par fives on the front nine (holes 3 & 4) and back nine (holes 14 & 15) stood out for how much fun they added to the round. While not all players will like back-to-back par fives, we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to swing fairway metals on consecutive holes and have a chance for back to back birdies. Our favorite of these par five holes were #14 and #15. From the tee, number fourteen dares you to swing as hard as you want to a generously wide fairway with the second shot being more strategic as water comes into play on the left as you approach the green. The second shot on hole 15 was collectively our favorite shot on any of the par fives. The hole gently sweeps left on the uphill second shot with plenty of room both left and right allowing you to take a good rip at fairway metal to hopefully get your ball greenside.
15th Green
No matter which tee makers you play from, whether you’re a novice or an experienced player, the layout of the course challenges you with its strategic design, while the stunning scenery enhances your overall experience.
In April 2023, the club installed 3 brand new, state of the art golf simulators that are available for use year round for fittings, lessons, practice or indoor competition. During the golf season (April 1st- October 31st) the simulators are available from 8:00 AM- 7:00 PM 7 days a week and off season (Starting November 1st), they are available Tues to Sun, 9:00 AM- 9:00 PM
The Manchester Open is held each summer in early August. The event is open to Amateurs who play on Sunday and Professionals who play on Monday. It’s a great event open to members and guests, often attracting players from all over the state, who all play under challenging conditions: long rough, tough pins, and fast greens! Caddies and spectators are allowed at The Manchester Open.
Food
The Hollow at Manchester Country Club is open to the public 7 days a week and features grill pub food, including golf-themed Grand Slam burgers, everyday for lunch and dinner. The menu includes a generous selection of appetizers, salads, burgers, and sandwiches, as well as daily chef’s specials. All indoor tables enjoy a beautiful outside view, and patio seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
