Gillette Ridge
About
Gillette Ridge Golf Club in Bloomfield, just outside of Hartford, is an Arnold Palmer Signature course. It is one of the toughest rounds in all of New England. The course sprawls across a beautiful landscape covered with natural wetlands and forests of towering maples, oaks, and elm trees. There are strategically placed bunkers in addition to the natural challenges but they are not excessive. The wetlands come into play on almost half of the holes at Gillette Ridge Golf Club. The approaches to the greens are seemingly intimidating but as long as you don't hit short there is always bailout area on one side. Since each hole presents a unique challenge, there is not just one signature hole, but one of the most memorable holes is the par-5 second, a true risk-reward test that requires both length and accuracy.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black | 72 | 7191 yards | 74.5 | 140 |
Blue | 72 | 6569 yards | 72.1 | 135 |
White | 72 | 5695 yards | 69.3 | 128 |
Green | 72 | 4847 yards | 73.7 | 138 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 74.5/140 | 426 | 505 | 431 | 182 | 364 | 387 | 612 | 187 | 447 | 3541 | 430 | 214 | 609 | 294 | 430 | 187 | 431 | 577 | 478 | 3650 | 7191 |
Blue M: 71.3/133 | 379 | 500 | 380 | 168 | 325 | 359 | 556 | 159 | 424 | 3250 | 407 | 186 | 567 | 273 | 397 | 173 | 409 | 502 | 405 | 3319 | 6569 |
Blue/White M: 68.9/128 | 311 | 500 | 299 | 148 | 325 | 359 | 481 | 146 | 389 | 2958 | 407 | 136 | 567 | 273 | 326 | 147 | 383 | 502 | 348 | 3089 | 6047 |
White M: 67.3/123 W: 74.6/138 | 311 | 480 | 299 | 148 | 283 | 316 | 481 | 146 | 389 | 2853 | 306 | 136 | 474 | 242 | 326 | 147 | 383 | 480 | 348 | 2842 | 5695 |
Green M: 63.5/113 W: 69.8/130 | 298 | 404 | 241 | 117 | 254 | 253 | 426 | 123 | 338 | 2454 | 234 | 119 | 394 | 215 | 225 | 124 | 345 | 436 | 301 | 2393 | 4847 |
Handicap | 16 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 1 | |||
Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, Grill, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, Locker RoomsReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by u000005787699 on 08/23/2023
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Photo submitted by u000005787699 on 08/23/2023
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Photo submitted by u1732467322 on 05/12/2023
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The sixth, 173, 3-par: The long slender green, obliquely set to the tee, is a common feature at Gillette. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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The ninth green: par 4, 405, but the blues were set at 440 today. A murderously tough golf hole. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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Eleven: par 5, 500. Another strong driving hole, with the Heublein Tower as part of the backdrop. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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Eleven again, at its well-defended green. My playing partners prepare to putt. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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16: One of my playing partners, a scratch golfer and club member, praised the quality of the three finishing holes; this is the first of them. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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The 424-yard 18th, a sound tee-to-green test, finishes the exam well. Photo submitted by AptlyLinked on 08/28/2021
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Photo submitted by u051162098 on 05/31/2021
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Photo submitted by u000008034144 on 11/10/2020
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Photo submitted by psppete on 10/21/2020
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Photo submitted by psppete on 10/21/2020
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Photo submitted by psppete on 10/21/2020
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Photo submitted by u241990994 on 07/29/2019
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Gillette Ridge Golf Club, hole 3 (former 12) Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 07/13/2018
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Gillette Ridge Golf Club, hole 14 (former 5) Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 07/13/2018
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A welcome sight: kids and locals of all ages pack the range at Gillette Ridge on a June Tuesday evening. Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 07/13/2018
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Gillette Ridge's drivable par-4 13th is an excellent hole. Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/08/2017
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The 16th green at Gillette Ridge shows the course is consciously shrinking the putting surfaces, presumably for ease of maintenance. I wish they wouldn't do this - it makes an already hard course even tougher and will slow pace of play. Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/08/2017
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The quirky 17th green at Gillette Ridge juts out over a stone bridge. Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/08/2017
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Gillette Ridge's closing hole is a fair but seriously tough long par four. Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 11/08/2017
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Photo submitted by Bullguy on 09/01/2017
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"Really"? Photo submitted by jfeliciano103 on 06/11/2014
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Photo submitted by u000005387859 on 04/30/2013
Full Disclosure
The layout for the course is very good but difficult for the average golfer. It was freshly aerated which should have been disclosed and rates significantly reduced due to condition of the course. It was putting plinko!
The staff was very friendly but not concerned with pace of play. We were on a 445 pace for a twosome in carts with 4 groups on the 16th hole when it began to rain and had to end the round early.
I would like to play here again when it is in good condition - bring lots of balls, the hazards keep sneaking up on you!
Nice tract
Track is really nice , pro and staff were great
Would have given 5 stars all around but greens were punch little while ago . Not their fault
Will def go back
Avoid
If you like 5 hour rounds and not being told about green aeration while still paying full price definitely come here! If management needs the business so badly that they can’t disclose that then maybe this course needs new management for the 4th time in the last 10 years.
Greens were aerated
When purchasing a tee time we should be notified that the greens have been aerated.
Booked for 18 we got there and we were told we could only play 9 due to aeration I never received an email or a phone call. , we were looking foward to play 18 if I had received a phone call we would have played 18 at a different course. The girl at the front desk was not friendly and useless. I feel the way this was handled we should have not even been charged to play 9 and the long wait. People in front of us and in back of us had the same problem so now so of course everything was backed up it took over 2 1:2 hours to play 9 holes, and the few times we’ve played there there’s never a starter..
Unannounced Aeration
We were disappointed to arrive at the course and find out that they were aerating the back nine greens that day. We had to play the front nine twice instead of a full 18. I believe that the course should have notified us ahead of time and given us an option to come another day to play the full course. The front nine was in good condition and challenging.
Finest public course in CT
This course became my favorite the first time I played it. Challenging but beautiful layout. Pristine fairways and greens. 5 star course.
Nice course but pace of play an issue
I’ve played here three times. And each time pace of play was an issue. Need to do a better job of spacing out tee times. Almost six hours for 18 is too much. Also the bunkers were basically just hard dirt. Other than that course is in good shape and the restaurant is very good
Fun course, rude golfers with no class..
Course was in good shape and staff is always friendly and helpful.. My problem lies with the other people who play there, many are just flat out inconsiderate and lack simple golf etiquette. Any group of 3 or 4 players could care less about letting faster groups even 2-somes play through.. won't even acknowledge you and could care less about their slower round and its affect on pace of play for groups stuck behind them. Has happened too many times over the last 2-3 years when Ive played there that I know know it's not a random thing happening there. For that reason I dont see myself making the effort to go play there any time soon again..
Great course, horrible, slow play, sand traps need sand.
I have always loved Gillette Ridge, such an interesting layout and great greens. This day, however, we had a three hour front nine and we left the course due to the sun setting in two and a half hours. We did receive a voucher for nine holes but I will never play there again on a weekend. Wonderful staff.
Coming back strong
Course was in great shape. Definitely has returned to its former status and condition. Bunkers were even in good shape which hasn’t been the case in the last few years. Good to see the course being returned to its former self.