#7 on this list
Hills
Wintonbury
Wintonbury Hills is for players who appreciate thoughtful, subtle golf architecture over raw length. Owned by the Town of Bloomfield, Connecticut, just northwest of Hartford, this layout represents Pete Dye's first and only championship municipal design in New England. It offers everyday public golfers a chance to play classic Dye features—railroad ties, pot bunkers, and strategic angles—at a reasonable price point. The layout blends an open links-style front nine with a wooded parkland back nine. Dye created wide fairways that allow players to swing freely off the tee, but he angled the landing areas so that aggressive lines provide significantly easier approaches into the greens. The putting surfaces are contoured with subtle tiers, false fronts, and surrounding collection swales that test your short-game creativity with wedges, hybrids, or putters from off the green. While Wintonbury Hills is more forgiving than many of Dye's famous tournament courses, its green complexes can be challenging when rolling fast. Wind across the open holes can also turn routine mid-iron approaches into difficult challenges. Pace of play can stretch during popular weekend morning slots, but the course is consistently praised for superior municipal turf conditioning. **Highlights** - Pete Dye's lone championship municipal design in New England - Dual character combining open rolling links with wooded parkland holes - Wide fairways paired with strategic approach angles and collection areas - Intelligently contoured greens that reward imaginative recovery shots - Fair, accessible green fee pricing for town residents and visitors alike **Watch-outs** - Fast, undulating greens can cause high three-putt counts for casual players - Exposed front-nine holes are susceptible to persistent crosswinds
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#8 on this list
Valley
Neshanic
Neshanic Valley is built for players who want resort-grade practice facilities, expansive views, and multiple routing options. Owned and operated by the Somerset County Park Commission in central New Jersey, this 27-hole complex was designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry. Built across rolling farmland with the Neshanic and Sourland Mountains in the background, it provides a spacious, open-air round that feels grand in scope. The property features three distinct nine-hole courses—the Lake, Meadow, and Ridge—that rotate to form varying 18-hole combinations. Fairways are broad and inviting off the tee, accommodating wind and letting players drive the ball aggressively. However, Hurdzan and Fry protected par by installing large, fescue-rimmed bunkers and sprawling, fast-running green complexes. The bentgrass playing surfaces are maintained to exceptionally high municipal standards. The chief trade-off is the exposed nature of the terrain. The open farmland offers little shade during midsummer heatwaves, and sustained winds can dry out the greens and heavily influence club choice. Because of its stellar reputation across the tri-state area, weekend tee times fill up quickly, and pace of play can slow when the layout is packed. **Highlights** - 27-hole layout offering three distinct nine-hole combinations - Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry design featuring expansive, strategic bunkering - Broad, generous bentgrass fairways that encourage confident driving - Outstanding practice campus including an extensive driving range and short-game area - Well-managed county park facility with strong environmental stewardship **Watch-outs** - Wide-open landscape offers minimal shade during hot summer rounds - Popular weekend slots can lead to extended rounds over four and a half hours
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Specs side by side
| Spec | Hills | Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Bloomfield, Connecticut | Neshanic Station, New Jersey |
| Course Architect | Pete Dye | — |
| Course Type | Municipal 18-hole championship | 27-hole municipal complex |
| Typical Rate | Around $79 | — |
| Terrain Profile | Open rolling links front, wooded parkland back | — |
| Signature Elements | Railroad ties, pot bunkers, shaved collection areas | — |
| Architects | — | Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry |
| Estimated Fee | — | Around $90 |
| Turf Composition | — | Bentgrass greens, tees, and fairways |
| Governing Body | — | Somerset County Park Commission |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
Hills
- Authentic Pete Dye strategic architecture at accessible municipal rates
- Engaging layout featuring distinct links-style front and parkland back nines
- Consistently superior turf conditioning compared to typical town-owned venues
- Contoured green complexes that reward short-game creativity and proper approach angles
- Open front-nine holes are heavily influenced by gusting crosswinds
- Subtle green tiers can lead to frequent three-putts for higher handicappers
- Weekend tee sheet density can cause deliberate four-and-a-half-hour rounds
Valley
- Expansive 27-hole routing offering three diverse 18-hole combinations
- Tour-quality bentgrass greens and fairways maintained to high municipal standards
- Generous driving corridors balanced by sophisticated, strategic bunker design
- Comprehensive practice academy featuring short-game greens and a par-3 course
- Wide-open farmland topography provides zero shade during peak summer heat
- High regional demand frequently leads to slow weekend rounds exceeding four hours
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