TPC River Highlands

River Highlands is one of Connecticut’s best golf courses. Architecture geeks may turn their noses up at its TPC designation, but the variety of holes, combined with its rare member-playability, makes it as fun to experience in person as it is to see the pros battle on TV. Although runaway driving distances have made it play quite short for the pros, in years when the weather cooperates, it is seldom a total pushover, despite barely clearing 6,800 yards from the tips.

I have relished every opportunity I’ve had to play River Highlands over the years, but my last couple of rounds have left me a little nostalgic. Unfortunately, the course’s comprehensive bunker renovation in [2016] knocked it down a notch. While the impulse to reduce the amount of bunkers was understandable, the complete change in their style – from flashed faces to flat bottoms banked by steep walls of turf – was not a welcome one. The muscular new look of the bunkers is totally at odds with the more gradual movement of the terrain on which the course sits. A bit of a bad nosejob. What’s more, the pros have far less trouble from sand nowadays because the flat lies are far more predictable than they were when the bunkers had steep sand faces and yielded occasionally awkward stances. It is still a wonderful golf course, but I would hope any future work brings it back to its pre-renovation peak.

TPC River Highlands has evolved considerably over the years, almost entirely for the better. After playing the course for the first time since its 2016 renovations - particularly to look, number and arrangement of the bunkers - I'm left to wonder if the course has taken a small step backwards.

River Highlands continues to be one of the shortest PGA Tour courses (6,841 yards, par 70), but it's still not a pushover...usually. The renovation in 2016 was meant to "modernize" a course by turning the bunkers from scooped-out affairs with sloping sand faces to Golden Age-style ones with steep grass faces and flat sandy surfaces below. Unfortunately, several of these new hazards look overly abrupt and forced onto a land plan that has more gliding shaping. Furthermore, the contemporaneous resurfacing of the greens - and softening of the contours - makes putting less challenging than it used to be, although faster green speeds can now be pursued. It is no wonder that Jim Furyk shot a mind-blowing 58 in the Travelers Championship right after the course reopened. In soft conditions, the course is now more defenseless than it was.

Luckily, TPC River Highland's bones make it one of the strongest Tour courses, thanks to brilliant holes like the short par-4 second, the long par-3 5th, the par-5 13th and the world-class drivable par-4 15th. It's just that the recent cosmetic updates have left a bit to be desired. Don't let these mild criticisms deter you, though - it is well worth playing if you score an invite.

I had played here a few years ago as part of the Travelers Pro-Am, but was excited to play here after the renovations.

The practice facilities are amazing. A huge driving range, putting green and short game area. A great asset for members. The clubhouse isn't great, but I've heard rumblings they'll be renovating in the near future.

The course conditions were great. The greens are fairways were great, the rough is underrated and the new bunkering is great. A mix of fair, difficult, fun and risk/reward holes. Overall it's a great experience, and a place I may inquire about joining, for the practice facilities alone.