Blackledge Country Club - Gilead Highlands

The Blackledge course called Gilead Highlands delivers a subtle and solid–yet not overpowering–front side composed of uphill and downhill fairways, mostly gently doglegged par-4’s and a couple of decent par-3’s that ask for finesse instead of power. Added into the mix are a pair of mid-length par-5s that emphasize careful placement of both drives and second shots, but neither hole is the kind that wants to exert a sort of tyrannical control over your shotmaking choices–unless, maybe, you find yourself well out of position.

Mainly this is a woodsy track with tree-lined fairways, and between their wooded borders the occasional single tree–or a cluster of them–will emerge somewhat, intruding to a degree on the line of play. The greens are nicely sloped here, none of them veering over the edge into ridiculousness. Green nine slopes the most, but several others have enough movement to provide challenges. Greens are often edged by mounding, a few having deep falloffs in the back. I like the way the course architect, Mark Mungeam, has varied the nature of slopes prior to each green, as well.

Some notable holes on Gilead’s front side:

The first, par-4, 435: A complex and demanding opening hole. Its fairway sweeps up and then rightward, then down past a small depression prior to the raised green –without greenside bunkers but not needing any, as the hole’s tee-to-green challenge is already abundant. The opening tee shot is tailor-made for a fade, though you might be able to manage a controlled draw as well. The hole makes you work hard for an opening par.

The fourth, par-4, 320: Another interesting four-par, primarily because the drive must be well-placed to a landing zone that sits partly out of sight from the tee. To find the fairway, you have to appreciate the way it curves leftward over its final stretch toward the green. The ideal tee shot is drawn.

The seventh, par-5, 493 (index 1).
Playing uphill off the tee, this fairway’s second leg bends mildly to the right and is intersected by a waste area as it moves toward the large, skull-shaped green with a bunker on its left flank. Thirty yards short of the putting surface are two large bunkers, each of them squeezing–a bit–the fairway’s run-up area. Going for the green in two is a gamble, but worth the try because the penalties for missing are not excessive. Every course should have at least one par-5 requiring the kind of tactical play that this one does.

Another noteworthy par-4 is nine (par-4, 390), its fairway bending a bit leftward from tee to green, but the slopes become fairly dramatic over the second half of the hole and on every side of the green. A fairway bunker will catch mis-placed fades or mild slices off the tee; another bunker somewhat short of the green will grab approach shots that are on the weak side.

Playing Experience:
Very much enjoyed joining up with three players, all of whom were twenty-five, one a former member of the RHAM High School Golf Team. All three of these young men absolutely bombed the ball off the tee and were very capable players. Fun time!

Conditions:
Excellent overall. Greens were excellent in smoothness and lushness and consistency, if a tad on the slow side (which surprised me somewhat). Greenside areas, including fringes, proved outstanding. Roughs, tees and fairways were all good to excellent. This is also an aesthetically pleasing layout, and ownership takes pride in appearance and the overall ‘look’ of the course.

A few conclusions, whole course:
This front side is not the kind of nine that becomes increasingly tough over the last three holes, but things transition quickly on the Gilead back nine over its tough four-hole stretch on ten through thirteen. With a generally heavier roll to the terrain, it is the inward half that amps up the course’s overall difficulty (rated 130 for slope, which is on the high side). By contrast, the front side allows for more scoring opportunities, though it’s hardly a pushover–absentminded play may cost you some quickly added strokes. Every hole here is a good one, and each seems calibrated for balanced shot values. Excellent conditioning was an added bonus today. I would call either Blackledge course, Gilead or Anderson, a very good bet for most golfers. Certainly, each has been worth playing for me almost every time out.

This course drains very poorly and was very soggy after the previous day's rain. There are numerous carries over swampy waste areas in the middle of the fairways--ugly and annoying. The bunkers were mud pits. They could have been easily raked out before play. The ranger was worthless and the round took nearly six hours. I do not plan to return to this facility.

FRONT NINE: The Gilead Highlands Course is enjoyable to look at, but no less fun to play. Built in 2000, the front side offered something different from the back. This outward half is not about narrow, twisting fairways, huge cross hazards, or abrupt elevation changes. Instead, it sports a bit more room for error off the tees, along with extra subtlety around the greens. This layout is balanced without being predictable; the use of hazards is strategic; the terrain includes hummocks and little knolls, swales and falloffs, and plateaued or raised greens—all of which add character. Some of this ground was certainly bulldozed to create interesting effects, yet the fairways flow gracefully up and down the larger hills and vales. Even the bunkering, which emphasizes deepness and larger-scaled traps, looks natural. These hazards, employed strategically, urge you to navigate your way around the course by making intelligent choices. And so this nine counterbalances the back, favoring greater playability rather than a more target-oriented form of golf: there are no 25-yard-wide fairways to hit or big ponds to cross.

Though it favors simplicity, the front never succumbs to dullness, largely because designer Mark Mungeam relied on a few tricks up his sleeve to create further interest. Included among these are trees that intrude upon fairways (sometimes they actually occupy them), greens with complex, hard-to-read slopes, and bunkers that front greens by some distance, say, 20 to 30 yards. From a distance in the fairways, they appear as bordering traps. Such optical illusions were popular with Donald Ross and other Scottish classicists. The greens themselves are well-sited, well-protected and well-varied in both contouring and direction of slope. Mungeam favors open approaches from the front of these greens, letting you decide, oftentimes, whether to pitch or run the ball onto the surfaces.

Mark Mungeam is one of the mainstays of New England golf architecture. Nationally, he’s not on a plane with Tom Doak or Jack Nicklaus, and perhaps he’s a bit underrated. Still, he did refurbish Olympia Fields, site of the 2003 U. S. Open and the 2020 BMW Championship. At Blackledge, Mungeam was one of the Gilead backside designers—along with Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva. His other Connecticut gems include Oxford Greens and Connecticut National. The quality of each of these three courses is undeniable.

Other notes, comments & opinions:
A) Kevin Higgins, Director of Golf, was personable, friendly and welcoming—as always.
B) Pace of play was, overall, a bit above average.
C) Wet conditions, though course drains well. Greens have undergone aeration, though in recovery stage. Rest of course in average condition (rough) to good (fairways).
D) Check-in today was done across street at Anderson’s Glen; parking in that lot.
E) Even on a cloudy late-November day, it’s one of the more beautiful courses across Connecticut.

I've played Blackledge weekly throughout May-September & was very surprised to find the front 9 in poor condition today. Course had not removed leaves it quite some time, making it difficult to find balls hit in fairways & rough on many holes. My foursome lost 5 balls hit in fairway on front 9, very frustrating. Bunkers had also not been maintained in some time, greens had not been cut today. Back 9 was in better condition.

If you are a weekend golfer and tee off AFTER 630 am, be prepared for a 5 hour round. We feed off at 12:50 pm and did not finish 18 until 5:32.. to be exact.

Beautiful course in beautiful condition.

Took over 5 hours and 15 minutes nightmare no ranger to keep pace of play reasonably not happy they overbooked course like that unprofessional

Good course, rewarded for hitting straight. A couple of challenging par 5’s. Pace of play was nice 4 hr round.

Greens are superb
Not long but challenging holes
Need to be accurate off the tees.
Need to leave driver in the bag on some short par fours.
Greens are very firm and roll well. High iron shots with backspin stick and stay on the green.
A wonderful course

For a public course, it doesn’t get any better imo. We live almost an hour and a half away and we came back a week later after playing here for the first time. We are from southern R.I. and are surrounded by some great courses but didn’t bat an eye at the thought of coming back to Gilead Highlands for another round, especially after gaining some much needed knowledge on a few of the more difficult holes. The course conditions are as good as any and better than most atm. The layout is amazing with each hole secluded and original. Those two things are most important to me so this course is now easily up there with my personal favorites.

Gilead Highland’s front nine, which impresses most for its variety and playability for all golfers, should satisfy altogether. It has beauty, it’s not overburdened with hazards—they are used shrewdly—and there are plentiful tee-to-green challenges, often demanding finesse and strategic thinking.

Both Blackledge courses simply inspire me to play solid golf. This layout (GH) doesn’t quite measure up to Mark Mungeam’s best Connecticut course, Oxford Greens, but it’s still stellar. Mungeam shows on every hole that he is no common designer. Although the front is endowed with two incredible short par-4's in four and nine that bring the course to life, the greatest energy comes from the two five-pars..

One of these, the adventurous seventh, makes allowances for both good and average golfers, who may play this hole with quite different routes to the hole. Why? Its design features a landing strip of 100 yards prior to the green, a strip that follows a forced carry over the marsh on one's second shot. Ten varying ways routes all lead to pars on this exceptional hole.

But the standout par-five—hole three—comes on like a tougher alter ego to the seventh, especially because of clever angular movement over this hole’s second half. The third fairway is comfortably wide but fully wood-lined. Ideally, the drive's line is to its left side, leaving a far better angle for an attacking second shot, not a defensive one. The reason? You've simply steered wide of the mature, gargantuan tree inhabiting the fairway's right side. What’s especially interesting here is that you now need much less shot curvature when approaching from the left side, assuming you’re bold enough to go for it in two.

Even if the choice on the second shot is to lay-up from that left side, the angle into the green is far better for a wedge on the third, because a substantial opening allows us to take dead aim on most pin positions (or come in more easily) without fear of coming up short. Approach this green from the right, however, and a yawning bunker must be carried to stop the ball on a fast green. Better have a ball that bites—viciously. Only the actual playing of this third hole allows us to see why it's a premier 5-par with a decidedly strategic bent. It's the kind of challenge that makes golf the great game it is.

Other Notes, Facts & Opinions:
1) Conditioning: Greens, very good (fast and rolled smoothly); turf around greens, good; fairways, above average; tees, average. Course seems to have endured heavy play lately.
2) Pace: Somewhat lethargic; in 2020, slowest nine I’ve yet to play in 9 outings: lots of waiting.
3) Front Desk: Leon was outstanding: conversational, personable, knowledgeable about coronavirus issues. They have the right attitude, awareness, and setup here for pandemic. (A+)
4) Amenities: Considerably better over at sister course, Anderson’s Glen.
5) Blackledge should be on your bucket list as a top Connecticut venue. Anderson's Glen received recognition in the national golf media with the 1992 publication of Pedroli and Teagarden's "The American Golfer's Guide" (foreword by Curtis Strange). Here, only two Connecticut courses (out of 500 nationwide) were featured; they were Lyman Orchards and Blackledge/Anderson's Glen.

At 1:30, there weren’t any carts. As I finished the front 9, I wished I got a cart. The back 9 is not a course you want to walk without a bag cart. Beverage cart wasn’t out at all in back 9. Wished I brought more water. The back 9 is less forgiving if your don’t hit it straight. It’s weird how you have a ways to walk back to car if you parked by the club house across the street from main club house. I enjoyed it and would play again but not on the weekend when there’s a shortage of carts. Back 9 is a little challenging. Fun course, though.

Blackledge: Gilead (5.7)
Conditions: 6.5
Greens were slow and a bit bouncy. Greens were receptive and fairways did not roll. Looks in great shape from afar, but details were not very clean.

Layout: 4
Some confusing course layout. Next holes are not very obvious and no signage to speak of. Would have struggled without players who have previously been there.

Design: 7
Really enjoyed some hole designs. Spectacular Par5 on the back with some good par 3s. Most par 3s required the same club 7/8 iron. Good variation of par 4s, but none that stand out as exceptional.

Amenities: 3.5
Strange out of the way parking lot for this course. Clubs house is literally a White House. No range, practice green was okay.

Feel: 7.5
Felt great here. Felt like golf. Possibly because I played well. But holes are secluded and wooded. Tight holes but not unreasonable. Some target golf on the back. Would certainly play again.

Overall: 5.7

we have played Blackledge many times and we have always played Anderson's Glen but this time we decided to play Gilead highlands. Wow this is a much better course . The Tuesday Worcester traveling group will be back all 16 of us had a great time and loved everything about it

Went as a foursome and after first hole we let a twosome play through. We noticed behind are foursome was 3 groups of twosomes and a single. Then ranger who had no personality came up to us and said he was getting complaints that play was slow we needed to pick it up. We played front 9 in 2 hours. Why wouldn't you pair up twosomes ? Felt rushed rest of the round. Played round in exactly 4 hours. Guess they expect under 4. Won't go back

The Gilead front 9 greens were still healing from aeration. But the rest of the course was in good shape. Had to wait 10 minutes while daily maintenance was done on one of the holes. With the fall colors the course was a picture. It was fun to play a New England course in the Fall again. The food in the restaurant was subpar.

Played with a 2pm tee time, nice time of day. Often no one working at the snack shack, cart girls where nice but never saw them on the back 9, could have used another drink... otherwise very nice course

Definitely worth the ride. Fun course, great condition and very nice staff.