Wintonbury Hills Golf Course, Bloomfield, Connecticutt ? A Pete Dye Masterpiece Combining Traditional, Tree-Lined Fairways and Open, Links-Style Golf

Wintonbury Hills is Pete Dye's first championship golf course design to be found in New England. The course plays to par 70 over 6,711 yards from the back tees, with a USGA rating of 72.3 and a slope rating of 130.

The course offers a combination of traditional, tree-lined holes and the open, links-style courses found in Europe. The fairways are ample, making it a tad easier for golfers to avoid the 125 bunkers found on the course, but playing from the back tees still provides a challenging experience.

The course is said to be a "hybrid,'' which is amix of links-style and traditional, forested holes typically found on golf course in the Northeast. On the front nine, several of the holes call for a forced carry over some of the 91 acres of protected wetlands found on the course. The back nine holes are said to have even more character. For example, the fairway on the par-4 408-yard No. 16 has been described as a "trough'' that will kick ball back toward its center.

Wintonbury Hills has been described as a "beautifully conditioned'' masterpiece, "a find,'' "a wonderful addition to the state's golf scene,'' and a "must-play'' course. In fact, Golfweek Magazine named it one of the Top 25 New Courses in the U.S., as well as one of the Top 10 Municipal Courses in the country. And Golf Digest named it one of the Top Ten Best Golf Courses in Connecticut.

The course features a peaceful and relaxing setting, and also includes some breathtaking views of the Tunxis Reservoir. Practice facilities include a full driving range, putting and chipping greens, all open during golf-course hours. Instruction is also available for both private and group lessons.

The course is located in Bloomfield, Connecticut, which is only a 15-minute drive from Hartford. Even though Wintonbury Hills is a municipal course, it has the feel of a private club but at an affordable price for a Pete Dye championship design.

In addition to golf, Wintonbury Hills offers dining at the Grill at Wintonbury Hills, which is known for its cuisine.