(November 14, 2024) – It is a typical summer weekday. The final match of the morning session of the 18th Senior Match Play Championship is still at least 30 minutes away from teeing off. Yet as the early morning sun casts its long shadows across the sprawling Indian Hill Country Club layout a large queue of players begins to form on the putting green above the first tee. The players know they won’t be able to tee off for upwards of another hour and a half but that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that they reserve their spot on the first tee.
This scene plays out on a regular basis at the golf crazed Indian Hill Country Club. It is for that reason and for the clubs dedication to golf in Connecticut that Indian Hill CC has been named the 2024 Walter ‘Bud’ Smith Distinguished Club Award recipient.
“It is definitely an honor,” said head professional Wayne Smyth. “We feel like we have our members and golf in general and we take care of them. We don’t have all the extracurriculars so we’re pretty proud of the place. We are really excited about the whole thing.”
Located in Newington and originally a nine-hole course called Maple Hill Golf Club, Indian Hill CC is a regular host of CSGA events and is dedicated to supporting the Connecticut golf community. Each year in addition to CSGA events the club works with the Town of Newington to host clinics and recently added a PGA Junior League team.
“The board of directors and the membership in general are proud to be part of the Connecticut golf community and the CSGA,” Smyth said. “We have a rich history of players that have won state championships and a number of members who volunteer with the CSGA and we are proud of that.”
Speaking of champions Indian Hill CC, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2024, is known as the ‘Home of Champions’ and since 1926 boosts numerous state championship winners. Indian Hill CC members have won five Connecticut Junior Amateurs, three Connecticut Amateur titles, three Connecticut Opens, and two Connecticut Senior Amateur titles to go along with numerous Connecticut Golf Hall of Famers.
However, what makes Indian Hill CC stand out is its charm and membership. A traditional New England routing, Indian Hill CC meanders up and down hills offering members a fun yet challenging layout. The course, which is always in pristine condition thanks to the watchful eye of Superintendent Marc Weston, also includes plenty of character. Most notable is the sign next to the tee box of the downhill par-3 fifth which overlooks Willard Avenue that reads, ‘Road Hole…3,171 miles to the other one.’
“That is the humor of Marc Weston,” Smyth said with a laugh, “He had been to the Old Course and saw the Road Hole sign and came up with the idea about our Road Hole. If you miss the green by too much on the far side of it, you’re literally hitting it into the road.”
The Indian Hill CC version of the Road Hole is far from the minds of the large contingent of members that set off on their rounds on the picture-perfect summer morning. For the moment all that matters is the prospect of watching their ball hurtle through the sky towards the opening fairway at Indian Hill CC, one of the gems of Connecticut golf.
“The club is open and welcoming to everybody and nowadays that is more important than anything,” Smyth expressed. “The feeling people get when they come to Indian Hill CC is that they are welcome. It’s relaxing. There’s not a lot of fuss and people enjoy themselves when they’re here.”
What more could you ask for?
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut State Golf Association functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
