(December 19, 2020) – The Country Club of Darien, Hartford Golf Club, The Patterson Club, Black Hall Club, some of the strongest courses in Connecticut, are part of a remarkable 2021 line-up of CSGA championships.
“We have a really exciting slate of venues in 2021,” said Director of Operations, Rules & Competitions Ryan Hoffman. “2021 will feature some repeat venues, some new venues but overall a really solid test of championship golf.”
The Country Club of Darien is set to host the 87th Connecticut Open presented by The Reby Financial Advisory Teams of Wealth Enhancement Group from July 26-28. Opened in 1957 as an Alfred Horace Tull design the course was long considered, “a nice little layout.” Eventually, the membership decided they wanted more out of their course, and in 2005 they hired Dr. Michael Hurdzan to update it. Hurdzan, the architect of 2017 U.S. Open host Erin Hills Golf Course, turned a nice course into a layout worthy of any championship.
Work began in 2007 and hardly a blade of grass or a spec of sand was left unturned. When the redesign was done the sides had been flipped, all the tees and bunkers rebuilt, the par dropped from 72 to 71, holes were rerouted, ponds were added, and greens rebuilt.
Since the renovation was completed the Country Club of Darien has hosted a number of prestigious championships including the Westchester PGA, Westchester Open, The IKE, and now the Connecticut Open. “We are honored to have the opportunity to host and showcase the Country Club of Darien to all of Connecticut at this historic championship,” says Head Professional Cory Muller. “We believe the golf course will present a fair and challenging test for the players as well as provide an experience for the participants that they won’t soon forget.”
For the 10th time in its 119-year tournament history the Connecticut Amateur will be played at Hartford Golf Club, where Chris Fosdick will look to defend. The club was a frequent site of the early Amateurs, hosting the event five-times from 1902-1914. However, the 2021 version, scheduled to be played from June 14-18, will be the first time since 1990 that Hartford Golf Club has hosted the Connecticut Amateur and just the second-time since 1969.
“It is going to be an incredible honor,” said Hartford Golf Club Head Professional Richard Bray. “We have quite a history when it comes to hosting prestigious events in the area. This is going to be quite the year for us with our 125th anniversary taking place in 2021 and it will be a great way for us to celebrate with us hosting the event.”
Hartford Golf Club was founded in 1896 as a combined Donald Ross and Devereaux Emmett design. In August of 2017 a renovation began that included the building of 16 new tees and the rebuilding of 29 more. The renovation also included a total rework of 132 bunkers.
“We will have some firm, fast playing conditions,” Bray said. “Our green complexes are challenging but fair and they will require accurate approach play to ensure birdie opportunities.”
The Senior Match Play moves to Torrington Country Club from June 22-25. A frequent site of CSGA majors since the 1940s, Torrington Country Club most recently hosted the 2019 Connecticut Open won by Rasmey Kong. Senior Match Play defending champion Dave Szewczul will be seeking his sixth victory in the 15th edition of the event.
Dick Stevens defends his Senior Amateur title on September 27-28 at The Patterson Club. Since the club opened in 1929 it has long distinguished itself among the best courses in the state. When the clubhouse opened on June 15, 1945 Gene Sarazen and Bobby Jones were part of the first official foursome.
“The players can expect a warm welcome by the members of The Patterson Club. Jason Meersman, the Golf Course Superintendent, and his team take exceptional pride in the presentation of the course and the consistency of the conditions,” Patterson Club golf professional Chris Kenney said. “The layout provides opportunity to make birdies early in the round with those opportunities becoming more challenging as the round progresses. Even the best short games will be tested by a missed green.”
After being canceled due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions in 2020, the Connecticut Women’s Open will be played at Black Hall Club. “We are super proud to be hosting the Connecticut Women’s Open. It is valued as the biggest women’s golf event in the state and we have always been supportive of women’s golf local and statewide,” said Black Hall Head Professional Andrew Campbell.
The tournament will be contested on June 7-8. Black Hall, annually the host of the Two Man Championship, was designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1967. Over the years Black Hall has hosted numerous U.S. Open and United States Golf Association qualifier events, Connecticut Amateurs, Mid-Amateurs, and Connecticut Opens.
“I expect the conditions to be terrific. [In June] the course is going to play just as it should in terms of its design,” said Campbell. “Depending on what length the course is played at, it could be a difficult course.”
Ben Conroy will defend his Mid-Amateur title at The Farms Country Club in Wallingford on August 9-10. Opened in 1962, the course was designed by Geoffrey Cornish. The layout, at just under 7,000 yards is characterized by many doglegs that force strategic choices and require precise distance control.
In 2021 the Russell C. Palmer Cup presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop will return to its normal spot on the schedule at the end of May. This year the dates will be May 24-25 at the Country Club of Waterbury with Rick Dowling looking to defend his championship. The par-69 Donald Ross layout features a number of par 3s and 4s widely considered among the best in the Northeast.
The complete 2021 CSGA schedule will be finalized in February of 2021. Please check csgalinks.org for updates.
