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Rockwell Park reviews
16
0
About As Good as 18 Holes Can Get 2+ years
Reviewed:
Played on:Nov 24, 2020
Played the course:once
Pros:
+ This course is a "5." It's tough, it's wooded, it's very hilly. It's got good amenities, sound tees and baskets, and a couple of man-made structures to tweak the challenge of holes. I drove 2+ hours, and it was worth it
Standout Holes:
+ After a straightforward opening hole with the threat of water along the right, Hole #2 is where Rockwell starts showing off. Standing on the tee, you're looking up a steep hill with a pronounced left dogleg at the top. But wait: the 75' - 100' after the dogleg continues uphill. And hold on: they've built a huge pyramid of logs to raise the basket another 10 feet. OK - this course is serious about elevation
+ Hole #4 is another steep uphill, and it features a structure of walls like the "castle" hole at Maple Hill. The difference here is that the drop off behind the basket is also steep. You can't just overthrow and expect a safe comebacker
+ Hole #6 is a jaw-dropper. The basket is visible - 756' away - across a long, deep valley (water at the bottom right), framed by trees lining both sides. It's a par 4, but you're gonna get miles of glide from the tee with the right throw. But that's only half the challenge, because your approach is going to be uphill, and probably 250' - 350' out
+ Hole #12 is only 240', but it's across a shallow pond and up to a basket perched on a high hill. A great looking hole
+ Hole #15: once you've walked a ways to cross over the parking area, you'll be rewarded with this beauty: a winding OB stream that crosses in front of the tee and then hugs the right side, with the natural slope making every rollaway headed to the water...and a whole bunch of trees looking to kick your disc down into OB
+ Hole #17 is short with a huge drop, to a level green of turf that's been built next to a steep hillside on the right. But there's OB both left and right, so you need to have a touch shot from an unusually steep height. Trees lining either side near the tee add to the challenge, as kicks from this height are almost guaranteed to go OB
+ If you've survived everything else, Hole #18 is a flat, slightly left-turning hole with water all along the right, and then cutting across about 75' in front of the green. If your teeshot is at all to the right on this 763' par 4, your upshot must stay low because of overhanging branches.
+ Even the straight holes have a lot of character: throwing across valleys (like Holes #3 and especially the long #6), throwing narrow wooded lanes (Hole #10)
Standout Holes:
+ After a straightforward opening hole with the threat of water along the right, Hole #2 is where Rockwell starts showing off. Standing on the tee, you're looking up a steep hill with a pronounced left dogleg at the top. But wait: the 75' - 100' after the dogleg continues uphill. And hold on: they've built a huge pyramid of logs to raise the basket another 10 feet. OK - this course is serious about elevation
+ Hole #4 is another steep uphill, and it features a structure of walls like the "castle" hole at Maple Hill. The difference here is that the drop off behind the basket is also steep. You can't just overthrow and expect a safe comebacker
+ Hole #6 is a jaw-dropper. The basket is visible - 756' away - across a long, deep valley (water at the bottom right), framed by trees lining both sides. It's a par 4, but you're gonna get miles of glide from the tee with the right throw. But that's only half the challenge, because your approach is going to be uphill, and probably 250' - 350' out
+ Hole #12 is only 240', but it's across a shallow pond and up to a basket perched on a high hill. A great looking hole
+ Hole #15: once you've walked a ways to cross over the parking area, you'll be rewarded with this beauty: a winding OB stream that crosses in front of the tee and then hugs the right side, with the natural slope making every rollaway headed to the water...and a whole bunch of trees looking to kick your disc down into OB
+ Hole #17 is short with a huge drop, to a level green of turf that's been built next to a steep hillside on the right. But there's OB both left and right, so you need to have a touch shot from an unusually steep height. Trees lining either side near the tee add to the challenge, as kicks from this height are almost guaranteed to go OB
+ If you've survived everything else, Hole #18 is a flat, slightly left-turning hole with water all along the right, and then cutting across about 75' in front of the green. If your teeshot is at all to the right on this 763' par 4, your upshot must stay low because of overhanging branches.
+ Even the straight holes have a lot of character: throwing across valleys (like Holes #3 and especially the long #6), throwing narrow wooded lanes (Hole #10)
Cons:
- If you don't like carpet tees, you're gonna subtract a bit on this point. But the tees at Rockwell are flat, well-built and maintained. I had no trouble with them - but I'm also not a huge run-up guy, and I understand how carpet can be slick right after a rain
- There are one or two spots where the navigation to the next basket let me down, but I figured it out
- There are one or two spots where the navigation to the next basket let me down, but I figured it out
Other Thoughts:
~ Great signage, Prodigy baskets. Many small touches: #7 is straight and uphill, with high risk of discs rolling back toward the tee on the steep green. Look for the string attached to the basket to help confirm Circle 1. The carpet on the raised platform on the 17th tee changes from green to blue - to warn you of the edge
~ Definitely not cart-friendly. The hills are mostly manageable through much of the course, but getting a cart up to the 12th green and down from the 17th tee would be a nightmare
~ Rockwell is a tough course, but never unfair. As an 800 rated player, I was in a constant struggle for par, and any misstep would threaten double or worse. I think that's exactly what it should be, for a player at my level
~ We could debate whether Rockwell is a 4.5 or a 5. Maybe after I play Idlewild, Harmony Bends, Blue Ribbon Pines and some other "legendary" courses, I'd come back and knock Rockwell down a little bit. The only"missing" feature compared to the few others I've ranked as 5's is a set of alternate tees and baskets, making for a variety of plays. But that doesn't take away from the designed 18 holes at Rockwell and the experience of playing them. I'm sticking with "5", but we can order another round of beers and keep talking about it
~ Definitely not cart-friendly. The hills are mostly manageable through much of the course, but getting a cart up to the 12th green and down from the 17th tee would be a nightmare
~ Rockwell is a tough course, but never unfair. As an 800 rated player, I was in a constant struggle for par, and any misstep would threaten double or worse. I think that's exactly what it should be, for a player at my level
~ We could debate whether Rockwell is a 4.5 or a 5. Maybe after I play Idlewild, Harmony Bends, Blue Ribbon Pines and some other "legendary" courses, I'd come back and knock Rockwell down a little bit. The only"missing" feature compared to the few others I've ranked as 5's is a set of alternate tees and baskets, making for a variety of plays. But that doesn't take away from the designed 18 holes at Rockwell and the experience of playing them. I'm sticking with "5", but we can order another round of beers and keep talking about it
5
1
Collin
Experience:
4 played
3 reviews
This course Rocks Well 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:Mar 30, 2019
Played the course:once
Pros:
Every fairway is fun. This course is variety of layout, looks, throws, and terrain.
The Tee Pads are all excellent, flat built surface, covered with artificial turf, and some benches.
The navigation is easy, because of great tee signs, clear fairways, next tee direction on every basket, to arrow signs that lead to the next tee, even the long walks are easy to follow.
The fairways are so varied, by terrain, throws off the tee, right left balanced. There are a number of standout, unique fairways, with 2 signature holes, and many more great ones, including some that are influenced by a stream, or small rocky river.
The Tee Pads are all excellent, flat built surface, covered with artificial turf, and some benches.
The navigation is easy, because of great tee signs, clear fairways, next tee direction on every basket, to arrow signs that lead to the next tee, even the long walks are easy to follow.
The fairways are so varied, by terrain, throws off the tee, right left balanced. There are a number of standout, unique fairways, with 2 signature holes, and many more great ones, including some that are influenced by a stream, or small rocky river.
Cons:
No cons on this course rating. But, if everyone who plays this course, picks up 10 pieces of glass, it would all be gone in a summer. But there isn't too much glass.
I've read that the mosquitoes get relentless, So I played it on a 70degree, March 30th.
I've read that the mosquitoes get relentless, So I played it on a 70degree, March 30th.
Other Thoughts:
Thanks to the hilly/sandy terrain, the snow is gone, and the ground is immediately dry.
This course is an instant favorite. If I lived in Connecticut, I'd play here regularly, early and late season.
The entire Rockwell Park is very nice with many amenities,
I look forward to playing here again!
This course is an instant favorite. If I lived in Connecticut, I'd play here regularly, early and late season.
The entire Rockwell Park is very nice with many amenities,
I look forward to playing here again!
2
6
Silas_Diov
Experience:
2 played
1 reviews
I love this course! 2+ years drive by
Reviewed:
Played on:May 12, 2018
Played the course:5+ times
Pros:
I love this course. It is my absolute favorite. It can be very challenging, but that's what makes it great. It is heavily wooded and has quite a lot of up and down. That is a pro to me, but might be a con to others. This is the course I have the most fun playing.
