Having finally played Gillette Ridge a couple of weeks ago, I would like to disagree respectfully with Rod Whitten as to Gillette being a better golf course than Wintonbury Hills. Gillette Ridge, to me, is the epitome of "senseless penalty" in many places. There are quite a few holes, such as #s 3, 10, 11, 17, and 18, which offer no bailout area whatsoever for even fairly accomplished players. In a practice round befor my high school tournament there, I shot 76, playing well. The next day, I shot a 90, certainly not playing a full 14 shots' worth worse. I found myself getting penalized for shots that I would consider better than 'marginal.' Time and again, I was frustrated that there were so many bits of silliness. There was no reason to surround the 3rd green with nasty bunkers on three sides, and the reservoir edge not two feet left of the edge of the green. I don't see how that affords the average golfer any kind of chance, other than to hit the shot of the day. It's a very pretty hole, but senselessly penal.
Same case with #10. Bunkers on all sides, and not tastefully done, in my estimation Nowhere to bail out, which wasn't a terrible problem for me with a wege in my hands, but crazily ignorant of the prospective clientele.
#17 was a great chance to produce one of the unique holes in Connecticut golf, with the green occupying part of the bridge over a creek. But, like other aspects of the course, it was not carried off. The shot, especially for a somewhat-reachable par 5 (assuming you've hit a ridiculous tee shot and kept from going in the hazard across the fairway), is nuts. You can't possibly get the ball close.
Overall, the golf course absent-mindedly bypasses strategy and becomes a complex game of horseshoes. I will say, however, that #13 is my second-favorite reachable par 4 in CT (second to #15 at TPC River Highlands), but that's just one hole among mostly-disappointing ones.
Wintonbury, though significantly easier, possesses much better qualities. There are plenty of fun holes, rather than drudgery. It recognizes its audience as well, and is appropriately forgiving, while still making players of any skill level think. One can reasonably walk Wintonbury, too. Not so at Gillette.
Thoughts/agreements/disagreements?