Fox Hopyard Golf Club
The Fox Hopyard Golf Club is located a short drive off interstate 95 in Connecticut east of New London. It took just 75 minutes to travel to this great course from Providence R.I. which is adjacent to the Devil's Hopyard State Park in East Haddam Ct. The landscape of this central Connecticut region is hilly forest with an abundance of tall hardwoods and lots of rock and ledge. The course opened in 2001 is one of three owned by entrepreneur William Sandi who owns the Crumpin-Fox in Beardstown Massachusetts and the Fox Hollow Club in Tampa Florida, both award winning courses built by Sandi.
At first glance the Hopyard hits you with a spectacular look. Its sweeping fairways and dramatic elevation changes offer some of the most picturesque golf holes in New England. The course was designed and built by The Roger Rulewich Group. Roger and many of his staff now based out of Massachusetts are formerly the Calvary and commanders of Robert Trent Jones Inc., all with years of experience building memorable golf courses throughout the world. They did a great job here and after your first visit you will come back.
The Course plays at 6912 yards from the back tees at 74.1 and slope at 136 yards. The front nine at the Hopyard start you out with two long par 4's through tree lined fairways the first playing at 390 yards and the second the number one handicap hole at 409 yards. The third hole is your first par five at 517 yards with a drive over a wasteland and ravine to a sloped fairway, position is key to get home in two but don't be right if your going for it its a long way down off the green to the right. The par three 3rd is one of the most dramatic holes on the course playing at 200+ yards to a two tired large green about 150-200 feet below. The par par 5 fifth is 506 yards, again with the tee box well above the hole looking out over this dog-leg right, you will have to be long to go for it in two a waste area and steam guarded by huge stone barrier walls is just in front of the green. The sixth and seventh holes are cut through wetlands and are two par fours and the eighth and ninth open up into fields a par three and par four.
The back nine starts you out in woodlands and takes you through a couple of good holes the par four10th at 412 yards and the par three 11th at 192 yards. The 12th hole is a long par four at 415 yards followed by the par four 13th at 450 yards and the 14th a par three at 224 yards. The back again brings you out into the open fields with a links style feel. The 15th the number 2 handicap hole is a strong par 5 at 567 yards that played into the wind. The 16th a long par three at 249 yards was also quite a challenge not only because of length but traps and a tough pin. The 17th a good par four at 457 yards is just a warm up for the panoramic 18th a par five along a large irrigation lake at 551 yards.
The Hopyard with its manicured fairways and large spacious greens was a pleasure to play. Well placed traps and stonewalls and conservation areas abound. This beautiful course will always be a challenge and adventure no matter how many times you play it. The greens rolled perfectly and the grounds were a treat for the eye. The dramatic clubhouse sitting high on a rock ledge offers a great view in all directions and not a bad view in the lot. There is so much that could be said about the architecture and layout of the clubhouse, the outdoor atrium, Practice facilities and the other amenities at Fox Hopyard. It was a pleasure for all the senses. This track is a wonderful golf course, which was built on some of the most dramatic landscape in the region. It will provide anyone who plays here a treat for your senses and for your love of the game. A phantom rating of 99 out of 100. A round with cart at the Hopyard will run anywhere from $85.00 weekdays to about $120.00 on weekends
Internet specials are available at www.sandi.com or call 860-434-6644
Fox Hopyard Golf Club
1 Hopyard Road
East Haddam , Ct. 06423
800-943-1903
Director of Golf: Ronald D.Beck
Superintendent: Richard Marcks
Architect: Roger Rulewich
