trending_downLowest Slope Rating (Public)

Easiest Golf Courses in Connecticut

The 25 most beginner-friendly public golf courses in Connecticut, ranked by lowest slope rating.

The most beginner-friendly public golf course in Connecticut on Stymie is Guilford Lakes Golf Course in Guilford, with a minimum slope rating of 71 and 2,484 yards from the forward tees. Slope ratings below 115 signal a course where bogey golfers can play their actual game without the layout adding strokes — usually meaning wider fairways, fewer forced carries, and gentle greens.

94 public or municipal courses in Connecticut carry a minimum slope of 115 or lower from the forward tees, and the average across rated public courses statewide is 112. This list is restricted to public and municipal courses so anyone can book a tee time — no membership required.

If you're new to the game, looking for a course to take a kid or beginner friend, or just want a stress-free round that lets you focus on tempo, start at the top of this list. Most of these courses also offer instruction programs, learning facilities, or shorter executive layouts that pair well with the forward-tee ratings shown here.

Ranked
25
Gentlest slope
71
Avg min slope
112
Slope 115 or lower
94
#CourseSlope
1
Guilford Lakes Golf Course
Blue/White tees · 2,484 yds · Rating 52.0 · Par 54 · Al · 1999Guilford
71
2
Willow Brook Golf Course
Blue tees · 3,037 yds · Rating 54.9 · Par 57South Windsor
79
3
Lyman Orchards Golf Club
Back tees · 1,556 yds · Rating 28.6 · Par 29 · Gary Player · 1994Middlefield
85
4
Westwoods Golf Course
Red tees · 3,597 yds · Rating 59.5 · Par 61 · Geoffrey Cornish · 1950Farmington
85
5
Buena Vista Golf Course
Short tees · 3,306 yds · Rating 59.6 · 1950West Hartford
88
6
Minnechaug Golf Course
Family tees · 4,416 yds · Rating 56.7 · Par 70Glastonbury
90
7
Portland Golf Course
Red tees · 3,120 yds · Rating 57.7 · Par 60 · Geoffrey Cornish · 1974Portland
91
8
Portland Golf West
Red tees · 3,120 yds · Rating 57.7 · Par 60Portland
91
9
Tashua Glen Golf Course
Green tees · 3,328 yds · Rating 58.8 · Par 66Trumbull
91
10
Woodstock Golf Course
Gold tees · 2,087 yds · Rating 30.7 · Par 31 · 1896Woodstock
93
11
Hawk's Landing Golf Club
Gold tees · 4,591 yds · Rating 61.1 · Par 71 · Jeff CornishSouthington
93
12
Woodhaven Country Club
Green tees · 4,447 yds · Rating 62.5 · Par 72 · Al Zikorus · 1968Bethany
95
13
Pomperaug Golf Club
Red tees · 2,269 yds · Rating 30.9 · Par 35Southbury
97
14
Candlewood Lake Golf and Country Club
Red tees · 3,421 yds · Rating 60.5 · Par 63New Milford
98
15
Southington Country Club
Red tees · 4,742 yds · Rating 63.2 · Par 71 · 1950Plantsville
98
16
Sunset Hill Golf Club
Red tees · 3,858 yds · Rating 66.3 · Par 70 · 1950Brookfield
100
17
Sleeping Giant Golf Course
Gold tees · 4,630 yds · Rating 62.5 · Par 70 · Ralph Barton · 1924Hamden
100
18
Homewood Acres Golf Course
Red tees · 6,000 yds · Rating 67.5Woodbridge
100
19
Grassmere Country Club
Red tees · 2,333 yds · Rating 32.4 · Par 36 · 1965Enfield
102
20Shennecossett Golf Course logo
Shennecossett Golf Course
Family tees · 3,271 yds · Rating 56.5 · Par 71 · Donald Ross · 1898Groton
102
21
Highland Greens Golf Course
Gold tees · 4,977 yds · Rating 63.4 · Par 72 · Al Zikorus · 1966Prospect
102
22
Copper Hill Golf Club
Red 2021 tees · 2,331 yds · Rating 31.3 · Par 36East Granby
103
23
Vineyard Valley Golf Club
Red tees · 4,242 yds · Rating 62.8 · Par 72 · 1992Pomfret
103
24
Airways Golf Course
Red tees · 5,154 yds · Rating 65.0 · Par 71 · Geoffrey Cornish · 1977West Suffield
103
25
Island's End Golf & Country Club
Gold tees · 5,415 yds · Rating 65.4 · Par 72Town of Southold
106

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest public golf course in Connecticut?

Guilford Lakes Golf Course in Guilford, Connecticut is the easiest ranked public or municipal course with a minimum slope rating of 71. Slope below 115 is considered friendly for beginners and higher-handicap players.

How many public courses in Connecticut have a slope of 115 or lower?

94 public or municipal courses have a minimum slope rating of 115 or lower in Connecticut. These are generally the most beginner-friendly options in the state.

What slope rating is good for beginners?

Beginners typically look for courses with a slope rating under 120 and a total yardage under 6,200 from the forward tees. Courses with a slope of 105–115 from the forward tees are widely considered the friendliest starting ground.

More rankings

More easiest course rankings

Easiest golf courses ranked in other states.