Overview
New Haven Country Club, founded in 1898, is one of Connecticut's historic private clubs. Its course sits on the east shore of Lake Whitney in Hamden, just outside New Haven, and plays across two levels: a lower stretch running north beside the lake and an upper stretch along Hartford Turnpike and Ridge Road. That change of level gives the routing a lot of variety, and several holes play uphill to greens that are hard to read.
The greens are the signature. When the club redesigned the course in the 1920s it hired two-time British champion Willie Park Jr., who personally oversaw construction here, something he did on only a handful of his 114 courses. His rolling, sloping greens still define the course. The 11th, a sharp uphill dogleg to the largest green on the property, is the number one handicap hole, and the 12th is the only hole with water in play, a pond in front of and left of the green. The round finishes with a long par 5 of up to 575 yards back to the clubhouse, usually into the prevailing wind.
The course has four par 3s and two par 5s, and the club runs a tidy operation: pace of play is monitored with TagMarshal, groups are expected to play nine holes in two hours and eighteen in four, and a lightning detection system sounds a horn to clear the course. There is a practice range, a putting green in front of the clubhouse and a separate short game area, plus a pool, the Grille Room and a main dining room.
Facilities
Good to know
New Haven Country Club is private. Golf guests must be with a member at all times and are subject to the club's guest limits and fees; non-members also come for golf outings, meetings and events.
There are no official tee times. Each group is given a starting time instead, with 10 minutes between groups off the 1st tee, and staff track start, turn and finish times. Official page ↗
Men need collared shirts tucked in; women need a collar or sleeves. Hats go brim forward. No open-toe shoes, denim, or athletic wear such as sweatpants or spandex on the course or practice areas. Official page ↗
The course is on two levels, the lower running north beside Lake Whitney and the upper along Hartford Turnpike and Ridge Road. Club-owned hand carts are available, and riding carts carry no more than two players.
160 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden. Some GPS systems send guests to the maintenance building down the road; the main entrance is directly across from Killdeer Road, between two brick pillars.
History & highlights
The club was driven by Yale professor Theodore Woolsey, and its founders chose a site outside New Haven partly to escape the Yale students crowding the old downtown New Haven Golf Club. Land beside Lake Whitney was bought, the first course was laid out, and building of the clubhouse began in 1899. A suspension footbridge across the lake linked the club to Whitney Avenue and the trolley line.
The stone clubhouse was designed by Grosvenor Atterbury of McKim, Mead & White in the style of the Scottish clubhouses of the day, and its red tile roof was added in 1911. Harry Vardon praised the site when he visited in 1900. Early members included Eli Whitney III, Walter Camp and President William Howard Taft.
Park supervised the 1920s redesign in person, and his multi-level, back-to-front sloping greens are still the club's defining challenge.
The lower holes run along the lake, and the club notes the course is perhaps loveliest in June when the mountain laurel on the shore is in bloom.
Begun in 1899 and modelled on Scottish clubhouses, it has been the heart of the club for well over a century.
Tips for first-timers
- Arrange your round through a member; guests cannot play on their own.
- Club up on the uphill holes such as the 2nd and 13th, which play longer than the card says.
- Stay below the hole: many greens slope hard from back to front and downhill putts are very fast.
- Use the bag drop on arrival and check the doors along the porch: the first leads to the men's locker room and the third to the ladies' locker room.
- Keep pace: the club expects two hours or less per nine.
Map & location
New Haven Country Club is at 160 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden, CT 06517, on the east shore of Lake Whitney. Look for the entrance opposite Killdeer Road. Alling Memorial Golf Course and The VUE are both about 5.6 km away.
FAQ
Can I play New Haven Country Club as a visitor?
Only as the guest of a member. Golf guests must be with a member at all times and pay the current guest fees.
When was New Haven Country Club founded?
In 1898. The first clubhouse was built from 1899.
Who designed the course?
The original course was laid out at the club's founding, and Willie Park Jr. redesigned it in the 1920s, supervising construction himself.
What is the hardest hole?
The 11th, a sharp uphill dogleg with a blind second shot to the biggest green on the course, carries the number one handicap.
Are there tee times?
No official tee times. Groups get starting times 10 minutes apart and are expected to finish 18 holes in four hours or less.
What is the dress code?
Collared shirts tucked in for men, collar or sleeves for women, no denim or athletic wear and no open-toe shoes on the course.
Sources
Facts checked 23 October 2026. We only list details we could confirm on the sources above; anything else is left out.