Course History

Since 1925, our focus at New London Country Club has always been the game of golf. That love of the game is reflected in our magnificent Par-71, 18-hole layout that has been chosen to host PGA sectional and Connecticut State Golf Association events. Read on and discover that the course with such a rich history also has a very bright future.

New London Country Club was founded in 1925, when a parcel of farmland large enough for a nine-hole golf course became available on Lamphere Road in Waterford. The site is made up of gently, rolling terrain that was once farmland before the concept of a golf course was proposed. The new Board of Directors turned to Charlie Brooks, who had apprenticed as a youth at Royal Lytham, St. Anne’s, Lancashire, England, and was the present Greenskeeper and Golf Professional at Old Lyme Golf Club, to design and oversee construction. Under the direction of Mr. Brooks, the front 9 was finished in 1926.

As the years went on, New London Country Club evolved and grew to become the signature course of today. In 1952, three new holes were built, making 12 in all. Now, instead of simply playing the nine-hole circuit twice to complete an 18-hole round, members would play 12 and repeat the first six. In 1956, the final six holes were completed, creating a 6,250-yard course from the championship tees.

In 2003-2004, New London Country Club retained the services of Cornish, Silva and Mungeam, Inc. to develop a master plan for the renovation of the golf course. The goal was to preserve the original design, by integrating changes that would seamlessly blend positive, natural attributes of the existing layout, while meeting the requirements of modern maintenance and play. The redesign and renovation in 2003-04 added 200 yards and established four sets of tees, encouraging players of all abilities to come out and enjoy the challenges and opportunities presented by this new risk-reward layout.  A practice putting green, short game practice area and full driving range, available to meet every member's needs, were added over the years.

The greens are generally considered to be the most important feature of New London Country Club; their design and playability are of utmost importance to the desirability of the course. Player requirements for faster, smoother and better, maintained greens have resulted in superior playing conditions, which are often unattainable on many older courses. Combine that with the dramatic enhancements to the layout from the most recent renovation, and it’s obvious why NLCC has become a favorite of state golf associations.