OT: Pine Valley( southington ) sold

[ucjoet]

I know there are mixed reviews on Pine Valley as a golf course. I for one always enjoyed playing there. Being from Bristol it is the course I have played the most in my lifetime. Rumor has it that it has been sold to Tolles Brothers Construction ( never heard of them ) for 6.8 million . The plans are to build houses on the front and keep the back nine. Not sure if back nine would be for public or private use.

Was always hoping ESPN ( rumored a few years back) or someone else would purchase in put some money into it. Always thought if it was spruced up, it could be a great track.

 

[zls44]

Not surprised. Hard to stay open when nobody plays there.

 

[ucjoet]

Not surprised. Hard to stay open when nobody plays there.

Agree, but it did have potential that was never tapped. Not really kept up well ( sand-traps etc), greens very slow, not really customer friendly. Again with a little bit of money and new management, I thought it could be a very nice track to play.

 

[CTBasketball]

In my opinion, it is the best course in Southington. Hawks and SCC are just too easy. No challenge. Pine Valley is a little harder which makes it more fun, despite its upkeep.

 

[UChusky916]

I know there are mixed reviews on Pine Valley as a golf course. I for one always enjoyed playing there. Being from Bristol it is the course I have played the most in my lifetime. Rumor has it that it has been sold to Tolles Brothers Construction ( never heard of them ) for 6.8 million . The plans are to build houses on the front and keep the back nine. Not sure if back nine would be for public or private use.

Was always hoping ESPN ( rumored a few years back) or someone else would purchase in put some money into it. Always thought if it was spruced up, it could be a great track.

How did you hear about this? And how certain are you that the front 9 will be gone?
Where are you hearing these rumors?

 

[zls44]

I like the course and agree that with some work it could be really great.

 

[whaler11]

Tolles generally builds high end stuff. Should be a nice neighborhood.

Lots of courses seem to be in trouble around here. Keney is on deathbed. Trad in Windsor. Now maybe PV.

 

[mauconnfan]

Just not a fan of courses you can't hit driver more than 6, 7 times.....played it a lot when I lived in Meriden but found too many real nice layouts from Hartford to WesMass to play it unless it was benefit.....Jack's a good guy, Rick was okay back in the day (don't try to sneak beers on though lol).......always in pretty good shape, just a whacky layout.......still too bad!!

 

[Deepster]

For a guy with a fade, PV was like getting a root canal. Glad it's closing up. And yes, on like the 5th hole, the ranger tracked us down because he saw empties in the trash can on the previous hole. place.

 

[ucjoet]

How did you hear about this? And how certain are you that the front 9 will be gone?
Where are you hearing these rumors?

Heard it from a friend yesterday. Also spoke to someone else who was told by one of the owners. Always liked Lee , Jack and Rick. Supposedly building on front nine because of wetland issues on back 9. Again not sure if back nine will be for public or private use. Also have no idea what the plans are for clubhouse and Wicked Stick restaurant .

 

[mauconnfan]

For a guy with a fade, PV was like getting a root canal. Glad it's closing up. And yes, on like the 5th hole, the ranger tracked us down because he saw empties in the trash can on the previous hole. place.

That's always a bad sign for my game......a ranger's worst nightmare or visa veri.................all I can say is "nippers" and soda at PVGC..............

Hasn't been the same since the days of 18 and heading to the White Burch (now ESPN's parking lot) to have a few more cold one's while sitting next to Peter Gammons (Heineken) or Tom Jackson............last time I played there was a couple years ago and ran into Michelle Beadle at the "old 1615" up on West Street...........

How could I forget teeing off on #10 and hitting a monster duck snotter into this big guy on the 14th......walked through the trees said sorry and the 2 guys standing there busting my balls were Beasley Reece and LT........It was fall and the year LT was suspended early for substance abuse.......they were both real nice but I wasn't quick enough on my feet to get anything signed plus I was trying to act real cool like I see guys like LT all the time!! I'm a dope!!

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Played a couple of tournaments there. It opened with a par 5, par 4 then a 3. The third hole was always bottleneck because of that opening par 5. It put too many groups in play going into 3, even allowing people to hit on. Slow front. Still had fun.

 

[UCDaveD]

Damn. I live 5 minutes away. That's my main course. What am I going to do now, go to that piece of garbage, Hawk's Landing? Piss!

I really liked Pine Valley. It's a shot-maker's course.

 

[CTBasketball]

Damn. I live 5 minutes away. That's my main course. What am I going to do now, go to that piece of garbage, Hawk's Landing? Piss!

I really liked Pine Valley. It's a shot-maker's course.

I agree Hawk's is garbage.

 

[mauconnfan]

Damn. I live 5 minutes away. That's my main course. What am I going to do now, go to that piece of garbage, Hawk's Landing? Piss!

I really liked Pine Valley. It's a shot-maker's course.

So many nice courses within 30-40 minutes Dave no worries...........Always better to have one just a few minutes away though.............Not sure the price ranges but CT is outrageous anyway. Head north for 45-50 minutes and play the likes of Tekoa, Chicopee, Westover and so many others for in the 30's with lunch and cart.............all fun tracks in nice shape.

 

[Excalibur]

I know there are mixed reviews on Pine Valley as a golf course. I for one always enjoyed playing there. Being from Bristol it is the course I have played the most in my lifetime. Rumor has it that it has been sold to Tolles Brothers Construction ( never heard of them ) for 6.8 million . The plans are to build houses on the front and keep the back nine. Not sure if back nine would be for public or private use.

Was always hoping ESPN ( rumored a few years back) or someone else would purchase in put some money into it. Always thought if it was spruced up, it could be a great track.

Too bad, the front is the better part of the course.

Toll Bros. is one of the bigger residential real estate developers around, and they've been buying condo developments up like crazy since the RE crash.

 

[UCDaveD]

The rumors are true. The accountant for Hawk's Landing lives a few houses down from me and she said that they found out a couple weeks ago. Pine Valley isn't accepting any banquets past this year. I just hope they don't let the course go to complete this summer knowing that they're out of here come end of the year.

 

[mauconnfan]

The rumors are true. The accountant for Hawk's Landing lives a few houses down from me and she said that they found out a couple weeks ago. Pine Valley isn't accepting any banquets past this year. I just hope they don't let the course go to complete this summer knowing that they're out of here come end of the year.

That's usually the result....hell Tradition in Windsor hasn't been the same since the rumors 4-5 years ago and now they have become real.....they didn't do hardly anything but mow it occasionally

 

[microfich]

Very picturesque, rolling course amongst the pines. Not the greatest test of length but you had to be able to hit a narrower fairway than most better publics in the area. Fondly remembered, RIP.

 

[UCDaveD]

Spoke with Lee today. The sale should close in March, 2014, but the course is going to be kept open for a couple years before being built on. So that's good.

 

[cohenzone]

I play there reasonably often. It is one of the more interesting courses around, and despite the fact that the play is very low, that place is in great condition. The greens are no longer all that slow, but the bunkers, I agree, are like a lot in CT, not great. Solution, stay out of the bunkers. I played there this Wednesday. No two holes are alike, and if someone thinks that you can't use driver there that often, they must be driving the ball 280 on the average. The back side requires smart play off the tees. I'm sorry to hear that news. Jack is a real good guy, and the layout deserves more play. Much more interesting than Timberlin which is always crowded, and more convenient than Fairview Farms if you are south of Waterbury. Southington CC is okay. I played Tallwood today for the first time in 20 years and it was in nice shape, but Pine Valley is way more challenging.

 

[mauconnfan]

I play there reasonably often. It is one of the more interesting courses around, and despite the fact that the play is very low, that place is in great condition. The greens are no longer all that slow, but the bunkers, I agree, are like a lot in CT, not great. Solution, stay out of the bunkers. I played there this Wednesday. No two holes are alike, and if someone thinks that you can't use driver there that often, they must be driving the ball 280 on the average. The back side requires smart play off the tees. I'm sorry to hear that news. Jack is a real good guy, and the layout deserves more play. Much more interesting than Timberlin which is always crowded, and more convenient than Fairview Farms if you are south of Waterbury. Southington CC is okay. I played Tallwood today for the first time in 20 years and it was in nice shape, but Pine Valley is way more challenging.

Never liked Timberlin, played it a lot when I lived in Meriden since it was right up Chamberlain Highway, always in decent shape just something about the layout never hit me right........Tallwood is a very nice course, for me much better than PVGC but again, it's just me. Fairview one of my CT favorites for sure.........take a run down 84 and play Oxford on EZlinks, great track for that price for sure!!

 

[cohenzone]

Never liked Timberlin, played it a lot when I lived in Meriden since it was right up Chamberlain Highway, always in decent shape just something about the layout never hit me right........Tallwood is a very nice course, for me much better than PVGC but again, it's just me. Fairview one of my CT favorites for sure.........take a run down 84 and play Oxford on EZlinks, great track for that price for sure!!

I've played Oxford several times. Nice course. I used to live near Hartford , now near New Haven, and most of my golf pals still live up Hartford way, so we try to pick course that are more or less mutually convenient. But one of my partners, and the guy I meet up with solo a lot, is a true golf nut. He has played almost 500 courses around the world, including every public course in CT. Takes 2-3 big golf trips a year for several rounds, usually at courses that are reasonably well known. That's what not having children and a nice pension does for you. His wife is pretty understanding and plays a bit herself. He's a very good judge of course quality and always enjoys PV. I sent him a message about this possible closure.

I used to play Minnechaug a bit when it was an 18 holer. It was in great shape when the course was sold. Same situation as it seems for PV. Lot's of courses have bitten the dust. 2 nine holers that were great for beginners around Hartford, Pine Hill in Windsor went for housing, and Red Rock went for Buckland Hills. I could take my 3 young sons there to learn the game on a Sunday and we never held anyone up because the players in front of us were usually terrible.

 

[J187Money]

Interesting layout. Only played it a few times but I liked it. But lots of other courses around and it wasn't special. And not hard to get times anywhere anymore. One thing the economy did was kill off a lot of folders.

 

[whaler11]

Interesting layout. Only played it a few times but I liked it. But lots of other courses around and it wasn't special. And not hard to get times anywhere anymore. One thing the economy did was kill off a lot of folders.

The deals I've been offered at some private clubs are tempting. They are dying for members, even clubs like Wethersfield.

 

[Deepster]

Payed Southington CC yesterday. Easy layout, great shape for a muni. Of course, wearing black shorts and a black shirt, I sweat off about 20 lbs....but chipping in from the sand on 6 for bird helped.

 

[Greathusky]

Payed Southington CC yesterday. Easy layout, great shape for a muni. Of course, wearing black shorts and a black shirt, I sweat off about 20 lbs....but chipping in from the sand on 6 for bird helped.

I played 18 there yesterday too. I had an 8:56 tee time so the heat wasn't too bad till we got to the back nine. I gained all the lost water weight by downing some cold brewskies afterwards.

The fairways were in excellent shape!

 

[mauconnfan]

Payed Southington CC yesterday. Easy layout, great shape for a muni. Of course, wearing black shorts and a black shirt, I sweat off about 20 lbs....but chipping in from the sand on 6 for bird helped.

Used to play Southington a lot back in the days. It has gone through some pain but drove by it recently and it looked to be in great shape. Good too hear it is according to you guys as it's a fun little track to visit every once in a while.

Played Portland GC yesterday at 7:45 and it was fn hot.........course was in very good shape, greens nice but slowish. Also stupid enough to wear my black Longhorns shirt but not as dumb as Deep as I had white shorts to offset that move.....lol.........I will play anywhere and pay anything honestly but things are way out of whck in CT when Portland can get $57 from you........rather pay the 64 at Fairview for a much better track........