Country Club of Waterbury

Overview: The Country Club of Waterbury is a private Donald Ross course in Waterbury, Connecticut, with a compact par-69 routing of 6,621 yards. Its rolling, rocky ground gives the course a more rugged texture than its scorecard length suggests. Ross's design is expressed through approach angles, close strategic decisions and greens that reward a player who understands where the safe side of the hole is. The result is a traditional parkland course whose challenge comes from using the land intelligently, not from excessive length.

History: Golf in Waterbury began with a nine-hole course laid out by Arthur Fenn in 1896, and the club was incorporated in 1899. After the association purchased land on Oronoke Road in 1906, the course expanded to 18 holes in 1919. Donald Ross was hired in 1927 to develop the present first-class layout, which opened for play on September 15, 1928. The club has since hosted more than 30 Connecticut State Golf Association championships, including state amateur, senior and women's events, making its long competitive history part of the course's identity.

Did You Know? The championship-tee course record is 62, set by Dick Siderowf during 1963 qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. That score is a striking detail on a par-69 course with a reputation for demanding precise play.