Smith-Richardson Golf Course

Sold out smith. Great layout, well kept for a public course, and the price is right for fairfield residents ($ 22 for 18 holes during the week)
I would have given 4 stars, but the course is always packed and rounds average 4:30−5 hours.

Overly negative ratings don’t make sense and I can only guess that others had higher expectations than they should have. For the price at this PUBLIC course this is a great layout and the chipping-​putting greens are well tended so that alone is worth comment way beyond the prior reviews. The par 3 course by the beach is a nice feature and yes, the driving range isn’t right near the clubhouse as is commonly the case and can be a bit of a pain but all in all it’s a good place to hit the woods and practice the game.

I only visited the driving range.
Very down to earth staff, had a couple of driving clubs around and let us use it. $ 5 for a bucket of 48 balls or so. Fun to visit if you want to hit some balls.

Sexist Ranger — women beware! The course was lovely and maintained well but I was treated poorly. I played 18 holes with my father and brother and the Ranger came and told us on the 11^th hole to hurry up and not finish putting out since we were behind their «precious schedule» (everyone was starting 10 minutes late at that point so we were keeping pace). When we told the ranger we’d hurry but there was no one waiting behing us he told us to hurry up. At the next long par 4 he came up just as my ball was on the fairway about 100 yards from the green, told the three of us were were too far behind and I (the only girl) must pick up my ball but the two men could finish the hole — we were the same distance away and I play just as well as those two men. When my father and I complained that there was no group behind us and asked why I was not allowed to finish the hole he ordered me again to pick up my ball and to «do as he told». I’ve never been so offended in my life. Our party was so upset at the encounter it ruined the next few holes and we considered leaving and demanding a refund. The Ranger later returned and explained the delay was not caused by my group but offered no apology for his reprehensible manner. This course is patrolled by Rangers who went out of their way to yell at me with no grounds to do so and I will never go back after being treated in such a sexist maner.

As a kid, I lived just off the 13^th hole of Smith Richardson GC. Is my love of golf, then, a result of nature or nurture? Hard to know … but I certainly spent a ton of time playing rounds at Smith, sneaking up to the 13^th at twilight for some practice, sledding the hills during winter snowstorms and even skating on the pond by number 8 at times.
At that time, Smith was very friendly to junior golfers though I’m not sure if that is still the case. The course clubhouse is a modest structure with the standard tiny pro-​shop, locker rooms, grill and seat-​yourself dining room. Perfect spot to play some cards with the boys after a round.
The course itself is a pleasant layout with woods in play on many holes. Other hazards are sparse, however, and the course plays fairly easy overall. Well-​maintained, Smith features several doglegs and medium-​sized greens that don’t break too too much.
A nice public golf course that will always hold a special place in my heart.