Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Jon Cavalier
Country Club of Fairfield
Fairfield, CT•Private
Awards
Panelists Score
Country Club of Fairfield
936 Sasco Hill Rd
Fairfield, CT 06824-6399
United States
Overview
Country Club of Fairfield has a topsy-turvy design history. Seth Raynor did the original design, but the clubhouse was never built where Raynor intended it, nor was an island par-4 shown on his original plan. In the mid-1920s, A.W. Tillinghast visited the course and sketched out a new fourth through sixth holes around a lagoon, which were subsequently built. Robert Trent Jones was hired in 1960 to install a practice range. To accommodate it, Trent sacrificed the old par-4 18th. He also rearranged several other holes, all of which were built under the supervision of Trent’s friend, architect Geoffrey Cornish. Cornish made further alterations in the 1980s. In the early 2000s, Tom Doak was hired to re-establish Raynor greens and bunkering style, turning most of the work over to his restoration expert, Bruce Hepner. Now on his own, Hepner is the club’s current consulting architect, and he has done a noble job instilling the Raynor look and feel to a routing that’s hardly Raynor anymore.
About
Golf Digest Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 Greatest / Best In State Scores
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Perched along the water's edge, the Country Club of Fairfield offers a genuinely beautiful backdrop and a back-and-forth routing that keeps the round moving with a nice rhythm. The terrain flattens out for long stretches, though, and outside the livelier ground near the clubhouse, the round can settle into a bit of a monotone rhythm. Still, the course has enough quirky, old-school charm, making it a memorable and worthwhile play."
Read More2026
Review
“Great golf course with amazing views of the waterfront. Well conditioned with classic Raynor template holes. The club seems to be even better from the great day we were able to spend here. Flat land allows for a very nice comfortable walk and the caddie we had was excellent."
Read More2026
Review
“Despite being less than 6500 yards, Country Club of Fairfield remains a worthy test of golf with some of the fastest greens around. Fescue is ever present bordering the fairways all the way around. Beautiful water views on virtually every hole on the course."
Read More2026
Review
“Golden Age Seth Raynor design that is just flat-out fun to play. Wonderful views of Long Island Sound are prevalent throughout. Plenty of water features, windy conditions and the template greens provide plenty of challenge. Staff is warm and welcoming. Always say yes to an invitation to play here."
Read More2025
Review
“Excellent setting for a golf course. Many of the Raynor green features have been softened and there are definitely a few holes that feel a bit repetitive. We played on a relatively windless day which took some of the teeth out of the course - wide playing corridors, short holes left a lot of short irons / wedges into the relatively soft greens. A few of the holes, however, truly stand out. The ninth hole is one of the best Redan templates I've seen in the US. The third hole (Bottle template) and sixth hole (Cape template) are fantastic."
Read More2025
Review
“Seth Raynor design on the coast of the Long Island Sound in CT. If the wind is blowing, this course will play far longer than the card reads and requires solid ball striking and offers you options to play into the greens. The greens have subtle breaks and roll faster than they look."
Read More2022
Review
“An interesting Seth Raynor-A.W. Tillinghast design on the Connecticut shoreline, C.C. of Fairfield features a flat layout at sea level with a number of unique holes playing on the waterways. This includes the stretch of 4-6 which you really won't see anywhere else and the memorable par 5 10th playing downhill as a dogleg right. While not my favorite from these architects, C.C. of Fairfield has to be one of the top 5 courses in Connecticut and is well-worth a play if given the opportunity."
Read More2022
Review
“This is an utter gem. It has really good Raynor holes, wonderful views of LI Sound and Southport, and sometimes enough wind to ruffle your feathers. Don't miss the chance...if you get one; the club is very private."
Read More2021
Review
“As good as it gets in the state of CT. Historic architecture with world class views. If you get an invitation, go play."
Read More2021
Review
“One of the best in the state. Classic linksy layout with almost no trees. Some very challenging par 3s"
Read More2019
