GolfNewsRI

I had the opportunity to play Raceway Golf Club in Thompson, Connecticut in the first week of August. 

Raceway is adjacent to Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park.

After the newness and excitement of playing right near an active racetrack wears off, you are left with a less than well-conditioned course.

The Raceway Golf Club is owned by Tri-State Golf, which owns and operates Melody Hill in Harmony, RI and Harrisville Golf Course. 

I have not played Harrisville, but I view Melody Hills and Raceway in the same vein ~ somewhat interesting layouts with good potential accompanied by generally poor playing conditions.

This is an awkward review to write because the staff at Raceway could not have been nicer. 

From the pro shop staff to the grounds folks to the waitress in the restaurant ~ all go out of their way to make you feel welcomed and valued as a patron.

The day we played was cart path only so the course has been getting a lot of rain, so it should get a partial pass. 

However, the greens were the worst I have played all year. 

They were extremely slow and bumpy. No one in my foursome made anything beyond 6 feet.

No one really expected to make anything. One of my playing partners hit his 6-iron approach 4 inches from the hole for a kick in birdie. 

I joked with him afterwards that I considered making him putt it. After 3-4 holes, I gave up on the putting and just focused on my ball striking.  

The course itself has some interesting holes.  The front has back-to-back par fives. 

However, the second of the two (number 6) has to be one of the worst holes that I have ever played. 

It is straight drive to a dogleg that requires a 90-degree lay-up and then a third shot 60 degrees to an island green.  

The bunkers on the course are really in rough shape with little sand and a great degree of rocks and pebbles ~ not the first course you would want to go to after purchasing a new set of wedges.

On the 17^th green and 18^th tee, you have great views of the nearby racetrack, which is a nice feature.

This course and Melody Hills leave me scratching my head. On both courses, there are workers constantly tending to the course, yet conditions remain substandard. 

With the post-Covid golf boom, the parking lot was full and the poor playing conditions do not appear to be hurting their business.

I will not be returning anytime soon.