From Sandlot to Championship
Brooklawn’s origins are delightfully humble—a scrappy nine-hole course built on just $100. Today, its grown-up routing and championship pedigree make every round a walk through living golf history.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Brooklawn Country Club
Fairfield, Connecticut
Established
1895
Architect
A.W. Tillinghast (1930), Ron Forse (2021–present restoration)
Access
Private
Par
Par 71
Length
5,536 – 6,746 yds
The verdict
Tillinghast Tested, Championship Proven
Brooklawn blends old-school golden age style with a demanding, contemporary test thanks to ongoing restoration work. It stands as a regionally elite Connecticut course with real competitive pedigree and exceptional greens—challenging, fair, and memorable.
Course DNA
Difficulty
85
Scenery68
Conditioning82
Shot Variety77
Walkability80
Green Complexity90
Wow Factor74
Design Quality85
At a glance
Quick facts
Original Golden Age Design
A.W. Tillinghast—1930 remaster
Ongoing Restoration
Ron Forse 2021–2026 program
Signature Par 5
7th hole stretches to 610 yards
Historic USGA Site
Hosted US Women’s Open, Senior Open, and major juniors
Strong Closing Holes
17 and 18 demand accuracy, not just length
Expansive Greens
Known for Tillinghast's bold contouring
Early USGA Member
Joined soon after formation
Private Club Heritage
Part of classic Fairfield County golf scene
The design
The architecture
Brooklawn is one of Connecticut’s purest showcases of A.W. Tillinghast’s architectural values—strategic angles, bold green contouring, and intelligent use of modest parkland elevation changes. Ron Forse’s 2020s restoration sharpens the details: selective tree removal restores playing corridors, tees stretch and contract holes appropriately, and fairway bunkers recover Golden Age intent. The routing carries you briskly through classic New England parkland, asking for both careful placement and confident shot-making without ever feeling formulaic.
Tillinghast’s original design remains vibrant, with Forse’s restoration ensuring both tradition and modern shot values thrive side by side.
Defining features
- Undulating, quick greens with preserved Tillinghast contours
- Two par 5s per side—brute length balanced by scoring chances
- Diverse par 3 lengths, including two 200+ yard tests
- Restored fairway bunkers offering strategic challenge
- Selective tree removal recaptures original vistas
- Modestly rolling terrain ensuring classic parkland feel
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 2
Long Iron Gauntlet
PAR
3
YARDAGE
210
A brawny par 3 calling for a pure long iron or even hybrid, this hole sets a tone early for Brooklawn’s all-carry tests. Large, sloping putting surfaces punish imprecise approaches and embolden the bravest shots.
Play it smart
Aim for the center; avoid the bunkers left and right. The green’s subtle runoffs repulse anything tentative.
Where it bites
Miss short and you’ll face a slippery uphill scramble. Long leaves fast chips with little room for error.
Course management
Shots to think about
Tee shot on hole 4
Favor the left center for the best uphill angle—right side brings runoffs and deep trouble.
Approach to long par 3s (2 and 5)
Accept the middle of the green and avoid tucked pins; bogey beats a double from deep sand.
Second shot on 7
Don’t overreach—lay up smart on the long double dogleg to set up a safe angle into the green.
Putting on restored greens
Speed control is everything—many putts break twice or more and can run well past.
Final tee shot on 18
Don't get tight—make a positive swing and trust your number. The fairway is wider than it looks from the tee.
Green surrounds after missed iron
Stay below the hole for a realistic up and down. Chipping or pitching from above courts disaster on fast greens.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Consistently excellent member-driven standards; expect pure greens and true fairways.
Pace
Standard private club tempo—efficient but unhurried, with reserved tee times.
Vibe
Classic New England tradition with a focus on golf, competition, and camaraderie.
Dress code
Traditional private club attire; collared shirts and tailored shorts/pants required.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Sharpen Long Irons
Practice all-carry shots to mid-long par 3s—small misses can mean big scores.
02
Stay Below The Hole
Study green maps or local slopes—uphill putts are key to making more than you miss.
03
Plan For Tree-Lines
Although Forse has removed some trees to open vistas, missed fairways still spell trouble.
04
Dial In Bunker Play
With restored bunkering and deep faces, escaping in one is essential to keep a round together.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1895
Club founded; original 9 holes laid out
- 1910
Expansion to 18 holes on new land
- 1930
Redesign by A.W. Tillinghast gives the course its modern architectural identity
- 1974
Hosts USGA Junior Amateur Championship
- 1979
Hosts U.S. Women’s Open
- 1987
Hosts U.S. Senior Open
- 2021
Major Ron Forse-led restoration begins
Stories & legends
What makes it special
Major Stages, Local Pride
From USGA juniors to the U.S. Women's Open and Senior Open, Brooklawn has tested the nerves of legends and future stars. Its deep tournament roots add a special edge to every approach and putt.
Greens That Never Sit Still
Tillinghast’s famously undulating greens are both beautiful and brutal—each restoration returns subtleties and bold slopes that keep even veteran members guessing.
A Living Tillinghast Laboratory
Ron Forse’s ongoing restoration keeps Brooklawn evolving: bolder bunkers, smarter tees, and new vistas. This isn’t just nostalgia—it’s Tillinghast adapted to the modern era.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The club joined the USGA soon after its founding, reflecting its long-standing place in American golf.
2
Brooklawn’s first course—built for just $100—shows how far the club has come from humble beginnings.
3
The course’s current restoration, led by Ron Forse, is recapturing lost Tillinghast features and classic playing corridors.
4
The par-3 2nd is one of the longest and toughest openers in Connecticut—a true long-iron gut check.
5
No member at Brooklawn can escape the test of the greens—they're the course's real identity card.
Build the trip
If you're making a Connecticut-New York golf pilgrimage
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Bethpage Black
Public
Major championship test open to all
Country Club of Fairfield
Private
Additional Tillinghast architecture; classic ocean views
Shennecossett Golf Course
Municipal
Classic Donald Ross layout on the Sound, accessible and fun
The Stanwich Club
Private
State-ranked modern championship course in Greenwich
Great River Golf Club
Public
Top-tier public course with modern amenities
Fairfield or Stamford for central access to both private and public gems; Long Island day-trips are doable for the ambitious.
Course DNA
If You Like Brooklawn Country Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.7
Wannamoisett Country Club
Rumford, Rhode IslandGreen Complexity
Why it matches: If Brooklawn Country Club is your kind of course, Wannamoisett Country Club is worth a look because it demands the same precision once you reach the putting surface.
Strong DNA Match7.9
Carolina Golf Club
Charlotte, North CarolinaWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. Carolina Golf Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Brooklawn Country Club.
Strong DNA Match7.8
Camden Country Club
Camden, South CarolinaGreen Complexity
Why it matches: What links these two? Demands the same precision once you reach the putting surface — a familiar feeling, expressed in Camden Country Club's own setting.
The architect's other work
More from A.W. Tillinghast
Winged Foot Golf Club
Mamaroneck, NYHistoric US Open and PGA venue
Bethpage Black
Farmingdale, NYPublic major championship course
Baltusrol Golf Club
Springfield, NJMultiple major host
Quaker Ridge Golf Club
Scarsdale, NYWalker Cup, Curtis Cup host
Ridgewood Country Club
Paramus, NJPGA Tour playoff site
Community Sentiment
See something inaccurate in this listing?