
Great River Course
Great River Golf Club

About this course
Great River Golf Club, situated in the rolling hills of Milford, Connecticut, represents the ambition of a design aesthetic intended to rival the nation’s most exclusive clubs. The effort produced a modern course with significant elevation changes, offering both dramatic vistas and demanding play. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the parkland layout sprawls across terrain far more rugged than typically found in southern Connecticut. Expansive fairways invite aggressive drives, but strategically placed bunkers and water hazards penalize wayward shots. The course favors a power fade off the tee, providing the player the best position to attack tucked pins, however, precision on approach shots is key to scoring well. Greens are generous but undulating, requiring a deft touch with the putter. While Great River hasn’t hosted any major professional championships, it remains a highly regarded private club known for its challenging layout and commitment to the game's traditions. Membership is tight-knit, drawing largely from Fairfield County and the surrounding areas, with a reputation for fostering a competitive yet collegial atmosphere. In the clubhouse, members often share stories of navigating the course's signature par-3 17th, a visually stunning hole with a tee shot that demands both nerve and accuracy.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in CT
Quick facts
- Location
- Milford, CT, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 2001
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Tommy Fazio
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 7,060 yards
- Difficulty
- 76.6/148
- Course Vaults score
- 8.0
Getting there
The journey to Great River Golf Club begins at either Bradley International Airport in Hartford or Westchester County Airport in White Plains, each roughly an hour's drive through the rolling woodlands and coastal lowlands of southern Connecticut. Those arriving by private aircraft will find Oxford Airport a discreet option just twenty minutes northwest of the property. The final approach follows Route 1 through Milford's historic shoreline neighborhoods before turning inland, where the landscape opens to reveal Tommy Fazio's masterwork tucked into a surprisingly secluded river valley - a hidden enclave that feels worlds removed from the New York metropolitan corridor just beyond.

FAQ
Common questions about Great River
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Great River has a Course Vaults score of 8.0 out of 10 based on 47 logged golfers.
Great River was designed by Tommy Fazio.
Yes. Great River is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Great River is 72.
Great River plays 7,060 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Great River is 148.


