(The 188 yard par three “Peninsula” hole is artfully bunkered with a green high on a plateau where a ball that lands on the right can use the slope to work it’s way left. Miss it short and the ball will roll back down into one of the three bunkers. A back left pin will prove quite difficult with a long carry and deep bunker protecting it. A hard draw off the right corner is the play. It’s an excellent hole.)
Keney Park made my list of courses to see after I played Leatherstocking last year. I loved it so much that I had to see other Devereux Emmet courses. Emmet only did nine holes here, designing the front nine in 1927. A city engineer named Jack Ross added the back in 1930. Ross did a fantastic job matching the quality of Emmet’s architecture, and several holes on the back stand out. However, it’s the front nine that shines, and every hole is a classic.
(Keney begins with a 332 yard par four called Valley. The fairway is a heaving collaboration of two hills where a flat lie will be hard to obtain…
…the bathtub green presents the golfer with multiple devious pin placements. Anything near the tub is downright difficult. Today’s pin is probably the easiest one. Note the hole is completely bunkerless.)
(The Pit is a 160 yard par three where the golfer must take heed not to be short. A severe slope and deep trap will punish anything not struck properly.)
Keney Park’s genius comes from its outrageous greens. They are staggering in both their boldness and scale. The golfer has plenty of room to work the ball onto the putting surface, but the rolls and tilt of the greens will require deft touch to two putt. As the player becomes more aggressive in his approach, the obstacles suddenly take on more importance defending par. The tiger golfer will get great pleasure attacking these features and seeing success. Failure though will present challenging and unique recoveries that can add strokes quickly. Rarely are such features seen on public courses.
(The 383 yard par four fourth has a ridge that works it’s way into the green, dividing it almost in half. The back side of the ridge extends down the left where the golfer can use its slope to work the ball back to rear pin positions. Today’s pin is on a small section that is hard to access but is the only area visible from the fairway. Called Klondyke, par is a good score.)
(The 428 yard par four fifth “Long” has a deep swale covering most of the green. Weaker players can use the left flat short to keep the ball on top…
…the flat is not without challenge as this bunker protects its strategic location. Note how narrow the bunker is. The traps at Keney are some of the most difficult that I’ve seen.)
(The 152 yard sixth is super cool hole. The bunkering is penal with two pot bunkers guarding the front left and right sides of the green. The putting surface is dominated by a high mound just above the left pot bunker. A precise shot can lead to birdie but a miscue can lead to disaster…
…shooting at the pin, I came up short in the pot bunker where i was fortunate to take only two swipes to get out. “Short” is a strong par three.)
The bunkering at Keney comes in different shapes and sizes, often placed in spots where you’re surprised to find them. On several holes, the green has a false front or a swale guarding it, forcing the player to either take on the challenge or hit an extra club. Rest assured, a bunker or two will be located behind the green in those instances.
(The snake bunker guards the right side of the green on the 407 yard par four eighth “Hogs Back”. Note how the fingers of grass don’t connect to the other side, often resulting in some precarious lies and/or stances. The hole’s name is derived by a huge ridge that divides the green into left and right.)
(The 457 yard par four ninth is called “Road” for two reasons. First, a pot bunker eats into the putting surface on the right, and second, the wall of the clubhouse is literally just a few feet from the back of the green…
…as this picture shows, the pot bunker is a devious hazard. Pitching over it and even putting over its brow are difficult challenges. However, either one is preferable than being trapped in it. And yes the clubhouse wall is in play should one go through the green.)
I love how each hole is named after an architectural feature. For golf geeks like myself, it’s cool to see. Each designer has his own interpretation and it’s always exciting comparing them. For example, a Biarritz green has a deep swale in its middle. At Keney, the par four seventh has one, but Emmet has the swale coming across at a diagonal. It isn’t as deep as others I’ve seen, but being on a long par four, I think makes it very effective.
(The 409 yard par four fifteenth is named “Camels Back” after the steep slope fronting the green. Players must really be careful hitting into front pin positions. The elevation change adds a few yards too. While hitting an extra club is the logical choice, a long putt is no bargain especially to front hole locations.)
(The 369 yard par four Principal’s Nose seventeenth possesses the most talked about hazard on the course. The large green is fronted by a tall mound with bunkers, like nostrils, in it. Depending on the pin position and one’s angle, the flag can be hidden from view…
…it’s a terrifying hazard too. Those little bunkers are downright nasty. And being in the grass can be treacherous if you can find your ball and have a swing. Thankfully it’s more visual than it is in play. Dusenberry pushed the green back several yards so there’s fairway between the nose and the putting surface.)
Keney Park’s success shows just what can be done when a city decides to invest in their golf course. Connecticut golfers can be proud to name it as their home course. Classic architectural elements are usually reserved for private club members, and here everyone can enjoy the design principles that have been around since the beginning of the game. And at a municipal price don’t forget!
(The 197 yard par three eighteenth is named “Punch Bowl” after the dramatic slopes and mounds that surround the green. While there’s plenty of room to go at the pin, cunning players can work the ball off the contours towards the flag. It’s an unusual way to end the round, but the course stays true to its nature, and finishes with a classic architectural theme.)
On America’s best municipal course list, Sleepy Hollow is just above it at #13. Being a homer, I won’t argue with this, but Keney Park is undoubtedly more fun to play. In fact, it was my favorite round of the year so far. I think if one is anywhere near Hartford, then they should make every effort to play it. I give Keney Park a 7 (great)(worth driving 3-4 hours to play).
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