Designer: Unknown (1964)
Location: Bristol, Rhode Island
History: Originally an 18-hole course, Bristol dwindled down to 9-holes before closing a few years ago. There is a now a par 3 course on the property that opened in 2023.
Conditions: 1/10, Conditions here were as bad as it gets. In particular, the 3rd hole’s green was unputtable while goose droppings were plentiful and fairways were extremely soggy. Bunkers were unplayable and green speeds themselves were very slow.
Value: 2/10, I think when I played it was $17 for 9 holes which was a rip-off.
Scorecard:
Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope
White 32 2097 N/A N/A
Hole Descriptions: Bristol was quite frankly a course that should not have been built. It was in the middle of an industrial plant and the noises and scenery were ungodly. The opening hole was a short 130 yard par 3. The 2nd hole might have been the worst hole in the state – a 250 yard par 4 with power lines and poles running down the fairway and an industrial park on your left. “Aim for the pole” should never be muttered on a golf course. The 3rd hole played uphill at 145 yards, but this green was unplayable. The 4th hole was the best hole on the course – a downhill 130 yard par 3 in decent shape with water behind the green and an overhanging tree on the left. After another mundane par 3, the 6th hole was a 337 yard straightaway par 4 with water on the left and OB on the right side. The 7th was their “signature hole”, a 480 yard par 5 with an eyesore of an industrial park on the right. The obnoxious bright blue factories and constant drilling next to this hole ruined any fun it may have had as a short par 5. The most difficult hole on the course was the 8th, a long downhill 220 yard par 3. The 9th was a confusing and poorly designed closing par 4. At only 225 yards, this hole required a mid-iron off the tee and a short approach over water to a back-to-front sloping green.
General Comments: Pace of play was generally decent, as golfers smartly avoided the course. I will also note that there were no practice facilities or yardage markers on the course.
Verdict: There are few absolutes on my blog, but here is one: If a course is featured in the New York Times for how bad it is, then it will be at the basement of my rankings. Now closed, Bristol GC was only worth a play if you enjoyed sarcasm or wanted to truly appreciate the good courses.
You need to come check out the refurbished Par 3 Bristol Golf Park now. Also there is a little bit to the history of this place, it was originally an 18 hole course and eventually turned into the crummy 9 hole you played. I never got to see this course in its hey-day. But as a young Bristol native golfer I think the new Par 3 course has been some great practice and I’d love to see a new review for it from you!
Thanks Matt, I will need to get back!