Lake of Isles Golf Resort by Matt Mc Bride
 On Monday, May 16, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe
unveiled their newest jewel, the Lake of Isles Golf
Resort, to invited golfing media from all over the
country. The Media Day grand opening celebration was
joined by Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, former
Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant, and PGA Champions Tour
professional Jim Thorpe.
Tribal Vice Chairman Kenneth Reels already knows that
the resort is very special. He also knows that it is
new, and only time and golfers are needed to make it a
world class destination." Right now, this is just a building and this is just
land," he said. "But it is you people that will give
this place its spirit. Your memories, your
experiences... you will make this place the best."
Tribal Chairman Michael Thomas told the crowd what he
thought of the land occupying the course's 36 holes
before sending everyone off to play the new course.
"Pay attention to your surroundings," he said. "There
are some special things waiting for you."
"We are on a piece of property untouched for over 100
years. It is a piece of property that can reach inside
of you and give you peace."
Course designer Rees Jones, an award winning golf
course designer who was designed over 100 courses in
the last 30 years, said the course can be demanding if
needed, but was designed in way that would include all
levels of golfing experience.
"The holes are built in a way that everyone can play
them," he said. "It's a very playable course, both
fair and fun. But I warn you, play the right tees."
Jones said he was attracted to the idea of building
a golf course across the street from the Casino
because of the extremely varied terrain found there.
The land, a former Boy Scout reservation purchased in
1993 for $5.5 million, encompasses 900 acres
surrounding a 90 acre lake.
He said the terrain is what makes the course so
beautiful and challenging, but that same terrain also
offered many challenges of its own during
construction. "We let the land dictate the holes," he said. "It was
a challenge to find the golf holes in a way that
allowed the smallest amount of dirt moving. Every time
we turned around there was another rock. But you'll
like the rocks because they frame the course."
He also added that the final product was worth all
the work. "I think it's going to be a course that will be
recognized by the world of golf," Jones said.
Montana, one of the best professional quarterbacks
ever, addressed the crowd with his own thoughts about
the demanding course.
"I want to apologize to [course designer Rees Jones]
for what I'm about to do to your course," he said. "As
long as you're in front of me, you should be ok. But
if you're in the woods, look out."
The resort is operated by Troon Golf of Scottsdale,
Arizona, and encompasses two separate 18 hole
courses.
The Resort Course (also called the North Course)
reaches out 7,395 yards with five tees on each hole
(Black, Gold, Silver, Copper, and Jade). This course
is open to the public with prices from $100 to $175
based on the season. The fee includes 18 holes with a
cart, range balls, a yardage book, a bag tag, a divot
tool, and tees.
The Private Course (South Course) offers 298 members
and accompanied guests 7,310 yards of Championship
caliber golf. Membership currently starts with a
$55,000 initiation fee followed by $5,000 a year dues
with 100 percent protection against operational and
capital assessments. The initiation fee is also 100
percent refundable.
The resort offers a 50,000 square foot clubhouse
overlooking the lake with banquet facilities able to
accommodate over 300 guests. There is also a public
restaurant downstairs called "Matches Tavern", a plush
members only dining area, a golf shop featuring the
game's latest equipment and fashion, and men's and
women's locker rooms. A wedding ceremonial site sits
picturesque on the lake outside the clubhouse and a
world class spa is already being planned.
The North Course offers area golfers a chance to test
their skills on what Jones and tribal members say will
be one of the best courses in the northeast. Stay a
while and get a review from one hacker who probably
plays just like most of you:
This 23 handicap media member played the public North
Course with his playing partners, Tom Martin (six
handicap), president of The Little Black book of Golf
and owner of GolfCapeCod.com, and Chuck Burgess
(higher than a six), author of Golf Links - Chay
Burgess, Francis Ouimet, and The Bringing of Golf to
America. We decided to play from the Silver tees.
The golfing surface is in pristine shape. The tee
boxes and fairways were practically untouched and the
greens were as fast as expected. While the course is
not mature enough to show off flowering beds of
landscaped details, it is the holes themselves that
are the attraction.
"Spadefoot Toad" is the first hole a golfer will see.
It's also the toughest hole on the front nine.
From the Silver tees, it's a 550 yard par 5 (from the
Black tees, 593 yards) that seems to say "Welcome.
Have you brought your 'A' game?"
Only a 211 yard carry (Blacks, 254!) over red-staked
double bogeyville is needed to reach a landing area.
After that it's easy. Only 330 yards to the green.
Number two, "Chain Pickerel," is an elevated tee that
sits 164 yards from the pin. But there happens to be a
lake between the two.
Number three? Just a blind tee shot uphill par four
with a slight dogleg right for good measure.
Hole number six," Eastern Coyote", is the mean little
brother of "Toad." It's a par four that only requires
a 200 yard carry (Blacks, 250) over another
environmentally sensitive waste area. Luckily you're
about a mile above the fairway so swing away. Slice,
and its goodbye golf ball.
Number 11, "Yellow Perch" is one of the prettiest
golf holes this area has to offer. An elevated tee
looks out 154 yards (Black, 196) with trouble entitled
the "Lake of Isles" on the left and a sand trap on the
right. Fortunately, the stunning view was enhanced on
this day by a man and his daughter out fishing.
Unfortunately, they were directly between the tee and
the green.
The next few holes were a elegant display of climbs
and descents, several wooden bridge crossings, rock
outcroppings flirting with gravity, and snowmen
(meaning several eights on the scorecard).
Then there's number 18, the toughest hole on the back
nine (remember number one?).
A relatively short par four at 366 (Black, 459),"Golden Shiner" doglegs to the left over the lake.
From what could be considered an island tee (there's
water everywhere in front of you), it is a 160 yard
carry (Blacks, 252) to a fairway that is extremely
thin. It doesn't get easier. The second (hopefully)
shot is over those familiar red stakes to a green that
has marsh in front and sand in back. Take your ball
out of the hole and run to the clubhouse.
Then have a beer and look out over the lake with the
experience that only a great day on the links can
provide - memories of putts missed, sculled chip
shots, bad drives, and a century on your scorecard.
Unless of course, you can actually hit a golf ball
where you want it to go.
If the future of this golf course does rest in the
experiences and memories of it's players, then
Chairman Thomas will be proven right. "We believe [Lake of Isles] to be the best golf
course in New England," Thomas said. "It will be a
world class destination."
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