Richter Park Golf Course — Local services in Danbury

I've played at Richter Park many times over the years, but today marked what may very well be the last time I'll play this course.

At a standard rate of $49 for 18 plus a cart, one would expect this course to be a cut above municipal courses and for the condition of the course to warrant the price. In its prime, Richter delivered on the prices they charged, but it seems like time is taking it's toll on this course and little is being done to stop it. Allow me to dive into the details I took issue with:

Greens: while most New England courses sustain some damage over the winter, especially to the greens, the state of the greens today was horrid. Bare patches abound, causing putts to jump from their lines, but I think the worst part is that the grass used on the greens is not uniform, as if bare patches are being repaired by using a different grass as the rest of the green. You can tell by the color and grain from a few feet away, and this textural difference also affects puts. In years past, fringe lines where crisp and clean but now, they are jagged in places.

Fairways: I will admit that as I'm writing this, the area has had about a weeks worth of rain showers. Not a steady rain but on and off throughout the week. However, the drainage on many holes is dreadful. There where many spots that where covered in standing water, and the fairways that weren't might as well have been. Iron shots get very little to no bounce, and if your shot is not perfect, you run the risk of hitting a glob of mud high into the air as you watch your ball go half the distance it should. There where also little sinkhole type depressions on one of the fairways. All in all the fairways Where just in bad shape.

Others: the rough surrounding the fairways was not anywhere close to being cut uniformly, and one will find various types of weeds growing in patches in the rough such as clovers. While I was pleased with the upkeep of the sand in the bunkers, the edges of those where neither crisp nor clean. The cartpaths are also in need of repair, as there are many bumps and potholes. They have adequate stations to refill seeds for divot repair, but our cart didn't have a bottle for them on it! How can I reseed a divot if i dont have the seed bottle on the cart you provided?

If the management reads this, I hope they take a trip to Candlewood Valley Country Club and take notes, as that course was once in terrible shape but recently has been turning around.

If you're considering this course, I highly recommend passing and going to Candlewood. Similar prices, much better upkeep, and more straight...

Richter - a dump and embarrassment to Danbury. It's no wonder Danbury can't attract businesses and people are leaving the area.

"Richter", as it is known, is really 5 things: a public golf course, a hiking trail, a tennis court, a basketball court, and a restaurant. Unfortunately the Board and Management are not qualified or incapable of performing their job duties in maintaining the hiking trail, tennis court and basketball court.

As a hiking trail Richter does absolutely nothing to maintain the trail or help the hikers. Ironically the trail head is overgrown with grass and weeds even though it's on a golf course where the grass is maintained! The trail head is littered with garbage and becomes a pond when it rains because they refuse to put any of the tons of fill they have for the golf course in the depressions they created with their very own equipment! And this year they gave up and simply closed the tennis court for no reason.

The golf course itself is about a 3 out of 5, the drainage is so poor that if it rains you will be slogging thru mud in your golf shoes. The fairway grass is patchy and weedy, they really need to give up and hire a lawn service.

The bright spot is the restaurant, which has very good food and a wonderful wait staff. It's small enough for an intimate dinner and big enough for your office holiday party.

In summary, Richter is a mediocre, run-down golf course that treats its taxpaying hikers, tennis and basketball players like second-class citizens. The Richter Board...

RICHTER PARK GOLF CLUB Danbury, Ct.

Terrain: Hills / Wetlands Price: $$$ State Park Driving Range: No Opened: 1970 Architect: Edward Ryder Lodging: No

SCORECARD Par 71 Blue 6774 Yards, Slope 139, Rating 73.6 White 6304 Yards, Slope 136, Rating 71.6 Gold 5531 Yards, Slope 129, Rating 72.9 Red 5114 Yards, Slope 124, Rating 70.7

SNAPSHOTS Along with Bethpage Black and Torrey Pines, one of the crown jewels of the state park systems

Incredible variety of holes, with elevated tees, lakes, crooked hills, and, if that’s not enough geological diversity, quicksand

An aesthetic banquet

Only the greens and their public-course pace give any indication that this is, indeed, anything other than a course designed for golf elitists

Water available to your golf ball on 14 of the 18 holes

The two par 3s on the front side require long water carries

You don’t need to drive around in your car for a day with the fall foliage if you play here

Several blind tee shots – particularly on the front 9

BEYOND THE WHITE STAKES Brewskies: Molly Darcy’s, Pub (2.2 miles)

Sundae Golfer: Double Twister (4.9 miles)

Fine Dining: Augies Italian (5.7 miles)

Worth a Detour: Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield (11.2 miles)

Splash! Squantz Pond – Squantz Pond State Park, New Fairfield (9.8 miles)

Native: Ken Green, 5-time winner on...