Short 9

Manchester's Short 9 does exactly what its name promises — a compact, 9-hole layout that offers a practical, no-frills entry point into the game, or a quick loop for players who know their way around a course but are short on time. Par-33 formats like this typically blend a mix of shorter par 4s with a handful of par 3s, rewarding ball-striking precision and a sharp short game over raw distance.

Manchester itself sits in Hartford County, in the heart of Connecticut's Tolland County border region — a densely populated part of New England where public golf access matters. The area has a strong tradition of municipal and accessible golf, and a 9-hole course serves a genuine community function: weeknight rounds, junior development, beginners finding their footing, and regulars squeezing in 9 before dark.

Without a long scorecard to hide behind, shorter courses tend to reveal a player's actual skills faster than a full 18. The Short 9 looks to be that kind of honest, unpretentious test.