When I check off a new golf course, I post a review on Instagram. If you are interested in reading the review early, and reading some additional thoughts that go beyond the Instagram caption limit, you can become a Supporter or Founder.

Groton CC is a nine-hole course with a mix of challenging holes and more forgiving ones, but it does not ease you in gently. The opening three par 4s will test a first-time visitor right away — blind shots and hilly land make them tough to figure out without a local's knowledge. They aren't bad holes, but they are a demanding way to start a round, and players who struggle early may not recover their footing.

Things settle down once you reach the par-3 fourth. Hit your tee shot and you can finally breathe and find your rhythm for the back half of the loop.

The standout hole is the 8th, a par 5 that wraps around a marsh with a massive tree guarding the corner. It's the kind of hole that sticks with you after the round. The course as a whole is beginner and intermediate friendly — there aren't many places to lose a ball, which keeps the round moving and the frustration manageable.

The greens are medium-sized with interior slopes that add some interest. The fourth green is the most severe, while the sixth and ninth are the flattest and most straightforward.

For players who want to play 18, the lack of variation between tee boxes is worth knowing going in. Groton CC is a solid local option — just be ready to earn your round before it opens up.