Wheeler Family Traditions Golf Club, Wallingford, CT

This is the best conditioned course in the area. Price is right and the staff is courteous. You will not be disappointed if you try it! They also have Oak Lane in Woodbridge!

I recently played a couple rounds at The Tradition and was really disappointed. I had played a few years back, and didn't remember anything sticking out in my mind besides a neat layout (island green and a par 5 i could actually reach), but the condition this time around was awful. They make it a point to grab your bags off the car, and treat you very well up front, but that attention to detail is lost on the course.

I realize that this summer has been tough on golf courses, so barren spots on fairway and greens are not really surprising. However, the majority of the tee boxes were completely chewed up and looked like tee stub burial grounds. I know that people leave their stubs, but it looked like the grounds crew hadn't been around to clean them up in two weeks. I haven't seen anything like it. Also, there were literally hundreds of ball marks on the par three 3rd and gouges like someone took full wedge shots off the back right side of the island green 12th. I'm not sure what's going on, but it seems like they've just given up a little bit in terms of maintenance.

They have some great deals and a neat weekly scramble shootout on Thursdays open to the public, so it's a shame that just a little more time spent on "housecleaning" would really do wonders.

I'll try it again next year, but I don't think I'd pay for another round there right now.