Foxwoods Resort may have started modestly in the mid 1980s as a bingo hall but for those that visited in that era, you’re not going to recognize the place now.

Over the years, the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe has grown Foxwoods into the largest casino in the world, and everything they have done is first class. With their reputation secured in the gaming industry they decided in 2005 to add to the resort’s amenities by developing two golf courses. The purchased 900 acres across the road from the Boy Scouts and hired course architect Rees Jones to design and build two big-time golf courses.

By the looks of the golf courses, the North (public) and the South, (private) they gave Jones the checkbook and told him to let them know when he was done. Built on old grown over New England farmland laced with ancient stone walls, both courses roll, tumble, rise, and fall over the varying terrain with lots of forced carries over natural areas, creeks and pond. The photo ops are the holes that play over and around the 90-acre Lake of Isles on both courses.

A real strong suit (pardon the pun) at Lake of Isles is golf instruction. The Lake of Isles Golf Academy is the most advanced teaching facility in the Northeast. This state-of-the-art year-round teaching and practice facility features enclosed instructional areas that include videotaped swing analysis, an indoor practice area, and classrooms. A staff of award-winning PGA and LPGA teaching professionals are available for instruction and clinics. Starting in 2010 the Hank Haney Golf Academy will be on-site catering to group and individual students.