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By Steve Donahue
The Lymans may be known for their farm and orchards, Apple Barrel market and award-winning “Hi Top” apple pie, but the land that’s been in the family for nearly 300 years is making a name for itself in the golf industry
When John and Hope Lyman purchased two parcels of land totaling 37 acres in 1741 in what today is Middlefield, Connecticut, they couldn’t have imagined what their descendants would do nearly three centuries later with the property in the heart of the state.
Well, 275 years later, the Lyman family now owns 1,100 acres, which is the site of the Lyman Homestead and Apple Barrel market, not to mention three golf courses—the 18-hole Jones and Player courses, and the par-29 Apple Nine Course, part of the Lyman Orchards Golf Center, which includes more than 40 stalls, a 20,000-square-foot short-game practice area, and a large bent-grass putting practice area.
For some 225 years, the Lymans farmed their fertile land. In the mid-1960s, the family closed its dairy business, located on lower-elevation land inadequate for an orchard, so the family’s thoughts turned to golf.
“The Lyman family was approached by a group from nearby Middletown that inquired about buying or leasing the land to build a golf course,” says Jason Beffert, Lyman Orchards Golf Club’s general manager. “That group fell through, but the family pursued the idea.”
Bob Lyman, who was on the board at the time, was an avid golfer and knew someone in the Robert Trent Jones company and made the contact. After Jones’ first visit, the family told him they wanted to ease into the golf business with only nine holes. But Jones quickly informed them that if they wanted his design and name, they would need to build all 18.
“Ultimately, the family decided to go all the way,” says Beffert, adding that all family members on the board, including Jack Lyman–who was running the family business at the time–were all in agreement to get into the golf business. “Because their support was strong, while there may have been those [in the family] who didn’t want to get into the business, they all trusted the management at the time. They have been a great support to the game of golf ever since.”
After five relatively difficult years to get started, the course opened in 1969 to rave reviews. Several decades later, Lyman Orchards ultimately decided to hire Gary Player to design a second 18-hole course in 1995.
Today, despite one of the most successful golf operations in the Northeast, the Lyman family is still more known for its farm and orchards, where you can pick nearly 100 varieties of fruits from June through October. Adjacent to the golf operation is the Apple Barrel market, filled with fresh farm produce and Lyman Orchard’s award-winning “Hi Top” Apple Pie. The Homestead is a very popular venue for weddings and other festivities. Throughout the year there are countless special events such as pony rides, Connecticut Days highlighting Connecticut products, clambakes, a Father’s Day barbecue, a car show and others.
“Besides our special events we also have a lot of corporate gatherings and team-building things where attendees even learn how to make apple pies,” Beffert explains.
Special event days have even helped spur business on the Apple Nine, which opened in 2012. On those days, the golf staff sets up Golfzilla, a 20-foot inflatable lizard at the Apple Barrel market. Adults and kids hit limited-distance BirdieBalls with regulation golf clubs to targets with Lyman’s golf instruction staff.
“We get some Apple Nine customers from Golfzilla,” Beffert says. “A growing number of junior members also play the course, but the area that has exceeded all expectations is the women’s golf program—not just on the Apple Nine but also on the Jones and Player courses.”
Also popular is a massive corn maze Lyman Orchards holds for two months every fall. Lyman donates $1 from each admission to the American Cancer Society. Last year there were roughly 42,000 visitors, resulting in $507,127 in total donations since the corn maze’s 2000 inception. Lyman Orchards also holds a train-themed sunflower maze, three acres in size, which attracts about 12,000 visitors annually and helps support the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Pediatric Care Unit, for which it has raised $67,705.
While the Apple Barrel market doesn’t sell golf merchandise, Beffert isn’t totally against the idea. “Maybe it’s an opportunity we need to revisit,” he notes.
While selling fruit in the golf shop wouldn’t be feasible, Beffert says the 11,000 golfers who annually participate in tournament outings on the Jones and Player courses get a taste of Lyman Orchards without visiting the Apple Barrel market.
“Every participant receives a six-inch apple or blueberry pie, depending on the time of year,” Beffert says. “It definitely sets us apart.”
Steve Donahue is a Connecticut-based freelance writer.