High Tides and Fairway Drives

If you had told me a year ago that my summer at a golf club would involve packing a bucket hat, a Hawaiian shirt, and a pair of boardshorts, I would have laughed you right out of the room.

Before I arrived here at Oxford Greens, my life revolved around water sports and the beach. I am a shoreline girl through and through. For me, a perfect summer day means loading up the car at daybreak, tossing my surfboard and paddleboard in the back, and heading straight to the Connecticut coast before the crowds hit.

My absolute happy place is Madison. I'll spend hours out on the water at Hammonasset Beach State Park, paddling past the wake to catch the early swells, tracking the tide changes, and just soaking up the sun from the deck of my board. If the waves are flat, I’m usually down at The Surf Club checking conditions or rallying friends for a quick game of beach volleyball.

Once I've completely wiped myself out, the day isn't complete without heading right down the road for a serious post-surf feast. If I'm at The Clam Castle, I am 100% claiming an outdoor picnic table and diving into a plate of their golden, crispy fried whole belly clams or a couple of their blackened cod fish tacos topped with that signature lime crema.

If the crew decides on Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale instead, my immediate go-to is a warm bowl of their fresh, clear-broth quahog clam chowder followed by the legendary Fish Tale Dinner Platter to share with the table. There is nothing better than kicking off your sandals with salt still dried in your hair, enjoying fresh New England seafood, and comparing sunburns with friends.

If I’m looking for something a bit more high-energy, you can usually find me over in Milford at Silver Sands State Park. I love walking the entire length of the boardwalk over to Walnut Beach, making a mandatory detour at Walnut Beach Coffee House to grab an iced coffee for the trek back. On high-wind days, I’m either hitting up the crew at Scoot & Paddle to talk shop and swap stories about local swells, or rigging up a kite to catch a heavy, unforgiving coastal breeze off the sound.

To me, that is summer. Traditional golf? With its strict dress codes, tucked-in collars, and quiet-please signs? It always felt like a completely different universe. I figured I’d have to leave my beach-loving, water-sport soul at the gate when I stepped into the golf industry.

I have never been happier to be completely proven wrong.

Where the Shoreline Meets the Fairway

When I first saw the planning calendar for our upcoming Boardshorts & Birdies Open on Friday, July 17th, I was genuinely amazed. A four-person team scramble where Hawaiian shirts, boardshorts, and bucket hats aren't just allowed—they’re the official uniform? On-course contests, a massive tropical vibe, and an authentic Hawaiian Dinner Buffet waiting at the finish line?

I realized right then and there: this isn’t just a traditional golf tournament. This is a celebration of the exact high-energy, laid-back summer culture I live for. It is the perfect intersection of my past life on the water and my new life here through the greens.

More than anything, I feel an immense amount of pride that Oxford Greens hosts this kind of event. It proves that this club doesn't just cater to the traditionalists; it opens the gates for everyone who wants to celebrate summer, have a blast with their friends, and play a premium course without the stuffiness. It’s an event that feels like me.

The buzz around the clubhouse is already unreal, and the energy is building fast. If you’ve been waiting for a golf event that trades the country-club preppiness for pure, unadulterated high-tide vibes, this is your signal to rally your crew.

Let's Get Tropical—Tickets Are Moving Fast!

Season 5 of Boardshorts & Birdies is officially on the horizon for Friday, July 17th (10AM Registration | 11AM Shotgun Start). For $155 per player ($620 per team), you get 18 holes of championship golf with a cart, range balls, player gifts, wild on-course contests, and entry to our post-round Hawaiian Dinner Buffet.

Spots are filling up incredibly quickly, and we are on track to completely sell out. Gather your ultimate foursome and lock in your spot before the tide rolls out!

👉 Register Your Team Online for Boardshorts & Birdies Today!

👇 Let's settle it in the comments: What’s your ultimate Connecticut summer routine—are you hitting the beach early like me, or heading straight for the fairways?