birdman694

The mountain courses in the area seem to get all the love (Banff, Kananaskis, Silvertip, Stewart Creek), but this one ranks up there with all of them in my opinion. From the moment you arrive on the property, this place is pretty impressive. They have a big, beautiful clubhouse and the scenic views are present from the time you step out of your car until the time you finish up on 18. And the layout and conditioning are top notch! This course has hosted the Korn Ferry Tour and the Mackenzie Tour, so you know they're doing something right. If you are planning a golf trip to the Alberta Rockies, I would definitely reccomend hitting this course. It compliments the area's more recognizable resort courses nicely cuz it adds some variety to the mix. I have played a lot of Les Furber courses, and I think this is his best. It's a bit on the pricey side, but it's worth it. I think it stacks right up there with the region's best.

Played here as a single after booking on Golf Now. Joined up with a threesome and really enjoyed the company. The course itself is pretty straightforward, nothing fancy but definitely enjoyable. It's forgiving off the tee, especially on the front nine, so swing away. The course's main defense is the greens - on the front the they are on the small side and some are elevated, and on the back they are fairly large and undulating. They putted true, especially for October, and were just speedy enough to make you think. As stated in other reviews, pace of play was quite slow, but I didn't mind since it was a beautiful day late in the season. It was relatively windy for most of the round, but I would imagine that's pretty standard here seeing as it is a prairie links course without much protection. I played the blue tees at 6600 yards, but it I found it played shorter than the yardage indicated. There are a few places where you can take an aggressive line and cut some yards off without much fear of danger. The staff were accommodating and the driving range was pretty nice. Always a bonus when you get to hit off grass and not mats. All in all, I would reccomend this course as it is a good value, it's player friendly, it's a decent layout and the conditions were good.

This course doesn't seem to get the same level of attention that some others in the region get, but it's still really good. It's a fun course, has an interesting mix of holes and is usually in good shape. It also runs a few $$ cheaper than others in the area. I would definitely reccomend giving Bootleg a try. I personally prefer it to Trickle Creek.

I was a member here for several years. It's a solid course, nothing tricked out and no strange holes. Conditions are usually pretty good. Greens are speedy and putt true. Only complaint is that the bunkers don't have much sand, but they are still well kept. The staff here are great, and the restaurant is really good. This course makes for a nice reprieve after playing Shadow Mountain, Wildstone and Trickle Creek on your golf trip.

I have driven down from Calgary a few times to play here because the green fees are low and I like the layout. Today I paid $40 and that included golf/cart/taxes...can't beat that! The front 9 is a traditional community course that winds its way through a subdivision, and the back 9 is a newer addition that has lots of mounding and hazards. The back is more scenic, but both sides are enjoyable. I will say that you get two very different experiences depending on what the wind is doing. If it's calm like it was today, the course plays pretty easy. But if it's breezy (and it usually is) then it can be quite challenging. Keep it left off the tee on #18 - the water is closer than you think!

I used to enjoy playing here when it was known as Boulder Creek, so I was pleased to see it reopened this year after being shut down for a while. By all accounts, the new ownership have done a nice job creating a fun and inviting atmosphere for all levels of golfers. The staff was very accommodating and you get a great bang for your buck. The course itself is actually a lot of fun. Its a sporty layout, very walkable and there are a good variety of holes. There are some good scoring opportunities out there, but it can bite you in spots if you aren't careful, especially if it's breezy. The course is fairly open off the tee, and the greens are large with lots of undulations, so stay below the hole if you can! The 18th hole is a beast... 490 yard Par 4 into the teeth of the wind with water down the right and OB left. Other than that, it's quite player friendly. Conditioning was decent... not great, but definitely passable considering the amount of play they get. The greens were a little chewed up, but they still rolled fairly well and they were fast. Pace was a little slow, but they had a Marshall whipping around and he was pleasant. All in all, I would definitely reccomend this if you are looking for a fun course for a good price.

I've played this course a few times, and it usually beats me up. But, that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. It's a beast of a course, but it's spectacular! Bring your camera and an extra sleeve of balls and enjoy the awesome experience that is Shadow Mountain.

This is a great course! Lots of variety, great views and amazing conditions. It's a fairly easy course from tee to green for the first 13 holes, then you gotta hold on for dear life coming home. The greens are huge and have lots of undulation, so be prepared to get creative with your short game. The Cranbrook/Kimberley area has some great golf, and I think this course is the pick of the litter.

First off, let's give credit where credit is due: you will be hard pressed to find another course quite like this in Canada. I've played other courses in Southern Alberta and the Okanagan that have a similar aesthetic, but nothing quite like the experience you get on the back 9 at Dinosaur Trail. It truly feels like you are playing down in St. George or Mesquite. But, that doesn't necessarily make it a great golf course. It's not. The front 9 is actually decent. That's the "traditional nine". It's reminiscent of a good-quality community course that you would find in many small towns. There's a good mix of holes, and a really pretty short par 3 over water. That side gets the thumbs up from me. But really, the back nine is why many people travel to play this course, and it's where the problems lie. It's gimmicky. It's "target golf" with lots of blind shots and quirks, and it made for a frustrating experience. I was never quite sure where I was supposed to hit it off the tee, and the layout calls for less than driver on many holes. The last par 3 is neat, but apart from that I didn't care for it. Yeah, it's cool that you are playing out in the hoodoos, and you get some great views. But, for someone like me who appreciates a course when it's laid out in front of you, it proved uninviting. I would imagine most higher handicaps would go through a bag of balls on the back nine. Clearly, that doesn't bother some - after reading other reviews, it's evident that you either love it or hate it. Some golfers seem to enjoy the "challenges" of a quirky course, but I'm not one of them. Lots of potential for a cool experience, but the architect missed the mark in my eyes. Aside from that, the driving range is good and the staff are really nice.

Played HBGR today and generally enjoyed the experience. It's a fun layout - not too long, but well placed hazards and bunkers pose a challenge. Some of the greens have false fronts which is typical of a Donald Ross designs so accuracy on the approach shots is necessary. It's a visually appealing course and it is well-routed considering the small parcel of land it is on. The conditioning, however, left much to be desired. The greens in particular were slow-ish and bumpy. But, nonetheless I liked playing here. The staff was very friendly and I was paired up with a group of golfers from Pittsburgh and they were a lot of fun. I'd love to give it a try when it's in better shape.

Fun old school Florida course. Has some elevation changes which is a nice feature for courses in the area. Layout was good, but the conditioning was truly outstanding. Some of the nicest greens I have ever putted. Even better than Doral. They were smooth, true and very fast. A joy to experience. The staff was also very accommodating and friendly. I highly recommend Miami Shores!

My favorite hole was #13, a really fun Par 5.

Note: regardless of the pin position, play to the middle of the green. They are small and elevated, so even if you are just a fraction off with your approach you will be faced with a testy shot. And when dealing with greens this fast, you are always best to play it safe.

I had the opportunity to play the East Course at Orangebrook CC two times during my recent visit to South Florida. Here is what I found:

Layout: Decent routing. Nothing special but definitely playable and enjoyable. It was relatively short course, the fairways were generally wide and the greens were average in size and without a great deal of contouring. Some water hazards and moderate bunkering came into play and a few of the greens were raised, but generally speaking it was a player-friendly course. That being said it's not exactly a complete push-over, so the lower handicaps will probably enjoy this one as well. My favorite hole was #13 - a sporty par 4 requiring a long iron or fairway wood off the tee and an accurate wedge into a narrow green that is guarded in the front by a canal.

Conditioning: It definitely wasn't Augusta-like conditions, but that's to be expected when encountering a course in this price range in South Florida (with the exception, perhaps, of Inverrary). The fairways weren't too too bad, but there was a significant amount of brown patches on virtually every hole. The bunkers also could use a little TLC as some of them were left unkepmt and unraked. But the greens were a pleasant surprise. Although they weren't lightning fast like some of the other courses in the area, they certainly ran at a decent speed and they putted true. For me, as long as the greens are good, I am happy, and I had no qualms with the quality of the greens here.

Staff: The pro shop staff was helpful, curteous and obliging. The beverage cart girl was friendly and made an appearance several times throughout the round. Top notch service.

Pace of Play: I teed off one day with my father early in the morning and we enjoyed a nice comfortable pace. I believe we finished in slightly under 4 hours, which was great. My next time out I teed off at approximately 2 pm and didn't make the turn until 5 pm so needless to say we didn't get a full 18 in. I think it really just depends on the time of the day and what day of the week it is. But, I would recommend spending the few extra $$$ and teeing off a little earlier in order to guarantee a complete round.

Value: This course is well known for being one of the cheaper options in South Florida. I played once for $32 with a cart on GolfNow and the other time I walked up and paid $25 for twilight. My father paid $25 for rental clubs and the set wasn't too bad. Not the newest Titleists or anything, but not absolute trash either (I believe they were Wilson Staff). It is definitely worth the price I paid to golf here but I wouldn't want to fork out too much more than that to play a course of this level.

Overall, I enjoyed my rounds at the East at Orangebrook. If you are heading down for a winter vacation and find yourself in the Hollywood area and looking for a fun, casual, enjoyable experience then this is a good option. I will definitely give the West course a try next time - I hear that one's a little tougher.

Overall grade: C+

I saw some of the club's accolades while researching golf courses in the Ft Lauderdale online and decided to give this one a try. The East Course (which I played) hosted what is now The Honda Classic for many years, and Jack Nicklaus won The Players Championship here before that event was moved to TPC Sawgrass. So needless to say it was cool to experience a course with such a fascinating history!

The course itself was a truly unique and visually interesting layout. It was fairly generous of the tee, but trouble loomed on wayward approach shots. There was a lot of bunkering and water to keep you thinking about every shot. It featured a good variety of par 3's and par 5's. And the greens were EXCELLENT. Beautifully manicured, smooth as glass and LIGHTNING fast. What a treat! And for the price (under $50) you couldn't ask for much more.

If you are planning to play golf in the Ft Lauderdale area anytime soon, give this semi-private gem a try! You won't be disappointed!

This is a great option for golfers in Miami looking for a decent course without breaking the bank. It's a good layout, it's in good shape and the greens putt true. The facility is nicely kept and everyone is friendly. No, it's not the most memorable course but for the money it provides a fun golf outing. I'd definitely recommend it.

(It plays long, especially when the wind kicks up!)

Thoroughly enjoyed playing this little course. It has a solid, sporty layout that features three Par 3's, three Par 4's and three Par 5's (although two of them play more like long Par 4's). It's in a beautiful setting and has a historic feel to it. It was on the short side (3,000 yards from the tips), has no water, minimal bunkering and the fairways were generous but never once did it feel like a "pitch and putt". Greens were small and contoured which called for a lot of short-game creativity. It was in really good condition. I enjoyed it so much, I looped it twice! Not everyday do you get to play a Donald Ross course for $20! Granada is truly a fun track!