emiliocan

I have no problem with a course stacking play during this time of year. But please put out a Marshall to keep pace of play going.
So bring a book and getting some reading done while you wait to tee off. There was always 2 groups waiting on the next tee box, this is not acceptable.
Ruins an otherwise nice place to golf.

We have been away from sometime, COVID etc.
What a pleasant surprise, the driving range is gone and a new number is a par 5. AT the same time 18 has been cleaned up no more cross overs to other holes. The good for nothing waste area in front to the green is gone making for a more attractive approach.
Outstanding
The greens I feel are some of the best in Venice. Fa better than sister course Highlands.
Could not give 5 stars as some of the tee boxes are rough.
Do not let the distance fool you. Every hole has a unique challenge and if you do not pay attention water will get you.
Scenery is awesome.
Before we go home we will back.

You can take a nap on every hole. It is February and the snow birds have collected and they are slow.
Just too bad.
Fairways not bad. Greens awesome with no flat green to found, you must earn your puts on this course. Truly suggest you keep track of your putts to really gauge how well you played, 3 putts are about the norm if you are not close.
Water will sneak up on you on this course.

I am on a recovery path from surgery and this course fits right. Very straight forward golf course with a Parkland setting.
Greens were fine fairways mixed as is normal in Florida with geography that varies even a singular course.
Just a middle of the road not too bad golf course.

We have been away from Florida for 4 years and as we are from Canada all of the courses cost us an extra 35%, therefore we have to choose courses like Highland and Groves. As my wife golfs with me need to seek out value.
Before COVID we were playing higher status courses, but not now, the world has gone nuts.
This course is a great time, if you want a challenge you play from the tips, the course changes personalities from the from to the back nine due to the geography. Some of the holes on the back nine have outstanding greens, as good as anywhere dur to the lay of the land.
Carts are great with USB, staff excellent and over value is a 5, my rating of 3 is the actual course itself as some holes are 2 and some holes 5 plus.
I do recommend this course as well a sthe groves.

Great place if you want a quick round at leisure pace with moderate challenges.
Provided you do not hook or slice, stay stay away as you will not like the trees.

The course is getting ready for the winter grass months and is outstanding.
Great bounce on fairways and not stupid tight knitted lies. Roughs are forgiving leading to faster pace of play.
With the amount of water required to grow grass the front of greens is typically wet or damp, this is Florida you must carry greens.
Greens are running as good as anywhere we played in Sarasota County, pace about 9 to 11 and the breaks are readable. I made at least 4 20 foot puts that broke sharply at cup, I love this this is what golf is all about.
I brought gusts from up North and they were spell bound by the Florida beauty.

This course could be so much better with just a bit more attention to details.
No issue with greens but tee boxes are a mess.
Fairways are silly tough as grass is a very tight weave and you are better off on first cut,
Pace of play.
We could not understand, on board one of he best GPS in entire region. the unit was telling us exactly how far behind we were playing.
So where were the marshals to come along and move us along. With WiFi today cart can easily communicate to clubhouse. I have seen this in other regions and it works.
Pace of play for me is number one, no one wants to wait on every shot.

We have always enjoyed Groves as a great place to work on short game.
BUT
Just reopened after major overhaul. And the course is awesome, fairways great, new green super, could actually make puts as greens play fair and not stupid silly Florida crap..
The par 5 9, sweet layout, runs where driving range use to be.
the 8 and 16 shared green, nice landing areas over the pond.
Arthur Hills design is back to life.
Well done, thank you.

No chance to run up on any green. Not because they are overly elevated, but rather there is a lot of thick growth and wetness in front of greens.
Does not show up on slope ratings but it should.
Greens had been cross cut so no chance to day to make puts as a lot of cut grass was still on greens.
Looks like winter grass is being allowed to grow in so conditions are not ideal.
Course is not a top tier but still fun to play.

Waited on every single shot
My own fault for playing on a Sunday just before Christmas.
When I booked on golf now the description read Manatee and not Manatee Count, I try and stay away from a public course on week ends.
Grooming is only as good as County puts in,
Too bad, I can say I played this course as the only positive.

I have not played this course in a few years as I felt the course was not in good condition compared to what else is available in Sarasota County.
Decided to give it a try again and have played twice now and booked a 3d time.
Very nice conditions, greens are running smooth and true. I do not get worked up about the speed of the greens as much as a great surface. If you are not below he hole on this course you will pay.
This is Florida and there will be places around trees where the ground is hard, so sad, stay away.
This course for some reason plays long, the adage that you need an extra club at sea level etc. plays out, who know why but why fight it.
Have a good hard look at the slope of the course and the length of individual holes before you start, I may suggest you design and play a hybrid.
Thanks to the staff for the great conditions.

You could tell this club has had a busy 3 months of winter. The tee boxes look like a football team has practised on them.
The place simply does not look kept.
WHich is too bad because the layout of the course could make this one great.
It is a rather goofy course when it come to slope, white is 124 and blue is 139, nothing in between.
The price was great due to a hot deal, otherwise we would not be there, we needed to hit some balls.
Greens slow.

Very surprised, this was the only course we could book at a good rate for he day, after reading the reviews we took a chance.
In past years the course was rated awful.
We had a great time even though the day was windy and cold.
If you make bad shots this course will kill you, but if you play smart golf it is not he slope rated, it is reasonably easy .
But that does not mean it is not a fun layout. There are no stupid holes, landing areas are great and greens attainable.
The greens, you better walk around he hole to see the breaks OR YOU WILL NOT make a put.
Worth going back.

Often we are let down by the hype, top this and top that.
This course is in fact top 15 in Florida, in Sarasota and Charlotte county top 3 for sure.
Water everywhere but manageable, no mickey muse set ups just pure golf shots.
The grass is more of what you expect up North, I did not see all of the gnarley Florida garbage.
First cuts are great and around the greens awesome.
Greens run true.

Simply too bad that such a great place has to have such a slow pace.
My original time of 12 was cancelled due to a computer glitch, what bunk We rebooked at 1:18.
Tight from first tee box we waited on every hole and on every shot.
Yes there are Marshalls, but what are they going to do for an over crowded house.
Everything else is great, greens are awesome and fairways ok
We cannot forget Irma was not that long ago, we did see new places never seen before Irma.

Just a bit more care and a few marshalls and wow.,
Pace of play sucks
As the price is good we go back.
All I can say

If not 5 minutes away we would be hard pressed to play.
Always a slow course.
Plenty of people to take your bags out of the car, but that is the last you see them.
Jut too bad because this course could be fun
Greens are good, usually quick.
Fairways average
You would have thought that the new management would have improved the course, sadly no.

I read the reviews in advance as this is a short course.
We got what we expected. Greens were awesome and fairways nice grass but hard.
There has not been rain for some time and he course is stressed.
But, still not to the point where you are not having fun.
Just an extra 50 yards of roll.
Played with wife and we had a blast.
There are a few holes you should use driver otherwise put it away and force yourself to use more clubs in your bag.
We are going back.

We come to this course, my wife and I because we get to work on our game.
If you expect more you will be disappointed.
Fairways are kept greens are fair, given there has been no rain in some time.
3 hour round at a good price we play here pftem