u1929516

The layout is beautiful, and the course is very scenic. Also, like many Trent Jones layouts, make sure to bring your "A" bunker game, because there are bunkers in play on every approach and most tee shots.

Conditions were just "ok". The greens had been aerated 3-weeks before, and were recovering fine from that process (I'll never downgrade a course based on aeration!) However, many tee-boxes, and most greens had bare spots. Fairways were fine.

Now to the crux of the matter, SLOW PLAY.

The first warning sign was literally a sign -- at the first tee a sign said that a round is expected to take 4.5 hours. Hmmm.

We were the third group off the first tee on a Thursday, 7:31AM tee-time, and proceeded to wait on every single shot, finishing our round in 4:45. Yes, we were a threesome following a foursome, however the foursome behind us had to wait on their shots too. The round was an utterly miserable experience as a result. The group in front of us was at least 2 holes behind. We weren't able to play-through on our own. Rangers were a constant presence, but never DID anything. On the 4th hole, one ranger told us he would speak with the group in front of us, but nothing improved. On the back 9, it was infuriating to watch the ranger drive by the slow group, and just wave hello to them.

At one point on the back 9, I flagged down another ranger to see what he could do. Turns out he was a ranger for the Fazio course, mentioning that he had been reassigned from the Trent Jones course because they didn't like how he talked with the golfers to speed them up.

After the round, I sought out the General Manager to "provide feedback". He couldn't have been nicer to me, and it's clear to me that he cared that I didn't have a good experience. But it is equally clear to me that they don't see an issue with the pace of play -- mentioning a couple times that they expect "four-and-a-half hour" rounds, once I cited my group's 4:45 round. As I said to him, I know slow play when I see it.

In summary, playing the Robert Trent Jones course at Palmetto Dunes was an utterly miserable experience due to the pace-of-play. Based on that experience, and course management's disinterest, I cannot recommend this golf course.

Good course, with an interesting and challenging layout (but not punitive). Conditions were excellent when I played, the staff couldn't have been nicer, and the pace-of-play was good even though the course was full.