TwillDog1

Richmond County Country Club is a private club located on Staten Island in New York. I played there twice as a guest of a member, on Sunday, July 17th and then again on Saturday, July 23. Looking at the course online before I got the opportunity to play, I thought it looked beautiful - what I didn't know is how tough it would play, and how different it would be from what I'm used to. First, I rarely have the opportunity to play private clubs, so that was a treat. Playing a course that has few members assures the course will normally be pristine, and this one is that. The course is gorgeous and the layout is stunning, with several holes perched up on a hill with sweeping vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. Past that, the course is short, playing less than 6800 from the tips, and under 6300 from the tees we played - I thought it wouldn't pose a tremendous challenge, even with my higher handicap of 17. Boy, was I wrong! After lulling you into a false sense of security on the short and not too difficult first, the second plays downhill across a stream to a wide fairway, but then goes sharply uphill, higher than the tee box was, to a green that repels golf balls and isn't where you think it is. Your approach shot will be blind mostly on this hole, and don't use the bunker as a guide to where the green is - the bunker is a good 30 yards short of the green. The par 3 third plays equally back downhill to a green fronted by a pond and backed by bunkers. The par 3 5th plays decidedly downhill but is about 220 from the tees we played. After the long and difficult 6th hole, you get something of a small reprieve on 7 and 8, a short par 4 and 5 respectively that offer scoring opportunities. 9 has a tee shot that will disappear from view, but aim to the left side of the fairway. The uphill shot to the green is tough. The back starts off with the longest hole on the course, a 600+ yard par 5. The trick on 11 is to either hit a tidy draw or lay back and hit a hybrid/long iron into the green. The 12th is the opposite, you either hit a fade or play a straight shot along the tree line right and then a mid iron in. The 14th is one the number 1 handicap hole on the course and one of the more majestic holes around. From a tee elevated some 40 feet above the fairway, you hit a partially blind tee shot to the fairway and then take and extra club to an elevated green. 15 features a completely blind approach to a green that sits in a bowl. 17 isn't tough until you reach the green, which is lightning fast - they all are - and has a false front. A 2 putt anywhere on this green is a great feat. A putt from the back of the green toward the middle can easily wind up back on the fairway.... The closer has bunkers binding the landing area and the green sits hard on a creek, but the hole could yield a number if played well.
This course is a gem, built in 1888. Short in length, but long on character and definitely tougher than you'd imagine. If you are a long hitter or a scratch golfer, this course likely won't give you much trouble. But if you are like me - a guy who plays bogey golf, particularly in the South on Bermuda strains, and on courses with little elevation changes, this course could eat you up. I also played with house clubs, and a different set each time (including graphite shafted irons on Saturday - never used them before and hope to never use them again...). That definitely didn't help the game....

Bayou Barriere is a complex that consists of 3 separate nine hole courses that can easily be played in any configuration. Typically, most people will play the Green course and the Gold course together as a front and back nine as they are the longer nines. The Purple nine has a quirkiness to it as it's charm, and it's layout is probably a bit more interesting than the other two nines as the par 4's are not all just straight line holes. The nine begins with an oddity - power lines cross the fairway of the first hole. They are absolutely in play too. I don't recall the ruling the course gives for hitting them; I believe it's a canceled shot. Depending on tees you are playing from, or even on a particular day's tee placements, you may hit your tee shot from atop a levee that protects the course from the busy Intracoastal Waterway. That would occur on the par 3's, the second and 4th holes. The course is flat and relatively nondescript. Aside from the canal and the power wires, there isn't anything interesting to speak of about the course. It's an inexpensive play where mostly locals gather. It's a bit outside of the city of New Orleans, but not so far as to be prohibitive - the TPC of Louisiana is farther outside the city. But because it's just a bare bones course, you wouldn't ever send anyone there to play a round of golf. It's a bit hardscrabble at times. There isn't any irrigation, so fairways are watered by rain. As such in dry times they dry out a lot and can burn. There are numerous small dugout ditches for drainage that dot the course. You'll find areas of burnt out grass, and the grasses aren't consistent - neither are the bunkers. The greens are typical push-up greens but they aren't really up to USGA standard. The clubhouse was redone several years ago and is very nice now, with decent space for post round drinks and hosting post tournament activities. My overall take is simple - this facility is not one I play often, not one I would go out of my way for and not one I'd recommend to anyone who would ever ask looking for a round of golf. But the people are nice, the price is good and the course isn't difficult, so I occasionally find myself there and usually when I do go, I have an OK time, but I'm reminded why I don't play there very often.

There are several very good courses in the Florida Panhandle area, but there are few better than Windswept Dunes. I chose this course over several others with great reviews, including the Camp Creek course which is rated as one of the top 30 courses in Florida (no small feat in a state with over 1,200 golf courses). It's a bit of a hike from the beach, sitting above Choctawatchee Bay in Freeport, but once you get there, you'll know why you came. A small modest parking lot and double wide trailer (so many courses have those - the promise of the grand clubhouse falls short...) clubhouse belie the course you're about to play. The driving range is nice and along the way to the first hole. I got to the first tee and was joined by a gentleman who actually works at the course - he was playing on his off day - so I got GREAT advice and a lot of information. HERE IS YOUR FIRST WARNING - Choose the right tees. There are 6 tee boxes to choose from - choose wisely or you'll have a LONG day. And I really mean LONG as this Doug O'Rourke design is one of if not THE longest course in Florida maxing out at 7752 yards from the Championship tees. I made the huge mistake of trying the course from the Tournament tees which is one forward from the back - at 7295 yards that's too much course for my skill level. But it was still a fun try. Second warning - don't even imagine walking this course. You may only play it at say 5700 yards but the course measures 7700 yards so you still would have to walk that extra 2000 yards... and there are several tees which are a hike from the previous green. The course is not overly hilly, but there is enough movement to the land that coupled with the long yardage, it's not a walkers course.
The course winds through high dunes, some as high as nearly 20 feet, in the piney hills of Northwest Florida. It's far enough off the path that they don't get a ton of play even though the course is gorgeous. A couple of guys who had played Camp Creek (which is pretty private but does allow occasional outside play) said Windswept Dunes was completely the equal of Camp Creek, and at a tremendously better price point. I paid about $70 on a Monday to play there and it's worth that, maybe more.
The course opens with a long par 4 with bunkers down the side - get used to that because there are bunkers on or along basically every hole on the course. It's a tough start with the number 5 handicap hole. They beat you up pretty good with the first 3 holes all being in the top 9 hardest on the course, but then relent on the next 3 holes. There are a few houses around the course, but the planned development of the subdivision stalled so there are roads to nowhere. The houses don't encroach on the course for the most part, so that's not an issue. And it's a broad shouldered course - there is room to miss in many places, but recovery isn't always easy... The back 9 felt a little easier than the front - it's about 167 yards shorter than the front. The fairways and greens were immaculate the day I played. The staff was welcoming and friendly. My partner was the best - I learned much about the course and he played it very well.
The signature hole is difficult to pinpoint. There isn't any one "wow" hole on the course as they are all really solid holes in their own right. The par 5 8th hole is picturesque and challenging, as is the par 4 15th, a cut as much as you dare to dogleg left par 4.
If you ever venture to the Florida Panhandle area this course is an absolute MUST play. There are quite a few of those in the Destin/Panama City area, but there are none quite on this level.

I've played this course several times over the years, with mixed emotions. I have never been overly disappointed nor overjoyed with the course, but I will say that this round left me with a better than normal thought of the place. Maybe because I played it better than normal! It's a country club type course - homes around it in a nice neighborhood. The course only tips out at 6556 so it's not a long course and at 71.9/126, it's not a terribly difficult course. Local knowledge will go a LONG way here though, and it starts on the first hole. If you don't know there is water right in front of the green, even though it looks like a run-up approach from the right is OK (it's not), you'll be doomed. There are a few places like that, where hazards jump up that you can't see from the tee. Overall, the layout is nice. When I played the greens were slower than they should have been, so putting was a chore. On the front the signature hole is the 7th, which is an interesting par 5. A 513 yard dogleg right, the tee shot is a forced carry over a lake and you have to decide how much you're willing to bite off. If your target is the tree or bunker next to it, note that the fairway is actually BEHIND those landmarks, and it is relatively narrow there. That said, that's a good target line if you are a medium length driver. Safe play is to the left of those landmarks, where a 220-240 yard shot puts you safely in play, but you'll be laying up. Aggressive play is to try and play to the right of the tree - that's going to require about 260-275 yards worth of drive. Short puts you in the rough and hampers your chances of going for the green in 2. The green is smallish, protected in front again by a small arm of that same lake. The back has a couple of interesting holes. The par 4 11th has water crossing the hole in front of the green. The hole runs away from you and toward the water at an odd angle so be careful and take enough club. Water fronts the green at the long par 5 13th hole - make a note of it. The 18th is a great closing hole - good risk reward. Not a long hole at 399, you have to carry water to the fairway. The bunker could be your target line - landing short of it is perfect. To the right of it is aggressive but can be rewarded with a short iron in. Too far right could land you in the water which runs and expands (unseen from the tee) towards a tree which would be the far right edge of your target area. Choose wisely.... Practice area is minimal and subpar. The overall of the facility and course is better than average, but not leaps and bounds better. However if someone says lets head out and play it, you should go. Relative to other courses in the area at that price point ($42 Tues-Fri; $52 Sat & Sun, closed Mondays), it's as good as or better than those courses. It's a little ways from Downtown New Orleans though... If there is a draw, it's the closest semi-private course to the airport, only about 15 minutes from Louis Armstrong International.

If you go to Orlando and you think you're going to make some time for a round, consider driving up to this resort. I actually chose the course in part due to reviews here. Mission Inn has 2 courses; I chose the El Campeon course due to it's history and great reviews. It did not disappoint. I booked a tee time online and showed up a couple of minutes late. No problems, the course was not busy. This was on Memorial Day... What course isn't busy on Memorial Day? And then the second course was closed! And still it wasn't busy.
The course is lovely and unusual as it sits in the hill country of Florida. After the first 3 holes get you going, the 4th is such a departure - you tee off across a pond, which is about 60 feet below your tee box, across to a fairway that is decidedly uphill, so much so that your second shot is basically blind. This goes on for the next few holes - 5 plays downhill, 6 plays uphill, 7 plays downhill. The course is very well maintained and it's a great blend of challenge and fun. I assume due to it's location about 45 minutes northwest of Orlando, the prices can be quite affordable - it's definitely a great value. I got lucky when I played. The weather was great - a little warm, but not terrible. Right after I finished playing a good soaker came through. Good timing. I can't recommend this course enough - I'll definitely look to go back there.

I've played this course 3 times now, and I enjoy it equally every time I play it. The layout is somewhat links-ish with the only trees being very small and since there is open farmland all around the course, the wind is regularly an issue. The layout is nice with a good mix of holes. There are a good few shortish par 4's but there are also some brutish fours and a couple of 5's that really put your game to the test. The course is very well maintained, the greens are very fast and undulating, but true. The rating and slope belie the challenges of this course, especially when the wind is up - as it has been each time I've played it. The only drawbacks are non-golf course related - the clubhouse is temporary as they haven't built a permanent house; the carts don't have a covered shed, so they are weather worn, and the cart paths are... let's just say less than good. There are a couple of good walks on the course from green to tee but it's not unwalkable; the course has man made movement, but is relatively flat. For the money, it's a great deal. Kind of in the middle of nowhere, which makes it hard to get to but usually means it's less crowded. My understanding is it was recently sold and the new owners intend to make it a private facility, so play it soon.

I am not a member, but this course is located less than half a mile from my house, so it's the one I play most often. My latest round was with my golf group, a club tournament, but I normally play here several times a month. Stonebridge has undergone many changes over the years, a re-do, flipping of the first 2 nines and then back again, and numerous changes in the golf professionals and management. Through it all, the course itself has done OK. The re-do has it draining relatively well. The fairways are mostly good, the greens are iffy. They may or may not be cut well, and there are a few greens with some tough spots on them. The layout is pretty flat and at just under 7000, it's not too terribly long from the tips. Due to the nature of the routing through a neighborhood, there isn't much drama to the course - there are a lot of pretty straight lines; only the par 4 17th hole bends more than 25*. Scoring opportunities abound, starting with the short par 4 second hole and highlighted by the 520 par-5 15th hole which is fairly often reachable in 2 for better players. Bring extra golf balls - there is either OB or water (and often both) on all but one hole on the course. There are some narrow fairways as well. They also offer a third nine holes, the Harvey nine, across a canal from the "main" course. Originally marketed as a 27-hole venue, the third nine is much shorter than the others and puts more a premium on target golf. Often, the maintenance on that nine isn't as good as the regular 18. The value on this course is good; they understand they are not a destination course and they are priced reasonably. Currently, there is a project to armor the walls of the canal that runs adjacent to the first 3 holes and separates the middle 3 holes of the front nine from the others, as well as separating the Harvey 9 from the rest of the course. This will make for some difficulties playing along the first 3 holes for the remainder of this year and likely into next year. Overall, I like the place because it's my home. It's tough for people like me who tend to not be so straight, but it's not so tough as to not be good golf.

Timberlane is a former private club which, like many others in the area, has felt the pinch of the economy and has opened its doors to the general public. Membership still has priority, but it's down now so there's a good balance in the play. The course is an old Robert Trent Jones Sr. design (1959), but it's wedged into neighborhoods, so it's really kind of tight in places. The front nine features a lot of parallel fairways, but they did make decent use of the available land. The back winds through the homes. The rough can get gnarly, especially when wet. The finishing hole is short, but requires a good approach to the right green level, or par isn't guaranteed.
The course is a favorite of locals because it's not usually very crowded and they run really good weekday specials. It's the only course in the area with a lighted driving range.
Beware as you go to the first tee... you go through a tunnel under a major roadway. There are some pipes running next to the roadway that you think you won't be able to go under - you can, but boy is is scary!

Played this course today for the first time in several years. Wanted to remind myself why I'd stopped playing it, and see if it had improved. It is still what it was - a well worn, tight older layout. 27 holes are shoehorned into an area that would fit one fantastic 18 hole course. What works - for all the tightness of the course and hundreds of trees, it's not unfair and it's as interesting as you could make it given the space. The land could use some rolling to even it out a bit - the ground is bumpy. The greens today were hairy, and it hasn't rained here in some time so there was no reason for that. Every hole on the Green 9 is a straight shot. There are two holes with "doglegs" on the Gold 9 and a few on the Purple 9. While short, the Purple 9 is the most interesting. Oddity - power lines run across the course, affecting the first tee shot on each 9. Oddity #2 - internal OB. Hate it anywhere. I understand the why - the par 5 4th hole on the Gold 9 is a dogleg right. You need to hit about 225-250 straight off the back tee to get to where you can see the fairway for the second shot. Used to be that many folks would hit a shot to the right (especially from the white tees) and play it through the 3rd hole's fairway. That was very dangerous because they'd be hitting right at anyone coming up 3. It's against the spirit of what the hole is also. So they made the 4th hole OB if you play towards the 3rd green and fairway. Trees fairly well obscure that shot nowadays so it's hardly necessary. I get it, I just don't like it... I won't dog the course - it's only $35 on the weekday, and you get $5 of that back as a key deposit. It's bare bones golf, but it's enough challenge to keep the ball straight and get to the right levels/depths on the greens. You get what you pay for, and I mean that in a good way. Also good is the renovated clubhouse. It's very similar to the old clubhouse layout, which was good, but it's upgraded. And for a small time operation, they sell decent items at good prices in the Pro Shop.

This course has been closed for 3 years. Allegedly there will be a redesign, but there is nothing in the works currently. It is also ridiculous that I had to put down that I played there as part of this review, and that the only options were within a year. The course closed in February of 2011 - no, I have not played this course in the last 3 years...

DO NOT look at the scorecard for this course and think it's not real golf. Often people see the par of 62 or the 5700 yard length and think - short and easy. Short on length, long on substance, this is what a reconstruct on a limited plot of land can be.
The old Audubon layout was an unappealing slog. The renovated Audubon will test every club in your bag and make you realize how good your iron game needs to be. Course is always in great shape and the greens are among the best in the South - there is rarely a blemish on them. Being short the pace of play is usually excellent, and the length lends itself to a somewhat easier round for younger players and newbies. There are only a couple of forced carries. In the city proper, you could catch a streetcar and ride uptown, then walk through Audubon Park to the clubhouse. Great for people short on time or business folks.

Joseph Bartholomew was famous for being a golf course architect who built several courses on which he'd never get to play due to the color of his skin. As a black man, he wasn't able to play on the private Metairie Country Club course he built, or the City Park courses he designed. His namesake course is part of a development called Pontchartrain Park. The area also has some athletic fields and is across the street from Southern University at New Orleans.
The course was underwater for some time during Hurricane Katrina and was completely redone, reopening in 2011. The layout has remained basically the same as the original, with the exception of a few holes, but the course is now much more sustainable agronomically. The layout is pretty flat, with the front nine ringing the outside of the course and the back nine winding it's way through the inside. The feature hole is probably the par 5 15th hole. In the original design the water really wasn't as much a factor on this hole; now your second shot is a risk/reward stroke. A good drive will leave you with a hybrid/long iron into a green that has just enough water in front of it to bring some doubt in. You can opt to play safe out to the right or go for it in two.
The rates are usually good - they are still working on a permanent clubhouse to replace the trailer on property. The practice facilities are meager right now, a good driving range but not much in the way of a short game area. But the people you'll encounter there are very friendly. When I was a student at the University of New Orleans which is right down the road, I'd often stop off for a round after school and just pair up with whomever was teeing off.
This isn't a course you're going to gush over. It's bare bones golf. It's not real long, even from the tips, and it's not a difficult layout. But it's as nice of bare bones golf as you'd want.

It's a hike from anywhere to get here but once you're here you'll be happy you came. The Atchafalaya is all the golf you want. Challenging with tough greens, the course is also gorgeous with wildlife and flora. I appreciated that even though the course is in great shape I still saw areas that were getting some attention to improve the course. The course is difficult but fair - there aren't tricks to it; you have to play the shots designer Robert von Hagge intended you to play. In that regard it is very much like other von Hagge courses I've played. I enjoyed the work the superintendent has put in - the course is vibrant, the greens are true and the layout is solid. I didn't have an opportunity to sample the fare in the clubhouse, but as we pulled in to play people were waiting to be seated for lunch at the restaurant, so I assume it's quite the menu they have there as well. The clubhouse is a beautiful if oversized Acadian cottage, with a wraparound porch. It overlooks the double green of 9 & 18 and sits up so you can see quite a bit of the layout. There isn't much negative to say about the course - I wish it was closer to me so I could play it more!