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Crane Watch Club
Played On 03/25/2018Must have been something in its day
You can see the "age" in the design, but that is not a bad thing sometimes.
Time has ravaged it a bit, however. The cart paths are worn and in need of repair, the carts are limping along, the tee boxes could use a good trimming, and boy oh boy does this course ever need an irrigation system!
(and a ranger!!)
That being said, if someone could put a bunch of $$$ into it I'd play it again. The layout is nice, the water is in play but not hidden in any way, and some of the tee boxes were (at one time) probably really special with the added elevations and features.
Maybe I'll try it again after several days of rain. :)
Jensen Beach Golf Club
Played On 02/24/2018New Ownership Again Maybe?
Sadly, Eagle Marsh is starting to revert back to the bad old days of ownership. The tee boxes (in many cases) are devoid of grass, the bunkers are starting to get overrun with grass, there are weeds surrounding the greens, etc. For a while, a lot of money was put into Eagle Marsh and was a joy to play. I am hopeful that if new ownership does indeed happen (again!) then all this bad juju will be a thing of the past.
It can be a great course again - it truly can. It's a Fazio design and it can give you all that you can handle and more. Let's just hope it soon becomes what it should be. I'd have to advise most folks to stay away until that happens, however.
<fingers crossed for improvements>
Streamsong Resort - Blue Course
Played On 03/15/2017Once was enough $$
Let's start with a few simple questions. Do you enjoy $95 golf shirts? How about $45 tee shirts? Does $255 for a walking round (+ $15 for a pull cart if you decide against forking out another $150 for a caddy and gratuity) make your eyes light up? If so, come to papa - we've got you covered.
Make no mistake, this is a nice golf course. A REALLY nice course. Yes, #7 Blue is a stunning par 3, and yes the view off #1 from the elevated tee is nice. Cutting off the water on #14 and going for the green in two is a challenge, and splitting the mounds off the tee at #18 brings the round to a fitting conclusion. The greens are huge, and they move in ways I have still not figured out. Everyone from the bag drop people to the starters are wonderful - I assume the caddies are as well.
It's a great course, it truly is. It's not Bandon Dunes or Cabot Cliifs/Links - both are better plays for the money. It's just that where it is and how long it takes to get there and what to do after the round don't add up. Again, if you think the more it costs the better it is then this place is for you. As for myself, I'll check it off the list, say I played it, and move on.
Unless, of course, the shirts go on sale. :)
Newport Golf Club
Played On 05/22/2016Send In The Goats
It's bad.
Make no mistake about it.
Sometimes the fairways have grass on them, sometimes they don't.
Sometimes the tee boxes do, sometimes they don't.
Sometimes whoever is shooting a howitzer in the distance actually doesn't do it on your back swing.
And on and on it goes.
Holes 2-4 are an absolute joke, but you do get to risk your life by taking your cart (circa 1953, complete with ripped seats) across a very busy road to get to them. Once there, you get to be loudly serenaded by whatever third rate band is entertaining the drunk patrons of the Moose Lodge (which is approximately 6 inches away from the tee box).
The bunkers have sand from a construction site in them (if they aren't totally overgrown with weeds or filled with rocks), they actually have the gall to charge $65 on a weekend, the... oh why bother.
Stay as far away from this place as you can.
Lochmere Golf & Country Club
Played On 05/21/2016A Tale Of Two Nines
OK, I'll be honest - after the front nine I couldn't understand why everyone thought so highly of this course. The holes were packed tight together, it seemed as if everyone was either putting or teeing off within 20 yards of each other, and aside from a couple of character holes I didn't see much to get excited about.
But make the turn...
All of a sudden you're playing a secluded back nine with long par 4's and views and wonderfully manicured greens and all kinds of interesting holes and views and, well... I'm impressed.
Now, even though I found the front nine a bit lacking do not for a minute think the fairway to green conditioning was not first rate -it most certainly was (the tee boxes could use a bit of work, however). This is a course where you'll find an interesting mix of players, a cart person always at the ready, and some of the most hospitable staff you will ever encounter anywhere.
Give it a try.
Spring Creek Golf Club
Played On 05/13/2016When You're Off, It's Still On
The goal of any golf course is to maximize your enjoyment despite the fact that a) your swing can't find the fairways with the Hubble Space Telescope and b) you have decided that the best way to grip the club is to replicate crocodile jaws at full throttle.
Spring Creek delivered. In spades.
Despite a less than stellar outing and less than ideal weather (cart path only) this course was an absolute pleasure. From the opening dog-leg par 4 to the beautiful par 4 18th there were times when one just stood back and admired the beauty of the design. Multiple sets of tees allowed for all handicap levels to enjoy the round, and native grasses and dense vegetation acted as forced carries for the better players. As for the greens, fast but true.
So, it's almost golfing nirvana, save for the fact that these native (high!) grasses find their way near the greens on several holes. An approach just off the green will find them (trust me), and they seem a bit penal in nature and rather unnecessary.
This course may go private in the near future, so don't delay. Enjoy it with both old friends and new (Hi Mike!) - you will not regret it.
Amana Colonies Golf Club
Played On 06/13/201518 holes of sameness
First off, the good:
The course is in exceptional condition. Fairways and tee boxes are well maintained, the greens run true, and the surrounding scenery/wildlife is exceptional. The natural beauty here is stunning.
Now the bad: The bunkers are a mess. Not maintained at all. Stay out of them, lest you want to hit out of holes that a guy on an excavator made last week.
Now the bizarre: Who the heck designed this thing? Every hole, and I mean EVERY hole, is uphill to a blind pin. Now, add a blind tee shot to many of these, then slope the fairway, then hide what passes for a landing area, and finally route almost all the holes in the same manner. It got to the point where we could literally describe the next hole, and the hole after that, and the hole after that. I don't think I have ever played a course that was so ridiculously designed. It is almost comical the way every hole bears a remarkable resemblance to the other 17. I wonder if the designer was upset that he couldn't make the par 3's blind off the tee, but he did his best to make them uphill.
It really is a shame, because the land is just begging for a golf course with a little bit of creativity - you know, silly things like doglegs and holes that play downhill, or holes that need a little bit of earth moved to give them a sense of individuality. I seem to be in the minority here, but I wouldn't get within 100 miles of Amana Colonies again, unless they let me play for free and let me take a nap halfway through.
Jensen Beach Golf Club
Played On 03/29/2015Going downhill fast
Played here for the first time after deciding to see for myself re: all the comments on the condition. Guess what, you were all correct. Weeds growing in the bunkers, "sand" (term used loosely) was piled in corners or non-existent, some tee boxes hadn't seen grass since Lincoln was president, fairways overrun with weeds, greens patchy and slow - you get the idea.
It is quite the shame, really, as the course is a Fazio design and is really nicely routed, although there is long cart drive between some holes, and is not walkable. In its day it must have been quite the looker, but until someone makes an effort to fix it up it will most probably continue to go downhill. I'd look for other places to play.
(I should have known what I was in for when I checked the divot mix box on the cart and found a banana peel and an empty box of Marlboro Lights in there).
What a mess!
The good news is that this Tom Fazio designed course is a wonderful design, and has the potential to be as nice as it probably was when it first opened.
The bad news is that I can not remember playing a course as poorly maintained as this. There was not ONE bunker on the course that was playable - the liners were showing (tattered and blowing in the breeze), what little sand there was was either baked rock hard or a sea of mud from where the rains came, and the bunkers topography. looked like a lava flow. The fringe around most greens was a mix of grass and weeds, and during our round we saw ONE maintenance person trying to stay ahead of us and hand water the greens. Even the tee boxes needed attention.
For those looking for a pro shop/clubhouse, be advised that there isn't one. A temporary trailer is in place, but it looks as if plans for a clubhouse are, well, not in the plans. This was not bothersome to me, but the fact that the folks in the pro shop did not tell us about ANY of the course issues/conditions certainly was. No excuse for that.
As this course is professionally managed by one of the most well known names in golf I can not understand why it is in the shape it is in. It looks as if it is trying to stay ahead of impending financial trouble, or perhaps is anticipating same and just leaving the course to fend for itself.
If the management folks can get their act together this will be a beautiful and challenging place to play. Until then, I would urge you to stay far far away from it.
Play Payne Stuart or Ledgestone if you're in the area, but skip this one until things straighten out.
LedgeStone Country Club
Played On 8/17/2013Well worth the money
This is a nicely maintained layout with two very distinctive nines. The front nine, while challenging, is somewhat tame elevation wise. The back nine, however, is a whole 'nother story. Lots of elevation changes, uphill greens, sloping fairways and interesting pin placements make for quite a change of pace. Holes 15-18 are exceptionally strong finishing holes.
Comfort wise, there were plenty of on course rest rooms, drinking water was plentiful, and cart refreshments showed up 5(!) times during the round.
Play this one - you won't be disappointed.
Saying the bunkers are well maintained is simply not true. They are very inconsistent to say the least. Sometimes youll have 1/4 inch of sand, the next time 3 inches. They need to be redone quite frankly and have new 21st century tiling/drainage placed in them. That being said.. this course is still an amazing value and one of the best public tracks in the state of Iowa.
Must be upset losing a bunch of balls. You must have played after it rained. The bunkers are always kept up well. This course is unique and creative , might not set up to your shot type though. Every hole is different with lots of challenges. It's a top 3 public course in Iowa for sure.
This guy. Yes the course design can be frustrating (if you don't hit a draw) but every single par 3 is downhill. Not sure which course this person played.