beprimeau

I hadn’t played this course this summer because the rack rate is too expensive for what you get. But as a Golf Now Hot Deal, it was worth it. I was surprised that several traps were under repair, since I think they had a major sand trap rebuild just 3 or 4 years ago. The greens and fairways were in very good shape. A couple of the greens have ridiculous amount of slope (11 & 13). given how fast the greens generally are here. I was above the hole on 13 in regulation and hit my putt about 2 inches and it rolled 5 yards off the green! A couple of the holes are impossible for a middle handicap golfer (7 & 13). For years I thought #7 was a par 5! Then I got a 4 on it one day and was celebrating my birdie and my playing partner told me that was just a par. This course is on a small plot of land, so several holes are claustrophobic. I’ve played the course enough as a guest that I’m used to the weird holes, but I didn’t like them at first. The new electric carts are very nice, with great pick-up and automatic parking brake. But the cart paths are REALLY bumpy and in bad repair.

This is a pretty nice course, with the exception of about 3 funky holes (4, 10, & 12 are pretty ridiculous). The back nine is much tougher than the front. I played 2 days in a row and each day I shot 8-10 shots worse on the back nine and lost about 6 balls each day. Many of the holes are pretty narrow, with danger on both sides. The greens are in nice shape, as are most of the fairways, although the areas around the cart paths can be pretty patchy. Some of the cart paths need to be replaced. I play this course because it is convenient to my sister-in-law’s lake house and it is a decent track and reasonably priced.

Greens were in excellent shape. Fairways were mostly good except for some drainage problems. There are a lot of different types of holes and the property is pretty with some elevation changes. There are a lot of places to lose balls with several creeks, forced carries, and sagebrush. I set a new personal record by losing 8 balls during the round. About half of those were my fault, but half were from the course setup, with forced carries and hidden hazards and thick brush that penalized a miss with a lost ball. I think I might do better next time, with a better idea of where to miss. I might also play the hybrid tees to give me some more manageable approach shot yardages.

The greens were in excellent shape as were most of the fairways except for some drainage problems in places. A few holes were cart path only, which is always a pain. There was a lot of variety to the holes and a lot of elevation changes, some great views. However, there are LOTS of places to lose balls and lots of forced carries. I was having an off day with my swing, but I lost 8 balls, which may be a new personal record. Several holes have a creek or ravine right in front of the green, so if you hit short, there’s another ball lost. Because of the sagebrush, if you hit it way off-line, don’t even bother looking: it might as well be at the bottom of a pond. Maybe if I played it a few more times I would learn where to miss it and where not to, but as a first-time player I got blindsided a few times. Nice driving range (although mats only) and nice practice green.

I enjoy this course more every time I play it. There are some tricks to know about where to aim, what side to miss it on, or where to take an extra club, so as you gain familiarity, your score can come down. The fairways and greens are in good shape, even if the rough it pretty weedy. The traps were fair compared to some places around here that are dirt dusted with sand. There are a variety of holes, with some pretty wide open and some tight, some doglegs and some straightaway, so it is never boring. There is only one crazy hole that seems weird or unfair to me, the 18th, which is so narrow and crooked that it almost requires a miracle. The rates are very reasonable and a good deal for the quality of the course and the conditions. The walking rate is a bargain and the course is very walkable. I am retired and tend to play at off-times, so I have never had much trouble with pace of play here.

A picture perfect fall day: sunny, 75-80 degrees, light wind. The greens had just been aerated, but they were still in great shape. Unlike many courses, Trophy Club did not spread too much sand, so the greens were very puttable, just maybe not quite as lightning fast as they usually are. Things got a little backed up on the back 9, but I still finished in just under 4 hours. I like the variety of holes. This is definitely a thinking man’s course, as there are some hazards that aren’t always obvious from the tee and there are definitely right place to miss the greens and places you don’t want to go at all costs. So I am learning how to play it and enjoying it more each time by learning from my past mistakes!

This course is a hidden gem. It is just beautiful, both the landscape and the condition of the course. The fairways are in country club condition: green and lush. The greens are fast but do not have unfair undulations or extreme slopes, so I was able to adjust to the speed. The layout has a nice variety of holes, with some in the woods, some fairly open, some water, some sand, some elevated, a few blind shots. There are hazards but usually a bailout option is provided. I played it for the first time last summer and I was so impressed by it that I just had to get back before this season was over and I was very glad I did. It was a beautiful warm, sunny fall day and I had a blast. There was a good number of players on the course for a weekday, but I was able to play through a couple groups and got in 18 in 3 hours. It is an hour to drive from Lafayette, but worth it.

Playing with my brother & son on a Tuesday and we enjoyed ourselves on the Lakes course. We found it a little easier than the Hills but not as scenic. The greens were in good shape with some contour but not scary or ridiculously fast. Sand traps were more playable than the courses I play in Indiana (actually have some decent sand in them). The relative absence of trees makes wayward drives more forgiving , but there are plenty of fairway traps, ponds , and weeds to make you pay attention on your tee shots. The GPS on the carts is really helpful, with yardages to traps and to carry hazards. I have enjoyed every round I’ve played at Red Hawk, either Hills or Lake. Rates are reasonable, more so with Hot Deals or afternoon tee times. Practice area could be nicer: driving range chewed up and practice green has too much slope to get a good idea of the speed.

This was the first time I walked this course and I was pleased that it was pretty walkable. It does have some climbs, but at least there are no really long hikes from the green to the next tee. As a walker I would have appreciated it if they had mown more short cuts for walkers as an alternative to following the cart path. An extra 100 yards is nothing for a motor cart but a burden for a walker with a pull cart.

I enjoyed this course a lot more from the senior tees than when I used to play it from the men’s tees (I am 68), although some of the senior tees were TOO short (par 4’s less than 300 yards). I played some of the holes from the white tees for this reason. This course has a nice variety of holes and there are definitely some things to learn about how to play the holes. Some of the holes are deceptive from the tee, where hazards are hidden or the fairway shifts left or right in the landing area. So it is a thinking man’s course.

The fairways and greens were in very good condition considering how hot it has been and how little rain we have had. The greens are fairly much faster than the other courses I play regularly and the greens have some significant slopes, so you really have to study your putt and think hard. It could be a long day for someone who can’t handle fast greens. The rough was not too long, so being off the fairway was a mild penalty, but not death, which made it more fun for me. The sand traps were not in great shape: the one I was in on #18 was a dusting of sand on top of hard-pack. Many of the traps had seen a lot of water but hadn’t been groomed recently (I was playing on a Tuesday).

Another problem for a walker is that the carts have pin position sheets and hole diagrams and pointers, but they do not have any handouts for a walker. I have started to make my own “book” about where to aim the tee shots and where to miss on the approaches. It came in handy yesterday and I added a few notes to it!

The course is in good shape, with a variety of holes, both in length and challenge. What I appreciate is that there is usually not danger on both sides at once, so there is almost always an option to bail out to the safe side. This is in contrast to a course like Golf Club of Indiana, where every green has bunkers on both sides and can be a trial if you are not hitting it on the button that day. Traps could have more sand in them or more frequent grooming, but the greens and fairways are well-kept. The fees are among the most reasonable around here, especially for seniors, and there are twilight rates, as well as Golf Now Hot Deals. The course is fairly flat, but all of the par 5's are double doglegs with trees, which makes them a challenge. We haven't had much problem with getting a tee time or pace of play, but we rarely play in the weekend 8-12 busy time.

I have played this course 2-3 times a year for several years, mostly as a change of pace or to accommodate a friend who lives nearby. It is a fair drive for me (50 minutes) and i only play when there is a Golf Now Hot Deal because the rack rate is too salty for my budget. But I think I've decided that the layout is too funky for my taste. There are 5 holes with almost 90-degree doglegs, which I think is poor course design. Two holes have large trees practically in the middle of the fairway, which is unfair. Both of these holes also have very steep uphill placement of the greens, which is personally my least favorite type of hole. On the plus side, the course is generally in good shape and there are a variety of holes, from claustrophobic to wide open. The greens are generally fairly undulating but not unfair. The sand traps seem well maintained.

I used to hate this course because of a couple very funky holes and being very tight from the men's tees. But since I've started playing from the senior tees I have enjoyed it much more. A few of the holes were just impossible for me from the men's tees because of the length and the narrowness of the fairways, but are much more do-able from the senior tees. The management has put a lot of money into improving the course conditions, with a complete rebuilding of most of the sand traps. The greens are fast but mostly fair with a couple exceptions (I still hate #11 and #13, and # 3 is borderline). There are a variety of holes, although the course is mostly tight with trees on both sides on most holes. I only play here on Golf Now Hot Deals now, because the rack rate is higher than nearby courses that are nicer and this course does not offer any senior rates. The driving range fees are ridiculous, $6 or $7 for what would only suffice for a quick warm-up. The practice green is one of the most sloped practice greens I've ever seen, which makes it very hard to get a good feel for the speed, because every putt is either severely uphill or downhill. But I still enjoy a round here frequently when I can get a Golf Now Hot Deal.

Playing in Reno for the first time. It was a Monday, but we had no one in front of us or behind. Course was in pretty good shape, a layout with some elevation changes, variety of holes to keep your interest. It was not too punitive, always somewhere to put your tee shot, but it was not wide open by any means. Plenty of bunkers, both for the drive and the approach shot. Greens were a little slow, but there was enough slope to the greens to demand your attention. We only lost two balls in our twosome and those were some very wayward shots, one OB and one in the weeds. My only complaint is the golf cart restrictions, where the cart would not go all the way to the far edge of the rough? Huh? Who makes up these rules? But I would happily play here again.

I used to hate this course when I played it from the regular men's tees. Some very long par 4's and some very scary tee shots. But as I've turned 65 I started playing it from the senior tees and I had a lot more fun. Most of the yardage chopped off is on the long-long par 4's and par 5's that become much more do-able. There are still two pretty crazy holes, 13 and 15 that could use some remodeling to make them fairer. The greens are cut short and kept quite fast, which means that sometimes the ball marks leave quite a bit of damage, but the course is generally in good shape this year. All the traps were rebuilt last year and are in great shape. There are some pretty crazily sloped greens here (3, 10, 11, 13) that recall the TV commentators' advice: "Oh, you just CAN'T leave yourself above the hole on this green." I wish they offered some more discount times on GolfNow too: I paid the member's guest price, which is much more reasonable than the public walk-up price.

We had a great day playing in ideal temperatures, course uncrowded. My only complaint is that they need to have a set of tees around 6000 yards. They go from 6400+ down to 5600. At 6400 the men's tees are a tall order for me, with 3 par 4's that are well over 400 yards, a par 3 that is over 200 yards, and LONG dog-leg par 5's that would require three sterling shots. Next time I'm going to play the maroon tees even though it threatens my masculinity. But a 457 par 4? Really?