How to write a great golf course review

Whether glowing, critical or somewhere in between, a well-written golf course review is an act of generosity towards curious fellow golfers.
Playing golf evokes a wide range of thoughts and feelings. The best course reviews give readers a strong sense of what the golfer experienced, what made it special and what could be improved upon.

No matter where you look around NBCUniversal, golf is never too far away. We've been broadcasting the sport since 1954, and today, celebs take swings on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon or Keeping up with the Kardashians, while also the serving as the home for today's most storied championships. Golf Channel features a roster of experts, many of whom are past champions, who provide expert insight on the game we love.

Our golf course reviewers are a little different. This is where everyday golfers like you get to have a say in what makes the game great - or sometimes not so much. These reviews come from everyday golfers, casual to avid. Our platform stands out because our reviews are about golf courses only - no restaurants or theme parks or dry cleaners!

And since we began accepting reviews in the fall of 2012, our platform has surpassed 1.25 million reviews from around the world! (UPDATE April 2023: we just passed the 2 million reviews mark!)

In golf, we all may have different skill levels and points of view, but we all share an authentic viewpoint as a paying customer who had an expectation about the round based on the price and how the course is marketed. That's why our reviews have been so valuable.

If you've played a golf course, you can write a review! Not only can you help us reach this milestone of 1 million reviews, but you will help golfers around the world make the right decision when it comes time to booking their next tee time.

We also love to share great reviews on social media, in articles written by our editorial staff and our homepage. Be sure to tag us whenever you play golf on Twitter or Instagram!

Here are a few tips for writing a great review:

- Provide a glimpse into what the course layout is like and what type of player it may suit. Is it penal or fair? Senior or beginner-friendly?

- Compare the course to others in the area to give you an idea of why it stands out. This review from Andyglad1 on Gold Canyon's Dinosaur Mountain course is a great example of telling readers exactly which courses he played on his trip and how this course stacked up.

- If you're playing a course on a vacation or business trip, did the course feel like a true destination golf experience? Or could you plop this course into any ubiquitous U.S. suburb?

- Conversely, if you're playing a course you've played before, has the experience gotten better or worse? Or has the price risen or dropped?

- How long should the review be? Some courses and experiences will inspire words more than others. Feel free to write as much or as little as you'd like. In fact, text is optional, and so are the six subcategory ratings (conditions, layout, value, staff friendliness, off-course facilities, pace of play). The more info you can provide the better.

A few more suggestions:

- It's always great to give golfers a heads up to any newsy events. Has the course redone anything since your last visit? Did someone in the pro shop tell you about any events coming to the course, like a renovation or new equipment?

- The value category is an excellent indicator of how you felt the round stacked up to the money you paid to play the course.

- Golf is typically played in beautiful places and we love when visuals accompany a review. Be sure to upload a picture or video (or both!). You can do so on a mobile device or desktop computer.

- There is helpful and unhelpful criticism. If the course has recently suffered from excessive rains, or drought, or recently performed a lot of maintenance, or is coming out of over-seed or off-season, be fair about it. I've also never been a fan of basing the subject of your review on one marginal customer service encounter. If it's a trend, then it's worth mentioning.

You can read our staff course reviews, but I would also browse our Local Advisor page. These golfers are handpicked by our staff because they write passionate and useful reviews.

Is there anything you look for in particular when reading a golf course review? Let us know in the comments below. I look forward to reading your reviews and thank you for your contributions to GolfPass!

More helpful reviews from our raters

If you’re looking to get the full Tom Fazio experience in the Austin area, Barton Creek has you covered with his wildly fantastic Fazio Foothills course. A spectacular layout, pristine conditions, and all the amenities of a premium golf resort make Foothills a must-play destination for all Fazio fans. As a Local Advisor, I was invited to play here as a non resort guest but paid for my round in full. The course design might seem a bit tricked up to the more conservative golfer but I found the massively elevated tees, various hazards, and numerous nearby waterfalls made for an exciting and eventful round.
- Back9Ben
The best round I played in Scotland? Turnberry. The best experience I had in Scotland? Playing into the Auld Grey Toon at the Old Course. But, the best golf course I played in Scotland? Hands down, Royal Dornoch. There is something ethereal about Dornoch. It is a shame more golfers don’t make the trek way up into the Highlands to experience it. Dornoch may not be in the Open rota, but it is absolutely a heavyweight.
- BrandonWebb
This Tom Fazio collaboration with Lanny Wadkins & disciple Beau Welling is an excellent option in the greater Myrtle Beach area, about 20 minutes south of the main "Grand Strand". Has a "Poor Man's Pinehurst" feel to it with beautiful tree-lined fairways amidst pine straw hazards and well-placed white-sanded bunkers. Very strong Par 5's and some good variety in the Par 4's with some very challenging and others drivable. The Par 3's are the standout signature holes. Greens hold well and were in very good shape. Very nice clubhouse and now Dustin Johnson branded golf school (he's from the area). Staff was extremely nice and kept us hydrated on a hot spring afternoon. Superb pace of play for a Sunday round. Great value at only $69 in Early June.
- BTweed1683

Brandon Tucker is the Sr. Managing Editor for GolfPass and was the founding editor of Golf Advisor in 2014, he was the managing editor for Golf Channel Digital's Courses & Travel. To date, his golf travels have taken him to over two dozen countries and nearly 600 golf courses worldwide. While he's played some of the most prestigious courses in the world, Tucker's favorite way to play the game is on a great muni in under three hours. Follow Brandon on Twitter at @BrandonTucker and on Instagram at @btuck34.
22 Comments

Is there a way to search within the Local Advisors to see what courses they've rated or at least where they are located? That's a great idea but without search function not as helpful as it could be...

Had a great day with a friend golfing today. Course was is great condition. Tee boxes were in 7 out of 10 shape, fairways were freshly cut, Greens perfect flag was in a couple tough spots. Over all course was 9 out of 10. Clubhouse crew were excellent. Carts nicely staged and clean.
Get the chance, Golf this course.

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Just got done playing 5 days at the Turning Stone resort in Verona,NY.. what a treat..first the 3 courses were in great condition, second the accommodations at the lodge were as good as any. Third the food was amazing at the casino restaurants... don’t know else to say other than a better experience than say. The greenbrier. A must buddies trip...

does it take awhile for your review to go through. it hasn't showed up yet.

24-48 hours in moderation, yes. Thank you .

Thanks

I stopped playing golf almost a decade just started up again about four years ago it certainly isn’t like riding a bicycle vest for sure but why I’d like to say is Dobson Ranch has proved invaluable to help get my game back in order from the Lyft driving range at night for practice facility putting area chipping area in the golf course itself was A great help in confidence building as I’m not as a straight hitter as I used to be so in the balls or a little laughter a little right it’s usually playable and always findable giving me a chance at the next shot doglegs left and right just a great experience playing this course large greens a maintenance staff that apparently takes great pride in what they do this is a very fair test for all golfers experienced or just A beginner The cost is extremely affordable definitely give them a try.
Thank you to the team in Dobson Ranch from the general manager Jason Davis to the director of sales Andrew Fraser if you’re looking to promote an event always Chris is a great help and Jacqueline sales and service you’ll find her in the shop and out on the golf course they all definitely care and love what they do great job and again special shout out to the maintenance team taking care of the course itself.

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The new ownership has done a Great job getting the course up to par. The staff is friendly and pleasure to deal with. The Greens are in good shape. Still crabgrass in the fairways and rough, But that will take time to change over to grass. Overall the course is in Really Nice Shape. The cart girl is a good idea.
My only complaint is the golfers.
Tremendous backup on the back 9.
When you have 3 groups waiting for a threesome to tee off that’s horrendous. People have no consideration for their fellow golfers.
After teeing off 12, there was a group of golfers in the trees adjacent to me
Looking for there balls with no consideration for the groups behind them. When We caught up to them on the 14th tee . It was a mess.
After waiting 15 minutes, my partner and I gave up and went around the groups. Played the 17th and 18th and called it a day. Didn’t get a chance to play 14, 15 or 16, 3 of the holes that I enjoy playing. A ranger or someone needs to monitor the situation out on the course. People need to know the rules and golf ethic before they attempt to go out on a golf course and tee up.

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We played Pierce Lake in Chelsea Mi. a week ago, we love the place. Its always in great shape. We paid on line and when we got to the course they had a 8 x 11 note on the club house door, No single riding carts unless your a in a 3some . I believe the pandemic is still upon us. I told them they should put that information on their website. The guy in the club house said they can't do that. If we had known in advance "no single carts" we would not have booked the tee time. My golfing buddies are good friends of mine but I don't live with them. I want to keep myself safe and my friends safe. Now we only go to the courses that allow single riders and we
play 4 days a week. What I suggest is charging $5 for a single rider... we will pay it or we won't play it.

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Played Bear Slide Golf Club in Cicero Indiana a few weeks back, course is 1 of my Favorites!
From tee boxes to greens the course is in great condition.
If you are an avid golfer like my buddies and I then I highly suggest you go play! I would put this course in my Top 5 Best Public Golf Courses in Indiana
Great Staff, nice layout, besides hole 11! Very reasonable pricing!
Must Play if you live in Indiana!

how come the stores let you use a cart then wipe it down for the next person and we cant use a golf cart and then wipe it down are they goofy or what

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Played Craft Farms in Gulf Shores Alabama USA—Cypress Bend & Cotton Creek courses were enjoyable & interesting.
Gulf course facilities were good.

Employees were good.

In Gulf shop, I was particularly impressed by

Friendliness & helpful nature of Paola—people like her are few & far in between.

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How to write a great golf course review