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Really enjoyed Aetna springs. What a gem.

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Paris Grand, a fantastic course in Paris, Ontario, near Cambridge, closed at the end of last season to be developed. So sad.

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High Pointe was one of our favorite courses in Michigan, it was a real shame when it closed.

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When Royal New Kent and Stonehouse first opened they were the places to play in the area. The local golfing community found both courses very challenging but expensive to play. As time went on the prices declined as a way of increasing play on the courses, but so did the conditions. The courses were already tough challenges to play for the average golfer, but add in poor maintenance and you are going to lose a lot of business. It is a shame what is happening to some of these upscale venues but it is a sign of the times that golfers are more caring about where they spend their money. They want a test of their skills but they also want to shoot decent rounds and not spend an arm and leg to do it on a poorly maintained course. There are other courses in the area that offer affordable golf with excellent conditions and they are a good test of any golfer's game. These courses are on Golf Advisor's site and would love to have you play there. The Strantz courses were nice layouts but they were not made or priced for everyone in the area. Golf is a game to be enjoyed by all, not just those who can afford it.

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I don't have experience to draw upon regarding the listed courses, however, I play resort courses and semi-private courses around the country and find most of the players I am paired with are in the 50-80 age group and the courses do not have adequate forward tees to accommodate seniors who actually have money to support the courses. This is especially true for women (of any age) and as a result I often hear complaints about slow play and frustration partly caused by golfers attempting to hit shots far beyond their range and ability. My experience is that courses are built and maintained for a level of golf I rarely see exhibited. Nicholas advertised a year ago against slow play and yet his courses are designed to promote 5 and 6 hour rounds with players interested in speeding things up, just picking up and playing with the ball in one's pocket.

I agree with many others on this post. I've only been golfing for around 4 years and love the game. Green fees around the Seattle area are rising and the courses are very crowded. The only new course to open around here in the last 5-10 years was Chambers Bay where the open was played a few years ago. Been told by many that the biggest problem is with the environmentalists who influence the local governments to not issue any new well permits for water. One of my favorite 9 hole courses closed last year called Jade Green. This was a great course and very affordable. Not your typical 9 hole as some of the holes were over 250 yards. Having to spend over $100 for two people to play is ridiculous!

Why so many Golf Courses being closed??? What is it....Poor Management, Green Fees Too High,??? Only made for the Rich and Famous??? Try taking less fees and giving more service...This always works in any good Business.....Guest I will have to build my own Golf Course and have a Great Place to Play.....

Royal New Kent is an absolute Golf diamond. I have loved every Mike Stranz golf course I have played. He so beautifully evoked Ballybunnion with some of the holes at Royal New Kent. To play them in the Virginia Piedmont was wondrous. And I knew every hole must pay homage to some United Kingdom classic if I had but played them. I live in New York so I can't do much to support that wonderful golf course. But if it's open this spring I will make it a point to give them my business on my way to Myrltle where True Blue and Caledonia await. We put so many of these fine modern golf course builds in out of the way places to save money on land. But a course like Royal New Kent requires a solid playing constituency to stay afloat - and the financials just don't stack up when compared with housing. I so hope someone saves that course. I am going to retire this spring and it is on my list of golf courses I must return to.

I emailed the people at Royal New Kent back in December asking them about them closing.. He said they were not closing.. This was bad info.. I played there a couple of times a few years ago and i still consider it the best and most challenging course i have ever played to date Also played Stonehouse and loved that a lot too.. I have a trip to Myrtle coming in late April and will be playing Caledonia and True Blue for the first time.. Cant wait.. ALl i hear is great things about both of those courses!

Good news that it is not closing, Enjoy True Blue and Caledonia. They are totally different from each other despite being only a driver's distance apart. And no danger of them closing. Only Tidewater is as good on the in the area amongst the 75 courses I have played in Myrtle. TPC is quite good as well. Have not played The Dunes. Something to look forward to.

What a bummer. I loved Aetna Springs. Unfortunately perhaps didn't patronize it as I should have. It was a great place to take all family members, serious golfers or not. I helped organize a woody tournament there for the Shivas Irons Society and what fun, playing a before 1900 course with clubs from the '20-'50. Weep with me.

Tim - agree Black Forest does need some "love" from folks....probably just to keep it open after this coming season.....who knows it may not even open. It's a wonderful routing that has some ridiculously fun architecture. But several of the green complexes are so "over the top" it's a nightmare to maintain....the contours and small little swales of just the 1st two green surfaces are unbelievable. That has put off the first timers who have gone up there to play what was billed as a "bucket" pristine condition experience the last few years and now won't go back. Alas the difficulty results in a course you have to play several times to really appreciate Doak's early genius.
I"ll make sure to play Black Forest again in late May/early June...and I hope others will too. High Pointe was a neat track as well (got to play there several times) but pales in comparison with what Black Forest was and still could be. Golf Advisor report in a few months......

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Have played Black Forest a few times, great course. Currently for sale last I checked.