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I'm at a loss. I grew up in Augusta not 6 minutes from Jones Creek. It absolutely used to be the best course in town that didn't host a major. West Lake had nothing on it. ACC wasn't half as fun.
I haven't played it in a decade, and someone has gone in and ruined this golf course. The first hint was on #2 which used to have 2 bunkers in front of the green and a long one on the upper right. Those have been taken out. Same thing on #15, a super short par 3 that had a bunker behind the green that if you went long, forced you to splash out downhill toward the water, with the green running away from you.
There are many other changes to the course, those are just the easiest to explain. Was it too hard for people? They changed up the formerly lightning fast bent grass greens as well. The condition of the fairways left a lot to be desired as well. Truthfully, it looked like a regular muni. Nicer than "the patch" but more like Forest Hills, and that's not a compliment.
Truly at a loss. They took a demanding course that really made you think and turned it into a wide-open generic mess. The worst part is that the changes to the layout have nothing to do with the condition of the course. It could still be properly maintained. Mud was everywhere and it hadn't rained in 4 full days. I truly should have asked for my money back. I felt robbed.

All attached photos are of the greens! Not fairways.
Greens were in this kind of shape...
I live really close to St. Marlo, but only play it occasionally due to clientele who seemingly never repair a ball mark, and must be playing for 300 bucks a hole, based on their pace of play. And also because of their absurd "no carts in the parking lot" policy. Just stop it with that. I can load my own bag, thanks.
It stinks because I like the layout, but really only tee it up there twice a year at most.
On my most recent trip, I called the golf shop before booking a time to make sure the greens hadn't been punched. The guy told me "We're not punching them for a few weeks, they are absolutely perfect right now."
Well, a well-maintained and fast green is my catnip, so I booked a round for my dad and I. He drove nearly an hour from home to meet me, on the promise of perfect conditions.
Nothing could be further from the truth. This course is absolutely rough as heck now. Bare spots in fairways, plastic liners sticking out of 70% of the bunkers which haven't had new sand put in them in years, and the greens...An absolute, complete disaster. I hardly have the words. I am attaching photos, which I decided to start taking on the 15th hole. This is only 4 holes worth of terrible conditions, but rest assured, I could have been photographing the whole way around, and probably should have.Also, because Golfadvisor limits the size of pics to under 5mb, I can't load a lot of good ones that I have...
I addressed this claim of "perfect conditions" in the pro shop after the round, and was literally told, "oh, that's pretty good for us!" Asked for a refund, or at least a rain check, and was told "no." Flatly.
I would say if you can get this for under $25 bucks and don't mind putting across the surface of the moon, try it out, because aside from 2 stupidly designed holes, it's a good track. Otherwise, skip it. Not worth anywhere near more than $30 bucks.

Bear's Best is honestly my favorite public course in town. I love the layout and especially the greens. Generally they roll well, roll quickly, and are a blast to putt on. Seeing as putting is the only phenomenal part of my game, I will pay the premium pricing out there a few times a year. My budget is generally under $40, and you can forget about that out here, so I consider it a special occasion to play here.
On my most recent visit, on a gorgeous day, I was let down by the greens. They were quite shaggy and bumpy, with signs of what I assume were weed patches on a few. Nothing like I expect from Bear's Best. Of course, the layout is fantastic, and aside from a few barren spots on the edges of the fairways, it was in decent shape. But those greens...
I hope the course isn't trending this way like St. Marlo nearby has, where it's just a money grab. I was actually contemplating their annual golf pass for 2018, which seems like a spectacular deal, but now I have to seriously reconsider, as I can't pay that price for average conditions.
But it really is a fun track...

I've played Royal Lakes a few times in the past, and it's always been an average experience, which is fine since it's close to my father's house for a spur of the moment round.
My 1st time there in 2 years, and I have to say, I don't think I'll go back. The majority of the greens, especially those on the back 9, were full of dark brown bald spots. It was like putting on the surface of the moon. The greens has not yet been punched for the season, and they were unbelievably slow. I could not convince myself to swing hard enough to get half the putts to the hole. Never really seen anything like it. Granted, I love lightning quick greens, but this was like living room carpet.
The general condition of the fairways, bunkers (3 complete plugs) and rough have deteriorated to the point of looking like a municipal course.
I took lots of photos of the greens to post here, but it seems I can't do that. What a shame. It would be great to show people pictures of reality.

6 years ago, Trophy Club wasn't a terrible place to play at twilight rate of 20 bucks. Now, however, it is not worth the effort at any price.
They have, for some inexplicable reason, removed the stone yardage markers that used to be on the tee boxes, so yardage on par 3s is a complete guess. Want yardage in the fairway? Good luck finding a sprinkler.
But the biggest problem is the overall condition of the course. It's pathetic. Bare spots. Cracked cart paths. Bunkers with basically no sand. Splotchy aprons and rough around the green. Clay in the fairways. Ball marks all over the greens from the typical clientele that jams the course and plays impossibly slowly.
My dad and I stopped after a 2:36 minute twilight front 9. (teed off at 4:05) asked the clubhouse guy to do something about the 2 slow as molasses 3 somes in front of us, as we would shockingly fight daylight to finish. He said "you can play the front 9 again, but a 3some can't be that slow."
Stunned, I asked for raincheck since we likely wouldn't finish despite teeing off 4.5 hours before sunset. Was denied.
I'm done with this place. It's one thing to let your course deteriorate, it's another to have disregard for customers. I have about 20 pics I could post, but apparently can't attach to review...