jvan31

I had some concerns about this course over the warm-weather months as the greens and general course condition slipped a bit. But the course is playing great for winter golf. Greens are basically perfect and roll quickly. Played twice this week -- Sunday morning around 9 and Friday afternoon around 2 -- and didn't run into a single group on the course. It's well worth an hour's drive and a crazy steal at a $24 twilight rate.

The last time I played Chimney Oaks, it was called Scales Country Club and was a real treat at $30. I was wary of paying $50 (afternoon rate) to play, but I am glad I did. The new clubhouse facility is a big improvement, but the real story is the course itself. The new greens have come in well and roll nicely. Everything else is in good shape -- as you would expect at this time of year. The layout is an absolute blast to play, as most Mark McCumber designs are. It's worth the 45-minute drive and the price tag.

At its core, Hidden Hills feels like a stately country club sitting on a lot of good years in a challenging part of town to have such a facility. Nevertheless, the staff at this place really have the old course looking great and playing even better. Conditions from tee to green were the best I have seen in a good while. For a $30 twilight rate, there is no better place in town.

I have always considered this Arnold Palmer design to be his best in town when the course is in good shape. It's living up to those standards right now. Kudos to the staff for getting this place back in order. Now, if they could only get those tennis courts and pool reopened, they may even make a member out of me!

It had been several years since I've played Oak Bridge, but I was encouraged by the recent positive reviews to give the place another try. The staff was friendly, and the updated club house was nice, but that's about the end of the positives. The tee boxes were all torn up and hard to find footing on, the fairways and rough weren't much better, and the greens were a bumpy mess. Also, with no hole overviews to work off of, many of us ended up in water hazards we simply didn't know were there. It's hard to believe a course in this condition is inside the gates at TPC.

This place is a somewhat hidden gem. The greens rolled fast and true, and the conditions tee to green were great for this time of the year. The course plays a bit short, but the greens and the treelines provide a worthy defense.

I would feel comfortable paying $60 to play this course. As I played it for $20, it may be the best value in the area. Looking forward to playing again.

I've played just about every course in Northeast Georgia, both private and public, and Arrowhead Pointe has become my favorite. Even in the winter, the course is in great shape from tee to green. Greens roll well and are pretty soft. There are some challenging greens and holes to get through, and you can't beat the scenery. The staff is quite friendly, too. It's really like no other course in the area and more than worth the hour's drive from Athens. Will be back soon.

This course bills itself as links golf, which I suspect is Scottish for "pretty easy." The course is pretty open and even misses off the tee can end up in neighboring fairways. There isn't much trouble to get into, although there are a series of holes that play around a lake/pond/swamp area.

The greens were in good shape, but everything else was just so-so. Very playable, but you won't confuse this course with a $50 course. But for $23 with a hot dog and beer included, it's a pretty good value. The staff was very accommodating and friendly -- for the staff alone, I'd go back.

It's been several years since I've seen Ocala National in this good of shape. I think you'd have to go back to the Golden Hills days. The course was nearly flawless from tee to green.

For $30, you get a Reese Jones redesign that plays long and doesn't let you take a shot off. It's a thorough test, culminating in a brutal run of par 4s (16-17-18 may be the toughest 3-hole stretch in Marion County, even tougher than anything Juliette Falls or Silver Springs Shores can throw together). I'd have no issues paying $50 to play this course in its current shape.

We also ate at the Mojo Grill restaurant onsite, and it was great, too.

Played on 12/23. The course was too wet to drive on after 2 days of rain, and it was hard finding a dry lie. That being said, the course was in great shape from tee to green. Greens are some of the best that I've played on lately. There are some tee shots that demand accuracy, and there are plenty of water hazards around the course to steal golf balls, but you can score well here if you keep the ball in play.

The only drawback was the pace of play. We were stymied by two foursomes in front of us who would not let anyone play through, and there were no rangers to speed them along.

First, the good: The greens were slow but rolled pretty well. The staff was friendly and the pace of play was fine.

Everything else is a bit of a mess. I never had a fairway lie that resembled a fairway lie on a good course. The tee boxes are an uneven, grass-lacking mess. The rough is similar to a reasonably kept backyard. The bunkers need a lot of sand.

All that being said, the layout is interesting enough and the price is right for the area -- but even at $20, it's not a good enough value that would bring me back. On the other hand, I shot 79 as a 13, so maybe I liked this place more than I thought.

Great course for $40, especially considering our green fee included lunch and a beer. Greens were in great shape, although the fairways were a bit off. There is plenty of sand around to eat golf balls and the greens are large and tricky, but this course is a blast to play when you're playing well. You can make some birdies, but double bogeys lurk everywhere. I've played every course in Marion County, and this one is in my top three. The starter/ranger could've been a little nicer.