GSPostalian

Having played and thoroughly enjoyed the two courses at Verandah in past years we decided to rent for the season and play both Old Orange and Whispering Oak frequently! The two courses are very different with Old Orange challenging the golfer off the tee and being more friendlier on the greens, while the Whispering Oak course is the reverse. The quality of the Pro Shop / Back Shop staff is high and we've thoroughly enjoyed our first month (20+ rounds) and look forward to the next two!!

We usually venture up to play Silver Lakes in the mid April time frame, before our private Club opens. Good value and a decent test for an early season round.

Played this course a couple of years ago when, in it was in just in its first year of operation, so decided to come back to see how it has matured. The course (fairways and greens) were in above average condition but IMO it still needs time to mature as some greens held quality shots while others acted as springboards and rocketed the balls over the backs or sides. The pace was very good (1:55) on the front side but brutally slow (2:30) on the back which made for a less than pleasant experience as we waited and waited and waited on every shot ... and no ranger in site! Not a course you want to walk nor have your cart breakdown, especially on the back nine, as the distance from green to next tees were substantial. Holes 13, 14, 15, 16 were literally in the back woods with no housing development nor means of communicating with the Pro Shop if something happened!

Eastwood is definitely the better of the two municipals in Fort Myers, as the Fort Myers Country Club course has become as "mini-putt course on steroids" after the reconstruction a few years ago! Conditioning is average, at best, but for $75 that's what you should assume. Some interesting and fun holes, especially on the back side.

Bring your "A" game if you want to enjoy playing this track, as there are plenty of hazards (water especially) to physically and mentally beat you up! Played this course some 4 years ago, when the clubhouse was a concrete shell and the pro shop was a trailer. Oh how the course and surroundings have changed in just a handful of years!

Our preference would have been to play Old Orange, as it is the better (much) of the two tracks at Verandah, Whispering Oak provides an enjoyable (just okay) experience, as it is set in somewhat of a less visually appealing environment. As this is an affiliated club as part of the Pacific Links Golf network and the price was too good to pass on, especially during high season, we designated to play the Whispering Oaks course. Oh well, maybe next time!

We play this course annually in February and will only do so if/when there is a discounted rate available.

The Summit has an overall look, feel and plays like it's in Northern Ontario (e.g. Muskoka's, Kawartha's), which is unique for a Greater Toronto Area course. If you're looking for a healthy workout (walking) then this course will definitely test you. Especially 2nd tee to elevated green, 4th fairway to elevated green, from 4th green to 5th tee is a steep climb, halfway house/10th tee to elevated green, 11th tee to green has sloping fairway, 15th tee to elevated green and to elevated 16th and 18th greens from their fairways. While the course generally has less hazards its' challenge is derived from the significant elevation changes on many of its' holes. Late in 2015 season and early 2016 season, 14 of the greens were completely redone including sizable increases in their square footage, so the 2017 season will definitely be measure of how tough (or easy) this course can play!

We teed off at 2:30pm, right on our scheduled time, but pace of play was slower than expected / normal with absolutely no on course marshal(s) monitoring play. A number of greens had significant damage (cause?!?!) in primary areas. Playing conditions were ideal (high 60's/low 70's with little wind) for scoring. Thank goodness with only paid $65, otherwise it definitely wouldn't have been worth it. Really quite unbelievable people are paying $185 to play this course given the condition of the greens!

We enjoyed Valencia, especially the back 9, which had more character. Overall the conditions were much better than some of the other semi-private and public courses we played over the past few weeks. Unfortunately public courses such as Valencia are victims of slow pace play (5 hour round), which we experienced at comparable / similar courses in the area. If another Hot Deal comes up for this course then we might consider playing it again during peak season.

Well worth the 1+ hour drive to play this course. We always look for this course to appear on Golfnow and take full advantage of playing it at least once while we vacation in the area.

A major disappointment and will not be coming back nor recommending it to anyone. One of the worst conditioned tracks and layouts we've played in the area.

We thoroughly expected to have the same course experience as did in 2015. Unfortunately the course was beaten-up and we suspect the colder and wetter weather in January was the part of the problem.

Mr. Nicklaus left no stone unturned when he built Old Corkscrew! Sloped at 144 from 6,000 yds. there is plenty of meat from these tees. We play it every year usually in September and February, if/when we can get a decent rate!

A brutal experience and probably the worst in the 30 years I've been playing this game! 3 hours to play 9 holes - then we left. The course and clubhouse date back to the 50's when Fonzi and Richie were best buddies! Don't know where anyone can rate this track above a 3 star (get with the program people)! If you're considering playing this track then dress down (jeans, cutoffs, t-shirts, etc.) and bring out your dated clubs and balls, as there is absolutely nothing even remotely interesting about this track for any kind of semi-serious or serious golfer! Sorry we even went!

Front played like a typical Florida track. Wide open, with little character and challenge. Back was tighter with much more variety and challenge. This is an older and more established track surrounded by housing probably dating back 20-30 years. Greens were the most interesting part of this course, with most undulating and slightly elevated. Yet another course with an aqua range. Of the more than 30 tracks I've played in SW Florida this would likely be in the middle of the rankings.

Play Raptor Bay each and every year we vacation in SouthWest Florida. The annual price increases is becoming a major concern ... becoming less and less affordable. Finding a Hot Deal on GolfNow is the only way we'll play it from now on.

Talk about a "short course" ... Quail is just that ... barely reaching 4,900 at its' tips. I'll give it this though - it was one of the better manicured / maintained courses I've played with color and character on most of its holes. If you hit it 200+yds with your driver usually then leave it at home! Even better, you can easily play this as a walking course (yes, they let you walk if you want)!
Personally, I felt I was playing in a retirement home environment with many people on the course well into their 70's ... not for me (yet)!

Having played the Talon course at Twin Eagles numerous times (and thoroughly enjoyed it every time) I thought the Eagle course would provide the same kind of experience - I was wrong - as the Eagle course and its surrounding environment were far less than what I had expected - a major disappointment.

Another example of a facility who built two courses, where one completely overshadows the other, and isn't worth the price to play it.

Eagle is tricked-up with crowned greens and run-offs on the sides of all its greens. Its' setting is in an under developed, wide open, rough shrubs & trees, backwoods environment.

Stay on Talon and forget playing Eagle!

Mature community with two courses ... played Old Orange and thoroughly enjoyed it ... and at a very reasonable price! Finding an available time(s) for this course on golfnow.com was challenging as it appears the course only offers very limited slots.
Recommended for those who enjoy a solid challenge, mature environment / setting and well maintained course. Will definitely come back to play it again.