d184b637-9e39-516d-b298-c2dcbdea3c79

BrandonTuckerGA

Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Lives
Austin, Texas
Handicap
5-9
Age
35-44
Gender
Male
Skill
Advanced
Plays
A few times a week

About

I'm the Managing Editor for GolfAdvisor and when I'm not playing golf, I'm scouring your comments looking at what you're saying about your latest round. My favorite type of golf course is one that has the all-too-hard-to-find combination of affordability and great pace of play. Other than that, my motto is to always leave the course in better shape than you found it, and finish with more balls than you came with.

Review Statistics

Average Rating

4.1
4.1
Total 324 Reviews
8 Featured Reviews

Rating Breakdown

324 Reviews
5 Stars
135
4 Stars
111
3 Stars
66
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
0
Recommended Courses
314
Not Recommended Courses
10
Helpful Votes Count
240
Not Helpful Votes Count
42
First Review
12/17/2013
Last Review
09/08/2021

Reviews Map

Reviews

4.1

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Oakland Hills Golf Club

Played On 09/08/2021
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor

Off-the-beaten path, historic club north of Detroit

There are so many historic clubs around Metro Detroit I can't keep track of them all. Indianwood, north of the city near Clarkston, is one I knew very little about even though it has hosted some big national events in the past decade. But it is off the beaten path and takes some backroads well off I-75 to get to.

The old-style clubhouse is really cool and the reveal of the gargantuan 18th green is a trip - if you can't hit this green on your approach shot I can't help you.. The course is very heathland-esque with a lot of wispy fescue and very few trees. There is tremendous roll to the land and a few outstanding (and challenging) elevated greens. We took carts, lazy I guess, but it was a very walkable routing and there were quite a few out there on this afternoon.

There is a second course, the "New" course that is at a separate facility than this course that winds through housing.

Conditions Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average

Stonebridge Golf Club

Played On 08/04/2021
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played

Well-conditioned subdivision course

Stonebridge is a mid-1990s subdivision course on Ann Arbor’s west side that is below Travis Pointe but above Lake Forest in quality. It has upscale conditions but a pedestrian layout that is pretty pinched by houses. It had been 20 years since I’ve played it and I remembered very few holes. If you’re good with modern residential layouts this place works great and the bar staff took care of us, but I curry favor to the more natural layouts like Washtenaw or Leslie which aren’t so dominated by development

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good

Inverness Club

Played On 07/27/2021
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Walked

Inverness set for the Solheim Cup

I had the chance to experience Inverness prior to the Solheim Cup. From that impression, this course is going to be a lot of fun to watch, both in person and on TV. There are quite a few spots on the course where you can watch a lot of action. If I was there, I would try and grab a grandstand behind the 10th green, where there are other tees and greens very close.

The course, wow, pretty special, and tactical. I played Oakland Hills South a week before (quite a heater, I know), so it was cool to see how the courses contrast following their respective renovations. Inverness' land is a lot different with some bowls and sharp falloffs in the fairway that lead down to a small creek on both nines. I found the fairway angles tougher to hit here vs. Oakland Hills and the greens are smaller with less going on, generally speaking.

Loved the 18th hole even though i butchered it. Don't let the yardage fool you and try and hit the fairway!

They love their plaques and history here, from Byron Nelson to the Hinkle Tree and a really funny plaque next to the halfway house designating an awful tee shot from a member.

For a club of such high regard I was surprised how mediocre our forecaddies were. Not much hustle in either one and the seemed to just chat with each other more than give us tips on the course.. I felt very welcome in the Oakland Hills locker room by the members and staff whereas at Inverness they kinda shooed us out when we walked in.

In a nutshell, I preferred the total package at Oakland Hills but I could see how Inverness might be a better test post-reno for the game's best players. Both clubs really, really want a men's major again and I'll be eager to see who is awarded one first.

Conditions Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging

Washtenaw Golf Club

Played On 07/23/2021
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Continues to improve with gradual restoration

Since it went public, Washtenaw is already on the short list of best public-access courses in Ann Arbor-Ypsi (along with Eagle Crest). I'm very pleased to see the new owners making all the right moves with their restoration project. Since playing it last summer, they have done a lot of tree management and are working to expand many of the greens. I was also tipped off to some new back tees being planned in the future to challenge the young pups. Since they can't close the course down to make these improvements all at once, the project will be gradual over several years. Nevertheless, the course already feels more open than it did (including the 15th and 18th holes) and the turf and playability is also benefitting already. There are some great par 5s out here, which is surprising considering it's such an old course, and some clever green complexes. The vibe here is awesome. Very welcoming after a century of being private. Keep up the great work, y'all!

Conditions Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
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Commented on 08/17/2021

Hi, Brandon. Thank you so much for the great review. We are glad you had an incredible time, and we hope to see you again soon! Thanks for choosing Washtenaw Golf Club.

I Recommend This Course
5.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor

Restoration brings back the Ross and makes the Monster sneaky playable

I'd never played The Monster prior to the most recent renovation that was just completed, but I absolutely adore the latest rendition of The famous South Course. For starters, the clubhouse is incredible. There is so much art on the walls and places to explore (the locker room is massive and has its own bar) you could get lost in here for hours. The staff is on another level as well, from the clubhouse attendant to the caddies.

Let's talk about the golf course. The fairway widths have been restored so they are more member-friendly. In fact, the Gary Player plaque on 16 is now about 10 yards into the fairway (and the willows are gone). Many of the greens are open in front to some degree so you can roll shots up. I ended up hitting quite a few approach shots just short and was able to putt off the green and get up and down.

The 11th hole is incredible. It has an infamous false front that got our whole group thanks to the front pin position. We all doubled it. The new 7th hole is also a show-stopper with a diagonal creek and some awesome bunkering. Very strategic.

The greens are so awesome. They've been enlarged and now have up to 7 pin positions instead of 3-4. It is simply one of the most engaging golf courses from the fairway in as it gets. I played the whites and broke 90 but I have a buddy who is a pro who played the back box on every hole and shot 77. He looked like he'd seen ghosts by the 18th hole. I suppose hitting it 240 to an elevated green on 17 will do that.

Call it recency or Michigan bias - more likely mid-handicapper bias - but I enjoyed Oakland Hills better than Oakmont. I can't imagine a reason why this place won't get more majors and often.

Conditions Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent

Radrick Farms Golf Club

Played On 07/15/2021
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Delightful walk in the park

I love early Dye designs over his later stuff, so Radrick, among his first, is right up my alley. It is such a pleasant and quiet walk on rolling and forested farmland. there are some open holes, narrow doglegging holes, and the closing stretch down low along a stream is pretty but difficult. 8 and 9 are back-to-back short par 4s and a highlight of the round. The par-5 16th is the toughest drive of the day - you may be wise to hit an iron off the tee and not worry about reaching the green in two shots.

Back when I played it in the 1990s, the conditions were sometimes hit and miss. They are quite good now, which was a nice surprise. I heard that members' annual dues here are only about $1600 a summer. That's ridiculous value. The guest rate with a member is also very good at about $55 walking. I think Radrick and Barton Hills are the two best courses in Ann Arbor. U of M is right there too (I think it has some great holes but Barton and Radrick are more complete experiences).

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Rackham Golf Course

Played On 07/13/2021
3.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Walked

Historic Detroit muni by the Detroit Zoo

I grew up in southeast Michigan but never played Rackham. It's always had a reputation of being very busy and not always in the best shape. Drainage has been an issue and there has been some improvement in maintenance in recent years, I'm told. The course is on a flat, square piece of land next to I-696 which creates a consistent hum during the round.

This is a very popular course among locals and it has Donald Ross roots. I"m always glad to see munis being supported. That said, I am approaching this review as a visitor with a lot of choices in a deep market for affordable public golf. I didn't see enough Ross here to really feel it warrants a visit over a lot of the better public (and mostly modern) experiences in the metro area. Facilities are pretty modest too. There is cool clubhouse architecture but inside there is a very basic grill and pro shop. Perhaps one reason to play it is that it is right next to the Detroit Zoo, so you could drop kids off for the day and go play some golf.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy

Georgetown Country Club

Played On 07/12/2021
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Wet weather
Walked

Convenient and solid short course in Ann Arbor

Popped in around 8pm on a Monday and was able to get right out. It'd been about 25 years since I played here and I was pleased to see the course is in good shape and the greens roll particularly nicely. There is one par 4 about 250 yards but I consider this a par-3 course with most of the holes between 100-160 yards. I prefer a par-3 course if I have an hour to spare over the driving range, so I'm glad G-Town is still around and takes public play. It's pretty close to downtown too. For as much golf as there is in Southeast Michigan there don't seem to be that many par-3 courses so Georgetown has a nice niche. If I lived here I'd probably join the club.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Easy
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

original piece of a hustling golf facility

I played the classic fox a lot as a kid with my grandparents. Besides the two munis in Ann Arbor I probably played this course the most. So it was fun to get back after about 20+ years. I came in on a whim in the afternoon and was able to get out before the leagues. A lot of rain had the course pretty empty even though the Strategic Fox and Golden Fox both looked really busy. This facility hustles like few other golf facilities I've ever seen. I played the Lakes & Hills nines. Like a lot of public layouts from the 1920s, it seems like the greens have shrunk over time based on where the original fillpad boundaries appear to be. That means a few par 3s that are over 180 yards into very small greens. The Hills nine is a little more interesting with some brawny par 4s with fairways featuring a lot of undulation to them. The setting is very pleasant with no homes and it's a solid value in metro Detroit. I've still never played the Golden Fox! Maybe next time.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Fair
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate

Highland Meadows Golf Club

Played On 07/07/2021
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Classic and tree-lined midwest private club

I was able to get in 10 holes here before getting rained out during the LPGA Pro-Am. This is a classic and narrow layout not far from Inverness. The greens are generally small and the par 3s were tough to hit. Compared to Inverness nearby, Highland Meadows is certainly over-treed and corridors are narrow. It does put a premium on accuracy however (something the LPGA's best doesn't need to worry about as much as sloppier amateurs). The finish is cool, with a brawny par 5 followed by a short par 3 and tactical par 4. Our LPGA pro, Ssu-Chia Cheng, holed out with a wedge on 18. Pretty awesome to witness!

Conditions Excellent
Layout Good
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

The Preserve at Oak Meadows

Played On 06/14/2021
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Perfect weather
Used cart

Really impressive rebuild near O'Hare

I was in Chicago for work and booked a PM flight out of O'Hare so we could sneak in a morning 18. The Preserve at Oak Meadows, just about 15 minutes from the terminals, came highly recommended, and it delivered. I wasn't familiar with the massive redesign that took place in 2017 for flood and environmental mitigation. But the finished product is very impressive. It's a very scenic place and quiet with the exception of overhead aircraft and neighboring highway. An opening, narrow treelined hole isn't indicative of the rest of the course, which is more wide open and runs along both sides of Salt Creek. The layout does dip into the trees a few times, however, giving the routing an interesting flow. The hole variety, in particular the three short par 4s and the par 5s, were very fun. If I am going to nitpick, I wish the par 3s had a little more variance to them.

There is a brand new clubhouse that is about a month away from opening and should only add to the full package here. THis is a no-brainer if you're near O'Hare.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate

Mistwood Golf Course

Played On 06/13/2021
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Excellent overall facility with an interesting golf course

Mistwood is one of the great daily-fee facilities in the Chicagoland market with a blend of an upscale "member-for-a-day" and Scottish vibes. The practice center is so complete it has its own full-service bar and grill, in addition to the more official restaurant, The Tavern, which is a great dinner spot and overlooks the course with indoor or outdoor seating. I got the crab cakes and a speciality Moscow Mule cocktail after 18 - very refreshing. Green fees include rangeballs and access to the chipping area. Come early and stay late at Mistwood.

The golf course is a 1990s links-inspired layout by Ray Hearn that has a lot of wispy grass, mounding and bunkers, but also a large amount of water hazards. Tee shots require precision. When you play the par-5 8th hole along the huge loch, you look across it and make out some golf holes, and it's so far away you wonder if it's even the same golf course. Alas, that's "Kelpie's Korner," Nos. 14-17, that are very challenging (the par-5 15th tore me up - ball in hand) and drama filled. We took a cart at twilight but I saw some walkers out there, so that was nice to see, the routing appeared pretty easy to walk.

Mistwood is a bit of a hike from downtown Chicago, about 45 minutes, but easily accessible from southwest suburbs like Naperville.

Conditions Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Swope Memorial Golf Course

Played On 06/06/2021
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing

Fantastic T

When I set up my buddies trip to KC, I made sure to book my Sunday flight for late enough in the day that’d I’d be able to fit in Swope. I just love big city parks with historic courses in them. In that regard, there are natural similarities at Swope to Brackenridge Park in San Antonio. Both are Tilly designs that hosted pro golf events in its hayday. What sets Swope apart is its very dramatic and hilly terrain. The architect AW Tillinghast had a severe piece of land and the result is a 6200-yard layout that plays much longer than that thanks to some unapologetically uphill holes and elevated greens. Some fairways are canted as well, putting a premium on accuracy. The poa annua greens rolled nicely. A local senior I played with bemoaned the tall thick grass around many of the bunkers calling it unfair and a pace-killer (it has been a wet spring and the rough is also thick.) Swope has a lovely park setting and exceptional hole variety. It’s a top-notch muni in this country. It’s also a demanding walk, so be ready.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair

Hillcrest Golf & Country Club

Played On 06/05/2021
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great public Ross receiving improvements

Hillcrest was our last round on a buddies trip to Kansas City in June and it was a really great round. First off, thanks to the staff for accommodating us on a busy Saturday morning even when we rolled up late to the tee time (rough night out), The opening par 3 is unique and pretty long but at least it's downhill so you can bunt a rusty tee shot down there pretty close. The property has some nice roll to the land and the routing is quite good. I especially liked the collection of par 5s. The 9th hole is a very tough par 4. Has anyone ever hit this sliver of fairway? Fun finishing hole that is almost drivable.

The shop told us it's under new ownership and there are improvements underway. The bunkers were redone and nince and irrigation work appeared to be wrapping up and the clubhouse is also being renovated.

It's pretty cool for KC golfers that there is a public and affordable Tillinghast and Ross design very close to one another. I tell people that Swope might be a little bolder but I overall enjoyed Hillcrest more.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate

Dallas National Golf Club

Played On 05/01/2021
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing

Elite DFW club

In Texas, unlike a lot of other states, the highest rated clubs are generally modern. Dallas National often earns highest marks in the state. It’s a showy Tom Fazio design on a surprisingly hilly piece of land with no attached development making feel very exclusive. Amenities and facilities are first rate but the clubhouse is understated. The front nine is generally mellow but around the turn the course really ramps up. The par-5 10th is a show stopper and there are a handful of tough elevated greens.

Of course it was awesome. Is it best in state? Not so sure. I think I like ACC or AGC more. But it’s a special experience worth clearing your schedule for if you receive an invite

Conditions Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played

Member for a day experience at a top Austin resort

Fazio Canyons is one of four courses at Omni Barton Creek but it’s located a mile or two down the road from the main property, so it has a much quieter, club feel to it. There is an open-air restaurant at the small clubhouse and an excellent practice facility that has an extensive short game area and Golf Channel Academy.

The course is a little newer than Fazio Foothills and has a little wider playing corridors and the neighborhood homes are further away from the fairways. The front nine is pretty gently rolling while the back nine gets more dramatic with three sharply elevated tees, including a really fun par-5 finisher (you can even see downtown Austin in the backdrop). It’s a very solid Fazio design that is pretty forgiving off the tee and easy to figure out on your first loop (though the greens are sneaky tough to read) but I think Fazio Foothills has a little better hole variety and i may prefer elements of the Crenshaw as well.

Conditions Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Among Texas' most prestigious clubs

Every golfer in Texas surely wants to experience Champions Golf Club at some point, and I had the chance to prior to the U.S. Women's Open, the latest huge golf tournament held at this club founded by legends Jackie Burke Jr. and Jimmy Demeret.

The aura of the club is as cool as it gets: very old school, memorabilia everywhere, and the men's locker room is cavernous with a huge bar area and bartenders in suits.

On Cypress Creek, you have to be an excellent ball striker due to the length, narrow fairways, thick rough, and huge, sloping greens. It's the greens that really give this course its character. The par 3s are a particular strength of the course with four very scenic ones. The brick linings of water hazards are a neat feature I can't say I've seen anywhere.

Compared to a lot of the 21st century Texas private courses I've played recently, I don't think this 1950s layout within the community is as memorable for the average joe (partially because Houston is just dead-flat and I'm used to more scenic golf in Central Texas. and also because the par 4s are pretty redundant, just long and tough. Golf Magazine ranks it ahead of Austin Country Club and I just don't see how that's possible. ACC has more hole variety and risk-reward elements, not to mention a far more interesting and scenic parcel of land, and, of course, the Harvey Penick influence.

Conditions Excellent
Layout Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging

The University of Texas Golf Club

Played On 10/30/2020
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Challenging members course

I've always found it pretty silly, as someone who lives next to UT, that it would take 35-40 minutes to drive well west to Steiner Ranch to play the namesake golf club,. But I finally got the invite and made the trip, and it's definitely a great spot. They allow walking, and we walked it (there are some tough green-to-tee climbs), but push carts aren't permitted, which is one of the dumbest rules I've ever heard of. I guess I'm a muni guy.

That out of the way, the course is challenging and interesting, especially the greens. I recently played Fazio Canyons, and it made me actually think more fondly of my round here, because the greens are bolder and the holes have more variety. The back nine holes overlooking Lake Austin are very nice as well. There are waterfalls, creeks, cool bunkers, a big clubhouse and a lot of beautification that help make this a high-end club. I suppose it is in fact an upgrade for the Longhorns from Mo Willy.

Conditions Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging

The Spieth Lower 40

Played On 10/04/2020
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Texas Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Great amenity for members

I was a guest of a member here and we played this loop quickly as a warmup to the big course. It's a very quiet little spot and a great use of the terrain. The holes are short with small greens but pretty interesting, highlighted by a green with a bunker in the middle of it. When you think about all the other private clubs in the market, there aren't very many with a short course (AGC has one), so this makes UT definitely stand out to prospective members and especially those with families, since the main course is a bit of a beast. They've got some Bevos statues and wall of fame at the first tee as well. pretty cool.

Conditions Good
Layout Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Fairly Easy
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