mjkrein

I don't get out to Lehigh much, and the courses out there are usually fair at best. That said, I definitely enjoyed this round at Copperhead. The tees and fairways aren't in the best shape, but they're certainly playable. The greens were much larger than I remembered, and are in very nice shape. They have clearly been putting some effort into this course. And it's a well-designed track, too. Got a great deal on GolfNow, and it was worth the drive. I will consider adding this to my rotation of affordable courses for peak-season play.

Hammock Bay is one of the nicest courses out there, plain and simple. Beautiful facilities, immaculate conditions, nice variety, great views, challenging but fair (certainly less difficult than sister course, the Rookery.) Tee boxes and fairways are perfect. Greens are big, undulating, and in great shape- just NOT lightning fast (apparently they will be torn out and replaced next year, in order to allow for much faster conditions. This seems criminal to me- if I had to guess, I'd say they were running around 9- certainly not painfully slow) Big, BIG fan of this track.

I had only visited Lely one other time, and I think we played the Mustang course. I had not been overly impressed with that round.
This year we played Flamingo, and I can't say enough good things about it. Just a gorgeous layout, beautifully maintained, and challenging without being brutal. Plenty of length here- refer to the slope rating, and choose which tees to play wisely. GPS on the carts is always useful. The undulating fairways are generally wide enough but protected by bunkers, and plenty of room in the rough if you're wide off the tee. Greens are generously sized & beautiful, and also guarded by sand.
We got a great deal on GolfNow for afternoon play, and had the course all to ourselves. (It's been a very unusual summer so far- rainy season has been scattered and unpredictable. No guaranteed afternoon t-storms so far this year)
Overall, one of the nicest golf courses I've experienced in recent memory.

Played this on a whim after a round nearby on the mainland- saw a GREAT deal on GolfNow and figured why not give it a shot.
Greeted at the pro shop by the owner, who was extremely helpful and friendly. Provided a lot of information about the course, and a yardage book- which proved invaluable for a first round, especially on a tight track with lots of water, hazards- and a blind tee shot on #8!
The course is very scenic, with lots of birds and wildlife. Had it just about to myself- as is often the case for afternoon play in late July.
Conditions were average. Fairways are generally narrow, though there is usually an ample landing area (refer to the yardage book, for sure). Rough is thick, and hazards everywhere. Water on just about every hole, though not a lot of forced carries. Greens are in okay shape- just REALLY slow. They keep 'em pretty long here. Gotta be aggressive, even on downhill putts.
Overall, I had a pleasant afternoon here. I don't get over to Sanibel Island much, but this track is worth a visit.

Really nice country club- glad they've opened it up to non-members for the off-season. Very pleasurable round. Staff was helpful and friendly. Course is not long, but fairly tight at times and a good challenge, especially from the back tees. Tricky course to play for a first time, but an excellent touch-screen GPS on the carts shows the hole layout and distance to hazards, where to lay up, etc- makes it SO much easier to get around an unfamiliar track.
Conditions were just shy of excellent. Greens had been aerated about a week prior, so not quite fully recovered- not real fast, but rolled true and nice shape overall. Good size and undulations. Tees and fairways in great shape, and excellent bunkers (just not very many of them)
Definitely recommend, and will certainly re-visit.

Quite simply, this course is really not ready for play. Decided to give it a shot based on solid reviews, and I just enjoy trying new courses. Unless you get a great deal on GolfNow, I can NOT recommend this course (certainly not for the $35 they are charging- this time of year you can do MUCH better).
I understood going in that they are still under construction, with limited or no facilities. I was fine with that- I don't need a lot of "amenities." The pro shop is a tent, bathrooms in a trailer. I get it. But the reviews made it sound like the course itself is in great shape. It's not.

First of all, because of all the construction/development, it's like playing on the surface of the moon. Just wide open, with barren, scarred Earth everywhere you look. Not sure why they didn't leave more trees... the ones they've planted are few and far between. If it's breezy (and it will be, because it's so wide open), you can enjoy the dust blowing across from all the construction. And, of course, the noise.

The front nine was in pretty good shape. Just not a lot of character to the course. Pretty standard, run of the mill, country club fare. Open fairways, open greens... not much water in play (and yes, it is still copper-colored from construction). Sand traps are super fluffy- I guess people like that.

The starter/staff mentioned that some holes on the back nine were "a little thin..." as they were top-seeded with Rye that hasn't taken hold yet? All I know is "a little thin" is "a little" generous. Hit your tee shot in the fairway, watch the dust cloud kick up. We played "winter rules" ... try to find a decent patch of grass from which to hit your next shot. The character of the back nine is defined by almost ridiculously undulating greens...which must be where they decided to create challenge, since there are no carries from the tee or on the approach. They roll nice but aren't very fast, because they would probably be almost unplayable. They were, however, very firm (and also recently dressed/topped with sand).

When everything grows in, I'm sure this will be a lovely, very playable country club course. And undoubtedly private. But as it is right now, it's not worth it just to try out this new track.

This was only my second or third time playing here... played Whispering Oaks (easier of the two, if I'm not mistaken). Very enjoyable round of golf, again. This course is maintained in pristine condition. Lots of tee options, choose wisely. It's just over 6,000 yards from the 4 tees, but still a 129 slope. We played a combination of 3 and 4, and had a great time.
Most holes are fair off the tee, but accuracy on your approach shots is critical to scoring- the greens are fast, undulating, and many are multi-tiered- if you're on the wrong part of the green (especially above the hole), it can be a REAL challenge to get down in two.

We had a very enjoyable round of golf here. Unlike most executive courses I've played, this one has BIG, beautiful greens, with plenty of undulation and speed for challenge. The greens are also well-bunkered, and the fairways are generally narrow and guarded by plenty of water. So you won't be challenged by the length (though there is a 510 yd. par 5), but accuracy is important. And, of course, excellent practice for your short game.
Thought it was a great deal, to be able to get out at a reasonable price in December. And surprisingly, the course was wide open- we showed up a little early, and they got us right out.

Always a pleasant experience at Valencia. Course is in nice shape. It's fairly open, and there isn't a lot of water to contend with (compared to many of the courses down here). You may want to play a combination of tees to add length if you're looking for more challenge.
Greens are in great shape, very undulating, and fairly fast. So pin position is an important consideration on your approach. Expect some tricky putts here.

After reading the reviews, I had to give the course a shot. It's true- this is one of the best maintained courses anywhere. They do a GREAT job here- it's immaculate. The greens are not crazy fast, but they are big and beautiful. Probably the nicest bunkers I've seen anywhere- I was almost wishing there were more of them!
If you play from the back tees, it's long enough. And the two par 5's are legit. But it is a par 67. That's 7 par 3's. I played by myself, and got around in 2 hours. I suppose that could be a plus, or a negative.

Conditions here are immaculate, from the practice facilities to the tees, fairways, bunkers, and greens. Those lucky enough to have membership here have a beautiful course to enjoy.
It's also a course where you can feel good about your game. It's fairly open, doesn't really punish your mistakes... Most holes are pretty straightforward- not a lot of course knowledge or management required to enjoy it. You can attack a couple of the par 5's. Greens are beautiful and roll true. Not lightning fast, just really nice. They are doing it right here. Glad to see them here on GolfNow!! It's so nice to get the opportunity to play courses of this caliber off-season.

Honestly, I had avoided playing this course because I had heard word-of-mouth (and read reviews) as to how extremely difficult it is. And it is definitely challenging- but I certainly didn't find it to be exceptionally or unenjoyably so. Club selection and course management are definitely required. Having GPS on the carts is a big help, especially playing the course for the first time. The greens are fast, firm, and undulating- so pin placement is another important factor. Most importantly, though- it's a beautiful layout (apparently some guy named Jack knows a thing or two about course design). Very scenic, not a house to be seen (always nice- and exceedingly rare down here), and, of course, very well maintained.
The greens fees usually put this one out of my league- but if you can find a good deal here on GolfNow, I definitely recommend it.

I've only played it twice, but I feel like I don't need to play it again any time soon. I'm not really sure why... A couple things stand out, though. First of all, no bunkers. I don't really understand that. This is Florida. I'm OK with the "cart path doubling as waste bunker thing," just not EXCLUSIVELY. Secondly, almost no rough. Generous, fairly wide fairways, and.... death. That's it. If you're not in the fairway (and granted, maybe you SHOULD be), your DEAD. Goodbye. Don't bother looking. (Well, you'll probably find a few other balls if you're motivated enough, but not your own). I also had a ball or two hit in the fairway, only to bounce/roll off into... the darkness. Buh-bye.
Finally (and this is true of many courses, not just here- but it did occur to me here)... What is the point of having nice, big, beautiful greens, if you are going to tuck the pin in a corner, about 6 feet from the edge(s)? Might as well have a dinky little postage stamp green... nothing like hitting a nice iron to the middle of the green, only to find you've got a 60 ft. putt to some ridiculous pin placement.
Don't get me wrong- I enjoy challenging courses. This one just doesn't really appeal to me- despite the immaculate conditions and beautiful scenery.

I had a really enjoyable round here. They don't have a warm-up range, so get your practice swings in beforehand... but there is a putting green and small chipping area just off the first tee. And don't be put-off by the gas carts- it's old school!
The course itself was in fine shape- nice fairways and big, well-maintained greens. Rough was fairly long (perhaps as a tribute to the recent US Open @ Merion conditions?), which I like as a challenge/penalty for not keeping it in the fairway, but it can slow play a bit, hunting for golf balls. There is definitely a bit of water to contend with here- which adds to the challenge, and scenic appeal. And considering the very convenient location just off Daniels, there are not a lot of homes, which is nice- I like my fairways lined with trees, not condos.
Overall, this course was a great value (especially considering the deal we got on GolfNow!)

Arrowhead is just a good, solid, all-around course. Lots of water, including a good number of forced carries to the green- especially if you don't place your tee shot well. Conditions are average to good- certainly not pristine, but not certainly not bad, either. Greens could be better-and bigger (though it looks like they are trying to enlarge them on a few holes- there are extended "fringe/first cut" areas, sometimes a couple yards wide- up to you if you wanna chip or putt... (I recommend chipping- not a big fan of the "Texas wedge" :)
Considering that it's a public course right in the heart of Naples, and competitively priced, it's an excellent value for an enjoyable round of golf. I'd like to give it 3.5 stars (but can't quite give it 4)

This course is less than 5 minutes from my house. I'm generally not a fan of executive courses though, so I don't play it much. However, when a great deal pops up on GolfNow, it's definitely money well spent. They just installed all new greens last year (unfortunately they had just aerated them when I played yesterday, but they are definitely pretty nice. A little long/slow (probably related to the recent aeration).
There are a couple challenging holes here, with carries over water to a some of the greens. And you can break out the driver here and there.
Overall, it's good, cheap fun to sharpen up your short game.

I played this course last year, and had a very favorable memory of it. Specifically, I remembered the course to be in above average, even excellent, condition. I did not find that to be the case upon my return yesterday. Either my memory is foggy, or this course is in decline. Either way, I hope they are able to turn it around- it's an interesting and challenging track in a very scenic area. It looks to me as if they are trying (but struggling) to keep it in shape.
As a minor aside, they should also consider adding a "members" tee to the scorecard (combining the II and III tees). It's plenty challenging from the III's, but at <5900 yards, we felt compelled to back up to the II's on many holes... a combination of the two, at around 6100-6200, would probably better suit the "average" golfer.

This course was spectacular. One of the most beautifully maintained, high quality facilities I've had the pleasure of experiencing. Staff was very friendly and conditions were incredible. HUGE, fast (10.5-11) greens. Pristine tees and fairways.
Having said that, I didn't enjoy my round nearly as much as I should have. If you're a mid-high handicapper, you're gonna struggle. Play from the golds- or even the reds!- and give yourself a CHANCE to have an enjoyable round. I hate to think how many bunkers (fairway & greenside) I hit out of... the course is littered with them. Not to mention plenty of water, as well. The ninth is the most challenging hole I think I've ever played, anywhere. Granted, it's always tougher playing a course for the first time (the GPS on the carts helps, but no replacement for "knowing" a course). Despite getting what I thought was an excellent deal for a round on a course of this caliber, I don't know if I'll be back enough to get to know this track. Maybe when I get my handicap down to single digits, and am craving a challenge!

Spanish Wells is a nice golf experience. Great conditions, good variety (27 holes), and "user-friendly." It's also about 5 minutes from my house, and I posted one of my best scores ever here- so it's a favorite of mine for both of those reasons.
It plays fairly short from the whites (great for my dad!), but the "members" combination of blue & white tees provides a nice challenge for me. Bigger hitters will wanna play from the blues, for sure.
Great deals on GolfNow this time of year (like most courses down here); definitely recommend a round here.