golfer12784

My Sunday morning round took just over 5 hours, and the ranger was no where to be found. We eventually called the pro shop, and the attendant, after venturing out onto the course, explained that there were a few slow groups ahead. That is, frankly, not good enough. We already knew that. The layout of this place already means the round is going to take a long time. It was also a crowded day. Those factors should mandate that the staff stay on top of pace of play and ask slow groups to speed up or skip a hole. Apparently, this is a common issue at Potomac Shores. The staff needs to do better or people will stop playing this course, especially at the premium prices typically charged.

I came in with high expectations based on other reviews and word of mouth, but then my early afternoon round on a Saturday took 5 hours and 15 minutes. It was awful. We were waiting on every hole. I don't know if it was because they pack the tee sheet, because there were slow golfers, because the course features a stupid number of blind shots, or all of the above, but the staff did not seem interested in speeding up the round. We finally flagged down a ranger around the 6th hole, and he told us he would try to speed things up. We saw him again on 9, and he told us he had identified the slow group, but was at the end of his 8-hour day and was going home. I don't expect this particular ranger to work overtime, but I do expect a course that apparently prides itself on presenting a good experience to have rangers on the course through the evening, especially on a weekend. The ranger also informed us that he had not asked the slow group to skip a hole. I can't understand why he didn't do this. Perhaps he didn't want to anger the group, but in doing so he angered the many groups that followed. 18 holes should rarely take 4 hours and 30 minutes, and it should NEVER take over 5 hours.

One final note, it was 90-plus degrees and half the water coolers stationed around the course were empty by 2:30. As it was apparently a crowded day, course management should have been more attentive to this.

I will take my business to other courses in the area, like Worthington Manor and Whiskey Creek. At least Worthington Manor's rangers bring extra water to you on hot days.