bobjacobs

Enjoyed a round at Ballantyne GC on a cloudy, but not rainy day. Rains the previous few days had the course somewhat softer than I expected. Pace of play was good, probably due to the lack of players on the course. Overall very good conditions - greens and fairways were well maintained. Tee boxes were a little bare, but not too bad. Interesting routing through an office park made for some unusual perspectives. A little on the pricey side relative to other courses in the Charlotte area, but not outrageous.

Had a good time at Chardonnay - course is in very good condition. Not the most challenging course out there, but a good track with some interesting holes, especially several par three's with huge greens. Shot placement to the correct tier is critical. Pace of play was a little slow, most likely due to there being a five group "tournament" in front of us, but definitely not as bad as some other courses in the Bay Area. Staff was very friendly and helpful. And to top it all off, you're playing amongst the vineyards of Napa Valley - can't beat the views!

First time playing Coyote Creek in several months, and I was pleasantly surprised with the overall experience. Not that Coyote Creek is not good - but was expecting conditions to be less good because of the drought. Clearly they aren't sparing the water on this course. Staff was very friendly and accommodating, even comp'd me some range balls for no specific reason. I was paired up with a good threesome, and we got out in front of some slower players. Morning play is key here, as it gets windy in the afternoon. Only complaint is that the bunkers were a bit inconsistent, with less sand in some locations than mud. But then again, don't hit it there.

Played Black Horse for the first time, and very much enjoyed the experience. Many positives - Staff was very friendly and helpful. Great practice facility, especially with a multi-manufacturer "demo day" on the range. Course was well conditioned through the green; some work on the areas outside the cart paths would improve the aesthetics. Pace of play was acceptable, if a little slow. A couple of negatives - only saw a beverage cart in the distance once during the round, and by the time we finished (4:30), the bar/restaurant was closed for a wedding reception.