Lives
Albany, NY
Handicap
10-14
Age
45-54
Gender
Male
Skill
Intermediate
Plays
A few times a week

Review Statistics

Average Rating

4.3
4.3
Total 13 Reviews

Rating Breakdown

13 Reviews
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Recommended Courses
10
Not Recommended Courses
3
Helpful Votes Count
4
Not Helpful Votes Count
2
First Review
08/26/2016
Last Review
03/08/2023

Reviews Map

Reviews

4.3
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Course Difficulty
First time playing this course
Recommended
Review has
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Best DEAL in Orlando

First time playing this course and the warnings were loud and clear. . .the pace of play can be abysmal according to many. Everything else was positive so like any review, don't we have to take it with a little bit salt?

My tee time was 6:36am and it was dark when I pulled into the parking lot, but it was buzzing. I assumed I was in the first group, but it turns out that four foursomes were already out on the course! The reception was warm and inviting. although it was pretty clear that most of the folks buzzing around were members of the course.

As a single, you never know who you're grouped with and in this case, maybe three of the nicest guys you can hope to meet on a golf course and they were a regular group, but welcomed me like I had been playing with them for years. That alone makes or breaks a round.

So this time around I was in FL for a work trip, but we had just completed our annual guys to trip to Orlando two weeks and prior and I'm not telling anyone anything they're not seeing. The rates are out of control! I don't mind paying $200+ rounds when it's worth it, but it just seems that every "nice course is charging something in that neighborhood because they can and I don't blame them. They're a business. Then you have this gem. $55! 100% as good as courses we played a couple of weeks ago for 2-4X that amount.

$55. Great conditions, staff, members, and pace of play (3:45) for the cost makes this the STEAL in all of Orlando. Now had I teed off after 10:00am, I can't guarantee the same good feelings.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

PLAY EARLY

So there are a lot of reviews complaining about the pace of play and as a single who joined 3 members, they confirmed that the key is to play before 10:00 am because it’s gong to be a solid 5 hours.

I was shocked to show up at 6:15 am for a 6:36 am tee time because I’m not from FL, but it was DARK when I arrived. Sunrise was 6:54 am. So the shocker is, I wasn’t a part of the first group! Four groups had already teed off! I’m the dark! The parking lots was bustling. Staff was surprisingly chipper given the time of day and it was clear most of the people were members because there was a lot of laughter. So having said that, the three members who made up my foursome were about as nice a group of guys you can hope to be paired with.

Course condition. Excellent. Pace of play. A smooth 3:45. Course is forgiving. Greens rolled great. Did I mention $55! You’re all seeing these crazy Orlando rates! Triple that for a lesser course. Definitely the BEST bargain in town.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent

Sagamore Resort and Golf Club

Played On 06/01/2019
3.0
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Am I missing something?

I'm so perplexed. Only 1 review for this course and it's several years old? And we just moved up this way, but is June 1 still considered early season because the conditions were not good. So standard non-guest of then resort fee is $135 until June 21 and jumps to $160, but I'm not sure it was worth the $65 we played as part of a group.

Some observations:
1) Staff was very friendly. +++
2) Cart attendant made her way around +++
3) No pin placement yet so you shoot in blind to mostly elevated greens which for a first timer is a huge challenge. According to the starter, due to the conditions of the greens, they weren't following a pin placement map and placing the pins in the best sections of the green (should have been a warning). Pins are obviously not color coded so no clue since many of the greens are blind. GPS doesn't work for anyone using satellite images though yardage works.
4) Greens were in bad shape. Tough to read because straight looking putts broke and putts that look like they're breaking went straight. I know everyone has come across greens like this so I promise. Only drank one beer.
5) Tee boxes were in rough shape and some are not flat.
6) Two of the par 4's couldn't be played as designed and were modified to par 3's.
7) Kind of goes with 6, but some fairways were in bad shape.
8) Some bunkers were overgrown. Some were really nice.

Am I being too tough? I don't know. But if you want to charge resort prices, you expect resort playing conditions. Not sure I'd make the trek for $65 even with best of conditions.

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

Iron Valley Golf Club

Played On 09/01/2018
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Golf God’s we’re with me

I’ll start with the basic. Clubhouse is great. The welcome was warm. Quiet weekend morning following a massive storm (and its Labor Day Weekend) so I was allowed to start as a single.

Pace of play: AMAZING, but you can’t expect this on any course. Finished in a brisk 2:15. Shocking part was I played well and FIVE groups kindly let me play through. I mean they saw me coming and waited for me on the tee box or they cleared the greens so I could try to hit on from 200 yards. Everyone has played as a single at some point and you run into the group in front of you knows you’re there and they just keep playing. I didn’t have to wait to hit a single shot as groups ranging from 2-4 waived me through.

The course is not for the faint of heart. Undulating fairways and deep bunkers with wooden beams protecting small greens makes course management more critical than most courses. The first par 5 is SUPER NARROW and requires precise shots huggin the right edge of the fairway. Hole designs are diverse and interesting. Elevations changes off the tee and approaching the greens means so you have factor in your club selection.

Greens were is good shape. Not great, but given the crazy weather this summer, better than most. I suppose the rains helped me on this day because you could stick the greens.

The last time I played this course, we drove 90-100 minutes. I remember thinking then that it was worth the drive and this round confirmed that. For anyone looking to play here, it’s worth the driving to play this gem and Royal Manchester.

So I should add that it POURED the day before flooding out many roads and highways. A part me was fearful that I’d drive 35 minutes to be told the course was closed. Surprisingly, while it was cart path and rough only, the course drains well enough that the onslaught of rain left most of the course dry and playable. But no biggie because somehow most of my shots landed on the half closer to the cart path.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent

Heron Glen Golf Course

Played On 07/09/2018
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

New Clubhouse is OPEN!!

Enough said. The only shortcoming was the lack of a clubhouse and now they have a beautiful one!

Course is in excellent shape. Cart attendant on a Monday is awesome when so many course only provide the service on weekends.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent

Chicopee Country Club

Played On 06/22/2018
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Best bargain in the country

I’ve played a lot of round all over the country at various price points, but even without GolfNow, the full non-resident rate is the best bargain in the country.

We played on a Friday with a GolfNow deal for $23, but full rate is only $38. The greens rolled perfectly. The holes offered a variety doglegs and elevation changes. Did I mention, the best rolling greens of the summer!

The starter was friendly. The guy in the clubhouse was friendly. The cart woman was friendly. And the bar owner was friendly.

If I lived closer, I’d play this course everyday.

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

Northampton Valley Country Club

Played On 06/18/2018
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

SLOW SLOW SLOW

I’ll start with the positive. The staff is friendly and generally speaking, the course is in good shape. When I say he course, I would exclude the tee boxes which were rock hard, chopped up, and in rough shape — the worse I’ve seen in years. But oddly enough, the rest of the course was in good shape?!

This round reminded me why I don’t play this course very often. The hot deal offer was just too good to refuse so I ventured back. I recall playing a 6 hour round and walking off after 16 holes because of darkness. My last several rounds were much more reasonable in terms of pace of play, but we suffered through a nearly 5 hour round. We started timing the guys on the green who must have been playing for money because they took upwards of 5 minutes to hit their putts and they lined up every putt. Even the 3 inch tap ins. I’d like to say I’m exaggerating, but I’m not. The course was marshaled and while he spoke to the painfully slow foursome on multiple occasions, he basically let four guys ruin everyone’s round. He obviously knew of this group because he said they were notoriously slow so if they’re regulars, I’m not going back. By the time we hit the 16th hole, there were three foursomes waiting to hit. At the end of the day, my guess is there was a course full of angry golfers. If I were the course managers, I’d ban this group because I’d rather lose four golfers than the 60 of us behind them.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Updated Review

I reviewed Mercer Oaks East a little while back and gave it what I felt was an honest review with very low marks. But I think it's important to revisit reviews because things can change.

I played recently and the course was back up to the standard I had become accustomed to. Jumped in as a single with three other single players and they made for great company. The pro shop staff and starter were BY FAR the friendliest I've ever had there (because sometimes they're just not and they don't really seem to take too kindly to those of us who book through GolfNow). The beverage cart was easy to connect with. The course was in very good shape. The greens were rolling fairly true, but I'm still amazed that given the many local residents who play this course multiple times a week that they don't take care of ball marks still astounds me. All you have to do is fix yours and fix a second. All-in-all, a tremendous value for Mercer County Residents and fairly priced for those of us not from MC. If you can snag a GolfNow hotdeal, even better.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Response from on 06/29/2017:
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a follow-up review! It's so wonderful to hear that we could impress you with the progress we've made and we're thrilled that you enjoyed your round with us! Please come and see us again soon.

Raven's Claw Golf Club

Played On 04/22/2017
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Unique challenge

This is my second time playing Raven's Claw. Greens were aerated a couple of weeks ago and probably need a couple more weeks to be ready, but we knew that going in.

Overall, the course was in better condition than the other 5 courses I've played this spring and if you can secure the GN hot deal, a definite value. It was cloudy and forecast for rain so pace of play was not an issue since there were few golfers out the day we played. Not a course most people would want to walk.

Lots of dogs legs and the landing areas and on the "narrow side" if you're accustomed to playing wide-open links-style courses where your drives can stray onto neiborog fairways and not be penalized. If you wide on the wrong side of the landing areas, you'll discover that small mistakes can be magnified. There are houses lining some of the holes, but generally don't come into play.

Greens are undulating and large. Generally rolls true and quite fair although they were VERY slow the day we played.

The only thing missing was the 19th hole. Super friendly staff, but if you're hoping for dinner, you'll have to head off-site for now. I guess the kitchen is being "repaired."

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Private Club Condition Public Course Prices

Four of us flew into Orlando from Philadelphia for a golf trip and drove 2 hours (each direction) to World Woods Pine Barrens and if you asked us was it worth it, I'd say absolutely. I'd even admit we debated driving back the next day it was that great.

Pace of play was excellent. No one in front of us and no one pushing us from behind.

Staff friendliness was A+.

Cost was maybe the greatest golf bargain we've ever experienced, but we did book through a third party.

If you're anywhere near Tampa, this is a must play course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent

Richter Park Golf Course

Played On 10/04/2016
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Maybe the best deal around

Our foursome agrees that Richter Park was possibly the bargain on the summer. Even at the regular rate, the course is a good value. Conditions were very good. Elevation changes and water water everywhere offered sufficient challenges without being gimicky. The pace of play was very good -- I was thinking I'd play 9 and managed to squeeze in 14 (had to run to a meeting). Confession snacks was very reasonably priced which is always a bonus. My only regret is I live three hours away or else I'd play all the time!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent

Morgan Hill Golf Course

Played On 08/27/2016
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Not for the faint of heart

I played MH about 10 years ago when my handicap was much higher and vowed to never return, but was talked into going back by a friend and spent most of the morning trying to remember why my previous experience was so negative. Fortunately I'm a better golfer now and realized it's not the best course for a beginner, but for intermediate and advanced gofers, the challenges are unique and fair. There are lots of blind shots and undulating fairways, elevation changes, and some tough pin placements at times. So if you're tired of the traditional links courses, this is a great change of pace.

Course conditions were excellent. We started at 6:40 am with wet greens, but by 9:00, the greens rolled great. I wouldn't recommend walking this course, even if you're fit. The price for the quality and condition of the course is a tremendous value. The views are amazing and the carts come equipped with satellite GPS which is convenient and helpful. The food at the restaurant is very good and not your standard hot dogs and hamburgers menu. Drinks on the golf course are also very reasonable. Definitely a challenge because the terrain will bounce shots around, but if you like to think about crafting shots, this is a good course for you where course management plays a big role.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
1.0
Previously Played

What happened??

It's too bad that one bad experience trumps multiple good ones. Let's ignore the fact that the recently aerated greens were in horrible shape (I can deal with that) and the tread marks on the greens were the least of our worries. Inwas shocked that the fairways were in terrible condition and the tee boxes were even worse. It never been like this before. I don't recall in any past rounds that this was an issue. Did I mention that they were watering the greens throughout our round? Nothing like a good shower on the 18th hole.

So check-in was good. We were a group of 3 on a Friday and we noticed a single who was about to tee off so we invited him to join our group. Seemed like a great guy so just as we're about to tee off when the starter (who wasn't there) comes over and says our "fourth" HAS to join the twosome in front of us, that we should mind our own business and that we've already been assigned another fourth. Fine. Whatever. His attitude and language was unprofessional and far worse than that, but you get the point. So we started the round with a sour taste in our mouth and the course conditions didn't make things any better. And our new "fourth" was a single for obvious reasons and relatively unpleasant.

So easily the rudest starter I've ever encountered. Terrible course conditions. But to end on a positive note. Coolers on the course are plentiful and filled with COLD water. Beer cart staff were awesome. Beer prices also AWESOME. But won't be going back anytime soon because while the course will recover, the starter was such an A** that I don't see a reason to return. I would end by saying this is typically a great place play. East or West. But today was the perfect storm of what can be bad was bad.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Poor
Pace Good
Amenities Good
d586bf07-d87a-58c7-a17f-7d2ca2031b94
Commented on 09/02/2016

We're so sorry that you didn't enjoy your experience with us! We always strive to provide the best possible customer service and we'll certainly look into this issue.

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