michaelganovski

I live here back in SJP. First thing I'll state is that price is deceiving in that, that is my cost, as a tiered member, for an afternoon rate. there are ALL SORTS of prices. Course was in good shape. Hard track, esp. the first time you play it. Lots of blind shots and forced carries. Greens have been weak. Just too slow and very tired of it. that is why this gets lots of 4s and no 5's. It is a Nicklaus Corp course - but NOT a Jack Nicklaus design, FYI. It is a treat, and a difficult challenge, I like to bring my best golfing friends here, it humbles everyone!

second trip here in a year, was a great day, shot one of my best scores ever (which helps in a course review!!). very nice layout, par 3's were a nice variety. lots of bunkers. overseed was in great shape. greens were soft for approach shots, but nice speed and true to putt on. one of the best values in the area, no doubt. worth the 40 min drive for me to get there. GPS system was amazing, precise greens view.

living in the area, since Spring 2022. First time here. the good: the greens! were spectacular and that is 70% of a course for me. quick and true. soft enough to hold high approach shots. the layout was nice - being the first time, some holes were tricky, can't wait to play it again. #18 was a great risk / reward finishing hole. The not so good: everything else was a little chewed up. Several tee box's were not level. there was some ground under repair. some fairways were very thin. Had a groupon for $42 plus taxes / fees, so at $45, it was good value. Would not want to pay any more at this condition. LOVED the layout. Played the BLUE tees, I am an 11. PLENTY of challenge at close to 6300 yards. White is too short, at ~5990. A hybrid combo would be wonderful, B/W combo around 6150 - pull 2 par 3's fwd and shorten that 400 yard par 4 on the back 9. Will be back.

moved to coastal Carolina in April, 2022. Played Thistle 2-3 times thru June, was fantastic. much of my course critique revolves around greens conditions and basic layout. Cate did a great job here. he cannot fix what has become the problem, and this is terribly slow greens. the past 3-4 times I have traveled to play there (~45 minute ride), the greens were just terribly slow. Spring, summer , fall - it did not matter. I won't be back for a while, it has clearly lost something and has fallen off my list of 'have to get there when my friends from back home visit' Staff was very friendly, play was awfully slow and they actually told a group ahead to pick up and skip a a hole - it opened up the back 9 and if they had not done so, we would not have finished 18 - it was most appreciated. but shagy and hairy SLOW greens. Won't be back until I hear of changes, it is a shame as Cate has a GEM here.

first time visit, special coupon invite, played with my son in laws dad. First to discuss is tee selection. I'd love it if more courses offered a hybrid between BLUE and WHITE. BLUE was LONG. It was windy, BLUE was tough at 6527. Problem is that WHITE is too short, at 6064. Find / create a mid point, a hybrid. Tee boxes were in good shape, so were fairways. Grass was pretty plush, in the fairways. Now.....OFF the fairways, was another story. Lots of hardpan / sandy dirt, etc. it was yuck. not sure if this is all year round or just not grown in yet for the season, but off the fairways, it was rough. Finally - greens. they were decent. a little bit bumpy and inconsistent green to green. overall, fun day. Would not want to pay more that $40-$50 here. It could be an $80 course with a little bit of attention paid to some of the mentioned ideas.

new to Brunswick county, 2nd time here in 2 months. great track. only reason to not give it a 5 is that greens were very furry. good shape but slow. pace was slow, seemed to be double booking, sending people of back and front and criss-crossing, led to a slow round. excellent design, tough, played from 6300 tees. front 9, a bit long, back 9 a bit short. finishing 3 holes are remarkable, along the marsh. not much room for error off tees and on approach shots. #9 is one of toughest holes in the area. very fair value. will play again and again.

This is the third time I have played this course in the past ten years. I was playing this past week as part of a timeshare package, guests of a friend. I was alarmed to find out that they would actually ask $200 during the morning weekday rate for this course. It is far from worth it. While it is a fantastic and fun design, it is always just in average shape. Greens no where need the speed they should be. Certainly nothing that you would expect at that price point, I would not go back again. The course staff were very friendly, we had a bit of a run in with the front desk and over fees as part of our package, they seemed confused and double billed us, we did get it corrected on the back end. When you compare the conditions of this course to the Pete Dye course in sea Pines (Heron) or the ocean course redesigned by Davis Love, again, there is simply no comparison in pristine shape and maintenance. Sadly, I won't be back again unless I get to play for a $40 card fee, like I did this past week. Golfers on golf trips, beware, way way overpriced.

I recently moved to Saint James Plantation, here in Southport NC. I was absolutely shocked nine months ago when we were looking at this community with four golf courses, and hardly any reviews here on golf pass / golf advisor of the golf courses. I am putting this out there for others that would be considering this community as they look to relocate and play lots of golf. There are four courses in the community, 3 of them are very nice and challenging, this is one of them. the Players Club is a Tim Kate designed golf course. From what I have read, he is a regional designer primarily with courses in North and South Carolina. This is a very nicely designed golf course, plenty challenging for all levels. It is also nice in that they offer six sets of Tees for all skill sets and challenges, I typically play from the II's which play to around 6300 yards. The courses in general are decently maintained but not meticulous. They are a bit overpriced in my opinion, by the time you pay the significant membership fee plus the ongoing fees to be a member and play golf. Guest fees are nice - just not member fees. $75 typically, for a guest of a member. They are managed by Troon, and they are managed for higher handed golfers. The greens are frustratingly average to slow speed. They take a lot of play from the thousands of players in the community and they definitely take a beating. I will get to the other courses shortly, just wanted to get a general review out for Players. Be ready for a challenge! 71.6 / 139 from the 2's. 74 and 144 from the tips! that might be a little exaggerated as the greens are too slow to have that rating.

I was a bit surprised when I came to the site and did not see any of the St. James Troon golf courses reviewed. I will change that !! I love doing reviews and I love playing golf, I’m not great at an 11 handicap but I have become a bit of a connoisseur in comparing value and high-end country clubs in comparison to others across the country. The comments on this course when you open it up is that it is world class and one of the highest rated slope courses in North Carolina. But that is not true anymore, it is part of a largely retirement community and the locals have dumb3d it down, so to speak. It was very nice but it was not brutally challenging. Sadly, the greens were disappointing. As a resident member now of the clubs and here in St. James, I would expect greater maintenance and care. These greens should be the best in the entire region and they are far from it. There is a lot of money spent to join these clubs and then to play day in and day out. I loved the layout. The design I thought was spectacular. I was pleasantly surprised at some of the elevations even though we were right along the intracoastal waterway. It is definitely a course that you can score on if you’re hitting the ball well. It was not nearly as difficult as other Pete and PB dye courses that I have played in the middle Atlantic

new to town, wandered down to Oak Island golf, had read some nice reviews online. Maybe it's just due to early season, but not impressed at all. Came from Delmarva (MD / DE) area, play lots of ocean or close to ocean courses. this was not a good value. Maybe at $45, I would not have expected as much but at $65, expected more. Off fairway was messy. Lots of dead spots, hardpan. no real 'second cut' - fairway and rough blended together. Traps were in avg condition at best. greens were quick, but bumpy. one of the starters was very rude, there was a very nice gentleman named Larry. Practice area is is shambles, much to be desired. I had higher expectations, I won't be rushing back. Maybe by May, it will grow in and lush up some? Decent layout.

Hi there, I’ve lived in the mid atl for 30 years and have been back-and-forth to the Links Of Gettysburg off and on. My last time there was in 2019, the summer, and the course was in really bad shape. I had read that 2020 was much better and was looking forward to a more pleasant experience today the first weekend in May. I was disappointed. For $80, I expect a pristine golf course. The greens were bumpy, the aeration and sanding had not healed, they did not roll well. The bunkers were not well cared for, the rough around the greens was very inconsistent. For that price point, it should be a much better experience. I can drive 15 miles in another direction to play Penn national and simply is no comparison from a manicure and maintenance standpoint. I won’t be back again for a while, I had some neighbors I had never played there and wanted to go out so I said I’d be happy to join. I was so disappointed, and $55 I would not be but at 80, it is way over priced

I got a HOLE IN ONE !! #17 , white tees, 163 to the middle - a little bit elevated, pin back - i hit my 4 175 so, I pulled it out. hit it stiff - bounced, hit the pin and - BOOM - in the cup! a great experience.

great golf course. Greens are firm and fast, but also hard. Balls do not check up, sandshots do not spin or check up. that is my only criticism. LOVE THIS COURSE!!!!

what a great day, SOOOO needed. Covid has us cooped up, it was a cold AM - 40 degrees, breezy, but by noon, it was close to 55, sun was shining. We played 36. Loved the track at first sight. Played the whites, 6200, I am a 12 handicap. plenty of challenge, but fair. Course was a little choppy, but just not prime season yet, been cold and raining off and on for weeks. 18 is a spectacular finishing hole. 10 was very memorable. So many good holes. Price was $79 and $40 for the replay. Would not want to pay any more than that - it was a fair price. Would go back in a heartbeat, but I think weekend rates are very pricey?

this use to be the course that you would travel out to from Baltimore / Towson to get an upscale experience. Greens used to be pristine - quick, consistent. Not this year - just horrible the 2 times i have played, back in May and now this past weekend. the rough is a mess, around the greens are awful - have to hit and chip off of bare spots, all over the place. It use to be a gem - but not any longer. seems to to have been a slow slide backwards for 2- 3 years now. Staff is stuff in general. I will continue to head up to York, when I can. Not worth the trip nor cost any longer.

was invited as a guest, last day of a 4 day trip. just amazing track - beauty everywhere, challenging but fair. Was wet the day I played, made for some long holes. Everything was perfect, cannot wait to come back.

just an amazing course - all of it, from design to conditions. greens, rough, sand traps, tee box's - just immaculate. Can't wait to come back. Very challenging. But no complaints - it was fair, i just stink!

I have played Lighthouse probably 10 times over the last 15 years or so. It's still remains one of the most beautiful courses on the East Coast. The layout and views are spectacular.

I have been disappointed my last couple visits in the course conditions, the maintenance is nowhere up to par from what it used to be, it used to be five star spectacular and now it is only three star I have been disappointed my last couple visits in the course conditions, the maintenance is nowhere up to par from what it used to be, it used to be five star spectacular and now it is only three star.

The full price rate is overpriced, for the rate that I paid it is acceptable but it still has lost a good bit of the luster that it had years ago.

The greens don't roll as nice and fast as they once did, the manicuring around the edges of the course is rough, lots of weeds where they never existed in the past, and once you are too far off the fairway, there are a number of very bare spots.

to reiterate: the layout is spectacular, the design and uniqueness of the holes - but just not as rich and I appealing as it once was

I live in the mid Atlantic. I am a 13 handicap
I do not play much Florida golf so I have to say I was a bit surprised and disappointed at the conditions for the price paid. I understand that it is mid-March so maybe that explains it, but there were lots of bare spots and fairways and first cut of rough we’re not always easily defined. The greens ran very quick, they were consistent, and they were firm. I was probably he most surprised that there were not a lot of memorable holes in my mind as I left the course. That for me is the character of a unique golf course

I play a lot of golf, typically 40+ rounds a year and I simply was not super impressed for the price paid

We have to say that we were disappointed by the Ranger that checked us in. He was a little bit snippy with answers to a couple basic questions, maybe he knew we were vacationers, I am not sure, but we did not feel treated with respect. We had a 942 teetime and he was trying to rush us of the Driving range at 9:27 because the group just before had not showed up so he told us we had to go. I told him no, that we had a 942 time we planned our warm-ups around that. He was just a bit in polite

this is one of the finest tracks i have ever played. including a fair amount of private courses over the years and some top tier public. the price / value is 5 stars. I have paid $95 for a lot lesser tracks. and i very rarely give a course 5 stars, i am proud to be picky.

Pete Dye is a master of design and challenge. Greens are magnificent - very tough for a public course player, but fun. very true, extremely FAST. a mild criticism is that they are very firm, approach shots don't check much. Not much 'pro-V' action , as our guys call it.

Fairways, traps, tee boxes are meticulously kept and manicured. even great long handled rakes! also great warm up area (grass) and chipping / putting area.

a great experience. in fact, we played Sunday and that was after 36 on Saturday there. just a wonderful 2 days to wrap up our trip.

Love you Blue Heron! (and the alligator sightings are really cool too)

yes, I am a bit of a public course snob, meaning when i pay $50 or $60 , i expect a good value. I am an 11 handicap and play all throughout the mid-ATL. Deerfield delivers. A very traditional layout, tree lined, tight a fair amount, a number blind shots which is challenging, not knowing the course. The greens were fantastic. Approach shots held, rolled out very nicely, quick. Not lightening but quick - fun, challenging to be sure.

i played from the tips, which is short at 6350 but plenty of challenge still

Really only one course criticism - the sand traps were very inconsistent. Some were fluffy, full of sand, others very hard, firm. the firmness killed me on 2 holes, i was frustrated at that, almost hard pan sand.