frankmitchell

Course has been in great shape all year......but......the winter rye is dieing out & the Bermuda is just starting to come in....... resulting in a lot of bare spots starting to appear in fairways. Tis the season as they say. Hard to blame the course, as its the normal cycle for grasses here in Sarasota. (experienced the same thing at Misty Creek earlier this week, and they're still charging $70-80). It's really evident in fairways that have a lot of mounding, but for the price, just roll the ball into grass in these areas. Greens are still VERY nice, and rolling nice & true. Pope has done a GREAT job in revitalizing this course, and all winter was in great condition compared to other courses in the area. Hopefully they'll overseed with Bermuda to get that reestablished better, but again, this course has made great strides in the last 2 years. Staff here is always kind & friendly!!! Played a 4some today in just under 4 hours. For the price, still a great value & will keep it in my rotation, for sure. Bunkers could still stand a little bit of loving, as a few still have thin sand, but most of the green side bunkers are pretty good. Thanks Pope Golf.....keep up the good work!!!

Not sure what happened, but course deteriorated in the 3 weeks since played here last. Several areas of fairways were noticeably dried out & getting "crunchy", whereas 3 weeks ago everything was quite lush. Numerous tee boxes were very rough.....basically sand with very little grass. Greens were still beautiful....fast, slick & true! Noticed several areas where irrigation system was under repair & several holes dug up, so maybe they're in the middle of doing irrigation repairs & course not getting adequate water, as its been quite dry. Even with those couple items being disappointing, course is still in relatively good shape. Certainly would have been upset if paying $100 season rate, but at $60, a pretty nice value comparing to other area courses, and Misty is still one of the nicest layouts around, in my opinion. Also, an almost 5 hour round, which is not normal for here. Had a slow group in front of us, and never saw a Marshall on the back nine to move them along.

After all the wait for the course to reopen, not overly impressed. Had waited for a good Hot deal to come up, wasn't willing to pay the $90-100 they were getting during "the season". Got lucky & got a deal for $60 & honestly after playing it, doubt would return again for that price. To me its a $50 course tops!! A very "vanilla" & uninspiring golf course. IMHO lacks any character at all. To be fair, course is in very nice condition, except for rock hard greens & tee boxes, which are to be expected on a brand new course. Time should take care of that, but a little extra watering on the tees would sure help!! GREENS ARE VERY NICE, FAST & TRUE. Fairways & bunkers all nice & well maintained. You have to hit your ball WAY out of play to find any rough, so cant comment on that, but it did look like not much penalty there.....the fairways here are huge & almost impossible to miss!!!!! To make matters worse, the pace was dreadfully so.....just under 5 hours to play!!! All the staff we interacted with were super friendly, and really try to make this an upscale golf experience, but the blandness of the course really doesn't allow that to happen. Honestly, the old courses when they were kept in good shape were MUCH better than the "new" course. No way would I ever pay $90 to play this course......sorry!!!!

If you like 5 hour + Rounds with no rangers monitoring play ( just like their sister course Summerfield) then this is your place to play golf!!!! At least while waiting on EVERY shot, I got to go through 2 buckets of sand filling the ever present divots on the fairways!!! With a 10:45 tee time you wouldn't expect a course to be 30 minutes behind, but oh boy, they were!! After finally teeing off, it was another thrill to find four, yes FOUR groups on the next several holes. I realize its "that time of year" , which is what I was told, when I inquired about having a Marshall on the course at the turn, but since groups go out with a hole in front of them open, OBVIOUSLY someone is creating the backup & needs to be moved along. Of course it doesn't help when players who hit 150 yard drives wait to hit shots when they're 250 yds to the green, or spend 10 minutes looking for their ball in the water, which is why you need a Marshall!!! In any event, if you dont mind the dreadfully slow pace of play, its a great layout with very nice greens, playable fairways ( just roll it out of a divot, because they're EVERYWHERE!!!) adequate tee boxes, and bunkers you just need to rake out yourself ( because they aren't well maintained). Such a shame, this course, like Summerfield, with just a BIT of TLC could both be 5 star tracks. But owners just cram the golfers on, and laugh!!

If you like death march speed golf & fairways full of divots....this is the course for you!!! After 2 hours to play 6 holes, & having FOUR, yes FOUR groups on the same hole, called the clubhouse & asked for a ranger to be sent out....was blown off, girl said "we're busy today"!!. I understand busy & crowded courses during the season, but since groups went off 1 st tee waiting for proceeding group to reach the green, OBVIOUSLY there was a group out there in front playing dreadfully slow, backing up the entire course!!! No ranger was ever seen. Ironically, played here 2 weeks prior, and played a foursome in just under 4 hours!! Its a nice course with a GREAT layout, nice fast greens & for the most part, in pretty good shape. Unfortunately, like most courses these days, no one fills their divots. Me & my partner went through 4 buckets of sand while waiting for every shot. As an aside, when played here 2 weeks ago, went through both buckets of sand, and when making the turn, asked the cart attendant for more sand. He rudely said...."there's a box around back, help yourself". Really dude!! I'm IMPROVING your course, and you treat me like crap!!! While I give the course a pass on the divots ( cant police rude players), owners/management need to address lack of Marshall monitoring play. 4 1/2 hours should be the ultimate max for a round of golf. Obviously they dont care & its all about the almighty dollar. A shame, a truly nice golf course. Doubt I'll be back.

Was hoping for improved conditions from a few weeks ago when played here last, unfortunately, it appears to have worsened, mainly with the fairways. Very thin & in many places just sand & bare spots. Thought the recent rains would green it up a bit, but not the case. Greens are still rolling good, but once again, not a single bunker has been turned over & raked out. A shame, because they appear to have adequate sand, just not properly maintained. Why this course doesn't rope off fairway areas that sorely need to grow out boggles my mind, and they continue to cut fairways really tight, instead of letting them grow in a bit, which is sorely needed. It's a shame, because the course is one of the nicest layouts around, and I keep hoping that it will some day return to it's once meticulous conditions.....just doesn't seem to get the proper fertilizer & seed when needed. As usual, a very slow round ( 4 1/2 hours+), and several tee boxes had more than 1 group waiting. Hard to avoid with 7 minute tee times, but a ranger pushing SLOW groups would help a lot!!! Still, with the crazy prices now prevalent in the SRQ area, still a good value for the money.

First time playing here in over a year. Not a big fan of course after they reconfigured a few years ago, but pleasantly surprised with conditions.Used to be one of my favorites, before they squeezed in the new 100 yd par three. Tee boxes, fairways & rough all had good grass, & greens were filled in nice & rolled decent. A tad slow, but true. Only bad condition was the traps. But have had rain 3 days in a row, so I give them a pass this time. I just raked & placed the couple I was in. If those are normally turned over & raked, than I would see no problem. They had sand, just all were hard packed & some still with standing water. Still a few dead trees laying down, but all in all, for the price, I will give it another try when I need something close & reasonably priced ( if it stays that way). Definitely not one of the poshiest clubs around, but for $40 ( a Hot Deal), a good value during the season.A cold windy day, so not very crowded, & played in just under 4 hours. I heard Pope bought it & they have a good reputation for turning neglected courses around & improving conditions.

Haven't played here in 2 years due to conditions deteriorating & then the required repairs. Well, it was worth the wait!!! From tee to green, simply marvelous conditions, especially for this time of year. About only negatives, greens are very hard, and hard to hold except using a wedge with a lot of spin/bite, and a few sand traps could have used a tad more sand..... otherwise, pristine conditions. I imagine after a winter of rains, greens should soften up & be a bit more receptive. A GREAT layout, (with almost all new cart paths as well) that most occasional golfers will find difficult, but for advanced players, a real treat. New carts with awesome GPS. Definitely have to manage the course to score well. Greens are slick as snot, but roll really true!!! A phenomenal golf course & a beautiful facility. At just over 6000 yards from the Blues, this course can kick some serious butt!! Play it if you can!!

Course in great shape tee to green. Bunkers pretty consistent sand, #12 was shut down & played as a par 3 instead of a 4,,,, believe they were having some irrigation issues. Other than that, excellent shape. Greens consistent & decent speed. As always, some members jumped in front of us on the turn & they were SLOW. Played the front in an hour & a half, back nine 2 1/2 hours & as usual, no rangers to make them pick it up or let us go through as a 2 some. Even with that, a nice course in great shape. Play it!!!

Simply put....the course is Pristine!!! Not a mark on the greens, very quick & true, Tee boxes level & with grass, fairways consistent & perfect height, and rough punishes you if you miss the fairway!! Bunkers have nice consistent sand. Honestly, can't say ANYTHING bad about condition of course.....probably the best tee to green track I've played in 2 years, and I play ALOT!!!! Always been one of my favorite courses anywhere, but today was exceptional. Kudos to the grounds crew.....simply phenomenal!!! I just wish ignorant people would fill their divots.....went through 6 jugs of sand!!!!

Course is in Great shape for this time of year. A few tee boxes a little rough, but other than that, tees, fairways & rough pretty nice. Greens were lightning fast today......and finally done repairing all the bunkers....YAY!!!! This course has had an amazing recovery this year from being just average to being in really great shape. Without a doubt, one of the best values around. Now they just need to improve their 19th hole to include a reasonable selection of liquor & this course rivals anything around. Not a fancy place, but a good test of golf at a reasonable price. And just added new carts with GPS!!! Play it!!!

Course in great shape tee to green. A few spots here & there in places, but overall great shape......and they finally replenished their bunkers with sand!!!!!! It was the one thing that consistently was bad here....however NO SAND on carts or in "sandbox" by cart barn, so course is loaded with divots. Greens a tad slow, but roll out nice & true. All in all, a great value & as good as shape as any in the area.Great value.

As before, course is in great shape, tee to green, except for bunkers. Still need to address them, and would become a 5 star course for sure. They just need to be turned over & raked out & would be fine. I guess we'll just continue to lift, rake & place. Just would be nice to have some consistent fluff to play from, but for the price, hard to beat. Staff is always friendly & a nice overall layout! Hard to complain when you get an Ace on #3!!!

Course in pretty nice shape, except for bunkers, which they are in the process of repairing. And good news is, they're doing complete reconstruction on the ones that need it. New drains, good base sand & then I was told will be topping with regulation white fluffy stuff!!! YAY!!! Its the one thing that has hindered this course previously. Tees, fairways & greens are all in really nice shape. Greens could be a touch faster for my liking, but with the week of extremely hot weather we've had, Im sure they were cautious to cutting them too tight. Even a tad slow, they roll nice & true. They have made recent upgrades in their locker rooms/restrooms, and the small grill downstairs. Always friendly staff & a pretty nice layout with enough challenge to force you into making shots. A great value for the price!!

Course is in OK shape. Greens have filled in nicely compared to June when played last, but SLOW & not consistent green to green. If they cut them & rolled them they would be nice!! Fairways, tees & rough all fine, but sand traps are a nightmare. Most have very compacted sand & a few are just mud & rocks. They really just need to be deeply turned over & top dressed & then would be fine. Its a shame, cause they have decent quality sand in them, they just need to be turned over. Almost impossible to get up & down out of any green side bunkers. Still one of the nicest layouts around, a true challenge for most golfers, and hard to beat for the price. Staff are always super friendly & the place is almost always empty during the week. Even with the greens & bunkers the way they are, I will still return at least once before leaving for the winter. Just love the layout!!

Course generally in good shape, tee to green. Bunkers could use some additional sand & greens could be a tad bit quicker. A few of the tee boxes could use some leveling. All the ditches from the new irrigation are getting closer to filling in, but could use a little sand topping to level them out, but realize like all courses are having a hard time getting help. Cart paths do give your back a rough ride in a few places!! All in all a really nice course that's a great value & very seldom crowded. Cant beat the price!!

The course is in excellent shape.....the best it's been in several years. Really nothing to complain about. Tee boxes, fairways & greens all in really good shape. An occasional bunker could use a tad more sand, but every bunker was raked out/turned over, which is rare these days at most courses. It is obvious that someone has really stepped up their game in maintaining this course. Cant wait for their bar/restaurant to reopen.Always friendly staff!!!!

Course is in really nice shape tee to green. Fairways nice & full, and greens roll nice. Only negatives....Sand traps could use a bit more sand, and several tee boxes could use a little leveling. Really shouldn't have uphill/down hill lies when teeing off. Other than those 2 minor issues, course is in darn good shape. Not the toughest layout in the world, but still got to make quality shots to score. Could use a ranger out to push the slower groups, and why would you send out 3 two somes in a row instead of matching at least 2 of them up??? All the Staff friendly enough. A good value & will play again.

As always, course in great shape.....except.....fairways were patchy. Looks like recently verticut, so a little thin & some dirt spots here & there. Gotta do it from time to time to keep them lush, as they typically are here. Im sure they'll be perfect again in a week or 2!!!! Tee boxes & greens flawless, as usual, and sand traps all fluffy & consistent. Played in under 4 hours, and if fairways would have been their usual pristine shape , would have been a 5 star rating, as it typically is. Not the most difficult course, but always enjoy the conditions & the beautiful club. Always friendly staff, even for us non members. A great patio bar area with good drinks at a fair price, considering the surroundings of a 5 star facility. A must play if can get it at a good price.

Course is in best shape in several years. Greens were true & running great. All bunkers had nice consistent sand & fairways are filling in very nice. ( except for lazy people who dont fill their divots). They've been filling in all the bare spots along paths which have been neglected for years & grooming all the landscape areas. Rumor is course has recently been sold, and whoever purchased is really trying to return this course to it's previous conditions. Great layout with plenty of challenge. Hopefully Clubhouse/Bar/Restaurant will reopen soon.