Lives
GA
Handicap
15-19
Age
65+
Gender
Male
Skill
Intermediate
Plays
A few times a week

Review Statistics

Average Rating

3.9
3.9
Total 95 Reviews

Rating Breakdown

95 Reviews
5 Stars
25
4 Stars
41
3 Stars
22
2 Stars
6
1 Stars
1
Recommended Courses
85
Not Recommended Courses
10
Helpful Votes Count
25
Not Helpful Votes Count
7
First Review
09/19/2016
Last Review
05/07/2021

Reviews Map

Reviews

3.9
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First time playing this course
Recommended
Review has

Hickory Knob Golf Course

Played On 05/06/2021
2.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Disappointed

Usually find state park courses a good value and average course design and conditions. Course layout has too many poorly designed holes. Bunkering was good, but greens were largely uninteresting, Definitely need to hit the ball straight. Conditions weren’t horrible but nothing to write home about,. For $25, you got what you paid for.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent

Edelweiss Chalet Country Club

Played On 08/21/2020
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Pleasant find

Located just outside the home of “Spotted Cow”, the course is an understated routing. #1 & #10 play off the top of a crest and #9 & #18 back up, but the majority of the courses sits on a flat plain. Greens were in very good condition with the back nine greens having more ripples in them, making them a bit more interesting. Bunkers were the best we played during two week trip. Back nine fairways were more spotty than the front 9.
No outstanding holes, but no weak ones either. Hole 1 is a fun opening hole, a dogleg left par 4 that plays downhill for the tee shot and sets up well for an opening par. Par 5s and most par 4s are. doglegs that require hitting the correct side of the fairway off the tee to set up the easy angle for the 2nd shot. Par 3 are mostly on the longer side.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent

Aldeen Golf Club

Played On 08/20/2020
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Delightful

Great experience at Aldeen. Relatively flat piece of land where creative use of water and gentle mounding has created an outstanding and reasonably priced public golf course. Few holes stand out as exceptional (par 5 #1, par 3 #8 and par 5 #18 are the most memorable), but there wasn’t a weak hole in the routing. Easily walkable for those so inclined. Conditions were excellent, except the bunkers were a bit wet and played a little muddy (pretty much everywhere since Covid, bunkers are courses’ weakest component). The greens were smooth, reasonably paced and use subtle breaks for the most part to confound the player. Great example of what public golf should be.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent

Wolf Hollow Golf Club

Played On 08/19/2020
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Maybe the best value course in US

Excellent conditions, good design and challenging greens for $20 including cart!! (Yes it was a special, but regular weekday rate was $30 including lunch as well)
Wolf Hollow is a fun and semi-challenging course that could easily charge much more if it was closer to a larger population. It’s not a championship caliber course, but a great example of the type of course we need more of. Course makes great use of rolling terrain with few holes playing level. Fairways are usually either guarded by native grasses or clumps of trees, but the playing corridors are generally reasonably generous. The greens are usually sloped and have a number of ridges and plateaus to provide interesting pin positions and provide additional defense against scoring. Holes 4 (downhill dogleg right with a pinched fairway), 8 (long par 3 guarded by a front left pond) and 16 (short dogleg left par 4 which requires accuracy off the tee) are the highlights. Only semi-weak stretch is holes 12-15 which are routed over flat land, but the greens continue to be a challenge. Be sure to check out the carving of a wolf to the right on #15 green.
Will definitely play here again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
2.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Disappointed

Had high expectations based on other reviews and cost. Course Conditions were average (actually below many of the lower cost courses we played during two week trip). Course design requires skilled shot shaping on many holes, both due to the hole’s routing and the intrusion of trees into the playing corridors. Greens were generally in good shape. Tree pruning severely needed on course and along cart paths.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good

Monroe Country Club

Played On 08/17/2020
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Surprising value

While the course design is nothing special, the conditions and value make this course a worthwhile diversion about an hour southwest of Madison. Greens were smooth and interesting. Beware the creek crossing #10 & #11, forces a choice between laying up off the tee and a perfect tee shot. Note the course is not private as noted in Golf Advisor’s description - memberships are available, but open to public.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent

Amana Colonies Golf Club

Played On 08/15/2020
3.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

New England course plopped down in Iowa

First I’ll give the maintenance team full credit for getting the course re-opened and playable after the derecho earlier in the week. A lot of hard work paid off and the course conditions were generally very good.
The course truly feels much more like a New England course that one you’d find in the middle of Iowa. Rolling terrain and most holes are heavily wooded on both sides of the fairway. Overall the design did not thrill me with some of the holes poorly designed. #2 was a prime example, a par 5 where a layup tee shot is required for most players and the hole then plays off a downhill lie to an uphill green.
GPS is a nice touch. Cart paths are in horrible shape. Did not feel the course was a good value.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good

Pleasant Valley Golf Course

Played On 08/14/2020
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

OK layout, good value

Course Layout is nothing special with plenty of trees and water sprinkled thru relatively flat terrain. No really outstanding holes and only one bad hole (#5). Greens had enough movement to be somewhat interesting. Course is easily walkable. All aspects of the course conditions were good. Don’t expect to be impressed with the layout, but it’s a good value and a fair walk.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent

Brown Deer Golf Club

Played On 08/13/2020
3.0
Top 250 Contributor

Tale of 2 nines

Front nine starts easy with short downhill par 4. Rest of front nine plays through slightly sloping open farmland with the par 5 2nd being the best of the group. Back nine (original nine) moves into more wooded and hilly terrain that partially plays through the surrounding residential neighborhood. The double dogleg par 5 10th bordered by water was my favorite here. Par 3s and 5s were the strength of the course. Least favorite hole on the course was #18, a 90 degree dogleg par 4 with water bordering Inside of the dogleg for the length of the hole.
Course conditions were the disappointment here compared to the other courses played in the area.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent

Saddleback Ridge Golf Course

Played On 08/11/2020
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

First class course and staff

Played here the day after the derecho hit Iowa. Driving to the course, it was evident power was still out and the same was true when we arrived. However, the staff was willing to take cash and sent us on our way. After seeing the destruction from the storm, we weren’t expecting much. But kudos to the superintendent and his team. After the storm passed, they were immediately out on the course cleaning up damage and by the next morning, despite no power, the course was in great condition though there was still damage cleanup to do on the boundaries.
The course itself is a delight and interesting to play. Only spotted two bunkers and minimal water, but thick rough provides plenty of penalty for wayward shots.
Six par 3s, 4s and 5s provide numerous scoring opportunies.
Front 9 is generally rolling with the short par four 3rd being the course’s outstanding hole. A large dead tree sits in the middle of the fairway, providing a challenge to avoid off the tee to set up a clear angle to the green. The par five 5th and 7th both require accurate second shots to set up approaches to greens sharply angled off the fairway line.
The back nine takes full advantage of the “Ridge” with all holes but one playing down the ridge, up to the ridge or along the ridge. The short par four 10th plays straight uphill to a pinched green. Back to back par fives 15 (downhill) and 16 (uphill) again have greens angled offset to the fairways. The course finishes with a short downhill dogleg par four which provides a good opportunity for a birdie finish.
Overall conditions were outstanding. Greens are quite interesting with a lot of movement and good speed.
Returned the next day (still no power) and warmly greeted by owner and staff. Enjoyed the course just as much, if not more, the second time around. Highly recommend.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent

Saddleback Ridge Golf Course

Played On 08/11/2020
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor

Great course and great staff

Played the day after the derecho hit Iowa. It was clear driving to the course that power was still out in the area. When we arrived, the course was also without power, but they were happy to take cash and off we went.
First, have to complement the superintendent and his team. Even though many courses in the area were closed for several days after the storm, the crew had gone out immediately after the storm passed to do cleanup and the course was in great condition.
The course is entertaining and challenging. Six par 3s, par 4s and par 5s provide plenty of scoring opportunities. Only spotted two bunkers on the entire course, but thick rough provides plenty of penalty for wayward shots.
Front nine is relatively flat with only a couple holes playing either uphill or downhill. Thought hole 3 was the outstanding hole on the course. A short par 4 with a dead tree in the middle of the fairway that must be negotiated off the tee to provide a clear angle to the green. Par fives 5 and 7 both require good second shots to set up correct line to greens that are angled off to the left of the fairway.
Back nine makes great use of the “Ridge” with all but one hole playing up to, down from or along the Ridge. Short par four 10th plays straight uphill to a pinched green site. Back to back par fives on 15 (downhill) and 16 (uphill) again make use of angled offset greens to make the holes more challenging. Course ends with short downhill par four that doglegs hard left, but without hazards It sets up a great birdie chance to finish.
Greens were interesting and often challenging, but usually quite fair.
All in all, it was our favorite Iowa course on the trip.
P.S - played it again the following day and the course was still without power. Nonetheless, the owner and shop staff happily welcomed us back and we enjoyed it just as much, if not more, the 2nd day. Would definitely play it again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent

Spirit Hollow Golf Course

Played On 08/10/2020
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Worth the drive

Entertaining design makes great use of land’s topography. All aspects of the Course were in excellent condition. GPS on carts was a nice plus. Course is a great value - closer to Iowa City it would be much more expensive. Easy 1:15 drive from Coralville.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent

Heritage Oaks Golf Club

Played On 03/09/2020
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Nothing special for the money

Course was in decent condition given the recent rain. There’s a few interesting holes but nothing especially memorable. The greens were the highlight with generally interesting but fair contouring. Thought the course was a bit overpriced.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Course grew on me

Played the course 3 straight days. Initially I wasn’t overly impressed, but by the end of the 3 days, I had grown to really appreciate the design. The greens are very interesting, always seemed to end up with a downhill or side hill twisting putt. But the greens speed was fair and you could certainly make putts. The highlight of the course are holes 11-15 as you play out into the marsh. Course condition was surprisingly good considering the wet winter.

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

Misty Creek Country Club

Played On 01/08/2020
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Nothing special

Conditions were just OK with plenty of wet turf (probably from the overseeding). Greens were quite slow but they do have quite a bit of break and reasonable contouring. A few nice holes (18 is a nice finishing hole), but layout is generally unremarkable.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent

Old Orange at Verandah

Played On 12/18/2019
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Great find

Can’t say enough about the course condition and layout. One of the best courses I’ve played in SW Florida. Finishing hole is a gem. Shortish dogleg Left par 4 that requires a well placed drive between (or over if you’re really long) two large oaks.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
7e384556-2de7-5f7c-bcd8-703c40744e46
Commented on 10/07/2020

Good Afternoon,

Thank you very much for taking the time to post this positive review. At Hampton Golf, we place a premium on customer satisfaction. Receiving positive feedback like yours reinforces the investments we are proud to make in our phenomenal people and systems that we hope ensure the best possible experience for our guests. Thank you again, and we look forward to you visiting us again in the future.

Warmest Regards,
Hampton Golf Management

Valencia Golf & Country Club

Played On 12/17/2019
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Pleasant surprise

Solid course. Front 9 through a residential area, but set well back. Early holes on back 9 are in a natural area and much more scenic with a reachable par 5.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing

Good value but nothing special

Expected a mid tier course for the money ($39) and was not disappointed. Opening hole is a challenging dogleg par 4 over water - a tough way to open your round. Greens were good, but fairways were shaggy.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 01/13/2020

We appreciate you leaving us a review, Ravens. We hope you'll come see us again soon!

I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Cold weather
Walked

Great history, challenging course, but not a great value

If you're planning to play #2, your probably dreaming of its extensive championship golf (pro & amateur) history, its consistent top 10 rating and all the kudos the Crenshaw/Coore remodel has received.
You're probably well aware of the $400-$600 you'll drop to play.
What you're probably not thinking about are the forced minimum 5+ hour rounds, greens that are built for scratch golfers and the roll of the dice luck with the love grass in the sandy waste areas.
If you've never played and love golf history, then it's definitely a bucket list course. The restoration made great improvements to a great course. But the goal of this course is to host championships, not your average resort or club golfer. The greens and surrounds are not built for hybrid and long iron approaches. Unless your a single digit handicap, I would not recommend the white tees (6300 yards) even though the length is reasonable - move up to the white/green or the green to give yourself a chance to hold the greens (and almost always just shoot for the middle of the green) and shoot a "happy score".
The tee shots are not overly demanding, though our group found the sandy waste areas far too often and it's 50-50 whether you can do anything but a punch out. The greenside bunkering is usually fair. But you have to be able to hold the greens or you'll have a challenging recovery shot (many times you'll be able to use your putter vs. chipping off thin lies).
#2 (like #4) is cart path only and the paths are set well back from the fairways. Trolleys are available, but if you can afford it, taking a caddie is well worth the advice you'll get and not much more walking than taking a cart.
Unfortunately like too many bucket list courses, management is trying to maximize revenue (see other reviews about rain checks) and sets playing time at 2:30 a side (tee times off both #1 and #10 from 8:00 thru 10:20). After taking our time and having a ranger ask us to slow down, we finished the back in 2:10, waited 25 minutes at the turn and played the front nine behind the last #1 tee time in 2:45.
So do you play #2 or play 4 other very solid Pinehurst area courses for the same money? I leave that choice to the reader.

Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Better than #4

It had been years since I played the Fazio version of #4 so I don't remember much to compare the Hanse version. But the new #4 is much closer to #2 in temperament than the Fazio version was. Some people will like that and some will hate it - even the members seem fairly split on it.
Visually, #4 is even better than #2 - more of the natural sand flashes throughout the course. The greens are quite quick and flat is not a word in Hanse's design philosophy.
There are a lot of good holes on this course - the par 4 5th and the par 5 13th stood out to me. But there are several weaker holes that prevent this from being a 5-star, top 100 course for the players in our group. The par 5 9th with the large exposed sand waste area that the 2nd shot must carry is reminiscent of H*ll's Half Acre at Pine Valley, but a more strategic scattering of bunkers for both the tee shot and the 2nd shot might have made a more challenging and visually interesting hole. The par 3 11th felt like a bit ho-hum. But the two short par 4s, 15 and 16, received the most criticism. The 15th green provides a challenge with its multiple tiers, but the 16th really felt like it was just stuck in to make it a par 72. With back-to-back short par 4s, they each have to bring something to make them interesting/special.
I would certainly give it another go as I'm sure more of the courses mysteries would be unveiled with further play.
Two suggestions for future players. While a cart is certainly more manageable on #4 vs #2, a caddy is highly recommended for their knowledge of the course and the greens. If you are more of an average golfer, move up from the whites (6400 yards) and play the white/green combo or even the greens. You'll enjoy it more.

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