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Have not played here since redesign. Redesign is for the worse. The 3 completely new holes are pretty bad, the par 5 being the best of the bunch.

The greens are nice and undulating now though.

Similar condition to how it was in 2014, when I played it last. Practice green is very good, large and mimics the undulations of the course well.

Areas around green, and sod on left of 18 green not great/not taken

Sand in bunkers appeared plentiful and consistent.

Course plays decently tough off the black tees, probably harder than previously due to the green changes.

Overall its a great course, and IMO worth playing here over ritz carlton and maybe waldorf astoria (although waldorf does have some nice holes).

Course is really 4.5 stars, but don't think it deserves 4/5 as its certainly a top 15 course in the orlando area

I'd played here years ago about 6 months after the renovation. The course was pretty pristine back then, and it's barely changed years later.

I've yet to play Doral post renovation, and I've not played Biltmore now it has reopened. But this is the BEST maintained golf course in Miami I have played - and I have played the rest.

The design is brilliant, given the land. Hard pressed to carve out a better course on the property. It's not my favourite design in Miami (Miami Shores owns that honour) but like I said, given how mundane the piece of property is (dead flat) they have done a great job with the layout.

It will be a shame if the city decides to build on this course, it's something I expect Miami to do but I hope I am wrong.

If you have not played here then you are missing out. The practice facility is pretty good for the area - large putting green, double sided range, at the back of the range is a chipping green and bunker.

On the bunkers - full of white sand, very consistent from what I observed.

Greens fast for the area, but receptive. Very undulating - not quite Davie levels, but that extreme in places and harder to read IMO.

My only complaint is the people running the course are pretty clueless. I tried to play here 2 years ago, and they had the tee times backed up for HOURS. Myself and another guy visiting got our money back and left. There was a queue on the first tee, and they were going out well beyond their tee time.

Today, the course wasn't busy. However, the starter didn't really know what he was doing and the pro shop was no better. Lots of confusion regarding who was playing with who and at what time, and where they were. And messing up starter slips etc.

Bit of a joke, but the course is a delight and the staff are generally friendly - just a bit incompetant..

Used to be in better shape. Pristine as recently as 2015, when I played it last. Still in good shape, but bunkers and the areas surrounding them arent great. Greens rolled nicely.

All in all a more challenging layout than plantation preserve, not as scenic and I prefer the layout of plantation. But in better condition with quicker greens. This was the case a few years ago and it still is - but both are gently going downhill.

Played this course a lot in the past, but not for a few years. In 2015, when I played it last, I noticed it appeared to be gently going down hill condition wise - it's slightly more downhill since then.

Still a nice layout, still decent shape, but it's not what it once was.

I used to prefer the condition and the test of golf that Jacaranda East provided - but preferred the layout of plantation.

Haven't played Jacaranda in several years either, so can't compare them as they are now.

Plantation still a top course in South Florida, just no longer great - simply good.

If they ever start looking after the course more (which judging by the price of the tee times, and how much play it gets - not sure why they cant) it'll get back to being great.

Think its perhaps being mismanaged currently.

Going into the round, I knew the course would be great. But the pictures do not do it justice.

I spent weeks planning which 2 courses to play in the Phoenix area for my first taste of golf in the area. And choose according to my tastes.

So we played this and Quintero. Quintero was great, but Cholla has 0 bad holes on it. 18 gems.

I've played well over 100 courses all over the world, and this is right up there with the best I've played.

Phenomenal condition (greens slower due to overseed, which was the only downside), incredible layout/design.

I know many prefer Saguaro, which I have not played. But I don't see how it could beat Cholla.

I'll be back to Phoenix to play more golf in the future.

But I emplore any visting the area wondering where to play - play Cholla at WeKoPa, it will not disappoint

Greens were fast, they estimated 10.5-11, perhaps up to 12 if they sun came out. They were every bit of it!

Only downside to this stunning course:

- a few holes are boring/throwaways. Straight forward par 4s that add nothing.
- it gets a lot of play, and people aren't repairing their pitch marks/doing it wrong. Pock-faced greens

The good:
- Hard course off the tee if you don't have it on the day (which I didn't)
- Elevation changes
- Scenary
- Condition - not as good as WeKoPa, but the greens were "better". Quotations, as they were faster and rolled great (in general).

WeKoPa is a better course, but they don't roll the greens and compact them as much there (when we played) as they do at Quintero.

I can see why this place has its critics, but would 100% recommend to anyone. It is one of the best courses I've played on, and from the back tees certainly one of the most challenging.

One of the better courses in the Austin area. Lacks character and has few interesting holes. That said, there was more elevation changes that I expected - which was nice. Greens were good, tee boxes mostly flat, 90% of the bunkers are redone with white sand which was a nice touch.

However, not much sand in them and they weren’t edged well/at all. The ones left undone, well, makes you realize why the others were redone.

Free range balls - good perk.

Best practice facilities I’ve seen in the Austin area. Decent range, plenty of putting and chipping greens.

Club house looked nice from the outside, food and eating area less so. Bathrooms had no soap in the showers or sinks.

On the rules: course was dry but we were told 90 degrees with the carts and certain holes were no carts at all. Those holes seemed no different condition wise.

Fair enough, they care about their course.

We were also told to arrive 8 mins before our tee time to the 1st tee. Strange. We didn’t bother, opting to hit range balls instead. Starter came to find us with 7 mins until our tee time as we are getting in the cart to drive to the 1st tee. Nobody waiting at the 1st tee. Course didn’t seem _that_ busy compared to pretty much everywhere else in Austin.

Was told to try and make it on time next time (by which it was meant 8 mins early). Did ask why we’d need 8 mins at the first tee. Was explained to us, poorly, that they are “pretty bunched up” and “we have a dynamic system” and something about the tee times not actually being the tee times. Who knows ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But as a result we were allowed to tee off a bit early. That was nice, but that much could have been conveyed to us in the proshop - no need for all this 8 mins early madness. Golf needs less rules, not more.

took us 3:50 mins. And we could have certainly done it quicker if we’d have wanted. Course pretty tame, lots of room. Managed to play like a dog despite that though

Saw the marshalls/player assistants a total of about 10 times. They seemed fine. Didnt tell us anything about pace of play.

Overall a positive experience. Would consider coming back again. Not sure I’d rush back, but if you haven’t played here it’s worth a try. And I can see if you’re local it’s definitely a no brainer.

Repeat from my other OCN review:

The back 9 of panther lake is the best of the 4 nines. With crooked cat front 9 coming in second.

The back 9 of CC and front of PL are pretty even.

Played this course many times in the past, played the majority of it on the date listed.

Always consistetly good. Would LOVE for them to just step it up a bit on the course conditions, they are good - but not quite there with Southern Dunes/Grand Cypress.

That being said, always very cheap for what you get. And has one of the best practice facilities in the area: Range, Chipping/Pitching, and putting

The back 9 of panther lake is the best of the 4 nines. With crooked cat front 9 coming in second.

The back 9 of CC and front of PL are pretty even.

Played this course many times in the past, played the majority of it on the date listed.

Always consistetly good. Would LOVE for them to just step it up a bit on the course conditions, they are good - but not quite there with Southern Dunes/Grand Cypress.

That being said, always very cheap for what you get. And has one of the best practice facilities in the area: Range, Chipping/Pitching, and putting

Fantastic layout/design, great condition (they even edge the bunkers), a true gem.

Only thing that detracts from it is that its got a lot of houses on the course. Other than that, a delight to play.

Highly recommend it

Bad layout/design. Boring and straightforward.

Played with a friend who was blown away by Orange County National/Grand Cypress/Southern Dunes/Reunion.

He didn't think much of here. Neither did I.

I have no problem shelling out well over $100 for a tee time, if its worth it. What is wrong with this course?:

- Such a boring, sedentry design. Really bad
- Conditions were the worst of the 4 courses we played that week. Range, though, was the best maintained.
- Its over priced and over hyped

The bad on the day:

- idiots hitting balls into you, claiming they didnt know you were there. Doing it on multiple holes, and when confronted act dumb.
- Pro shop not telling you some of the greens were punched.

The good on the day:
- Burger in the clubhouse is excellent (imo)

To those looking for alternatives at this price point:

- Waldorf astoria is better in every way. Still not a huge fan of it - but it is better than this place.
- Shingle Creek - its everything this place is (flat resort course with frequent views of the hotel) but in better shape, slightly cheaper, better design.
- Bay Hill, because at least it will sound good in conversations.

Or just go to OCN/Grand Cypress/Southern Dunes/etc for an upgrade in every possible way and save money

I've played all three nines. East is the worst of the lot. Island green is the worst island green I've played on (out of 10 or so) - its quite large, wedge shot downhill, and there's trees/rough/bunkers to help you stay on.

So in summary: play south/north. If not, south/east. If not, north/east.

Souths the best 9, then North, then East.

The good about them all:

Consistently great shape tee to green. Never a let down.

I have played this course several times between 2013-2014. I have also played pretty much every course worth playing in Orlando. It was always in variable condition back then, seldom in great condition, but usually respectable. Occasionally the greens would be superb, but the property is so vast they struggled to keep up. I understand it was once pristine, though.

Well, the last time I played this course was Dec 2014.The condition wasn't the best, I remember thinking. But enjoyable.

Played recently and it was 80% as good as it was the last time I played it, probably 65% as good as I've played it at its best - which is FAR better than I expected (although, I had surveyed the course the day prior to booking).

This course will NEVER have the same visual appeal it once did with all the construction and new houses, but I wasnt as put off by it as I thought. The fantastic layout remains, and even after they have built more houses around it that will hold true.

It can never be the mystic dunes of old, but if they can get the condition back to how I've played it in the past, or better - it will once again be my favourite track in Orlando.

Southern dunes doesn't have a layout this good, but they have the condition. I have always maintained that if this place just got the condition up a bit (back in 13/14) it'd be the best course in Orlando.

It was always my favourite course, and I look forward to that being true once again. Keep up the great work!

Some additional notes: Practice green is basically non existent, as is the chipping area - range not looking its best either. Those areas are 30-50% of what they once were at their worst. They also no longer give you balls pre round (which I'm pretty sure they used to) - one of only a couple in Orlando to do this. They also stopped doing the really cheap replay rate (which I never took advantage of sadly). However, if it means the condition will get back, I'm OK with these downgrades

Condition is acceptable - it's not bad for a 30 dollar course, but at double or more that price it is not up to par. It's not in bad shape, but its also not pristine. The course has a nice setting, but the design is pretty boring considering where the property is (scenic and hilly). You'd be hard pressed to carve a more sedentary course out of the property. I would agree with other reviewers, you'll need course knowledge to play this course well - but it is not a long or difficult course. I didn't have more than an 8 iron in to any hole (played from the back tees). And had less than 250 in on every par 5. And that's with most holes having wind that was not helping. Most of my approach shots where wedges, and I only drive the ball 260-70. It's a shame they don't have another set of tees further back, or more protection around the green. It's not a bad course, but I understand it is private, and at 59 dollars twilight I expect much better greens, and a more challenging, interesting design. Yes the views are spectacular, and the setting is excellent, but that doesn't mean the course is well designed - it simply isn't. I've played across Europe, Florida, and Texas - I probably won't be back to River Place, despite living exceptionally close. I will say the staff was helpful, and the clubhouse is nice. Although I did not enter a bunker, my playing partner did and the sand in the was exceptionally consistent and there was plenty of it. However, the bunkers are quite shallow and mostly benign. Few, if any, offer challenge. I view this course as good for the retired, or for those who haven't played any/many well manicured or decent courses.