Flygidz

We've played Celebration a number of times over the years and it has always been in good condition. This year was no different if anything it was better than before. I'd go so far to say it was the best condition of the courses we played this trip. Pace of play can be an issue, sometimes it can be downright glacial, but we avoided that by being in the second group of the morning.

University Park is excellent having played it for the first time just last week we were keen to play it again. While all the things we enjoyed and made us want to return were still there, the experience was marred by one factor. The guy who was working as starter - I didn't get his name so bald guy with glasses will have to suffice. His attitude and demeanour were absolutely appalling. Here was the scenario. Our group had been called to head to our starting tee (the 19th in the three loops of nine) a par five. We waited until the group ahead had played their second shots and then began teeing off.Two of us had driven and the second two (each playing from a different set of sticks) When our hero roared up and berated us for 'not keeping up you should be on your second shots by now' I explained that we had started teeing off as soon as it was clear ahead and were still in the process of getting away. He replied "you do what I say...is that clear?". Since I wanted to get on with the game I refrained from my gut reaction which would be to invite him to go forth and multiply. The guy is a liability for a first class facility like this and should be invited to re-examine his choice of employment forthwith!

I'm going to echo some the earlier comments the setting of this course is very special. We were joined on one hole by a small group of deer, on another by an inquisitive hawk, on yet another coyotes could be heard baying in the distance...the condition of the course was good for the time of year and dry conditions. The exception to this was the greens which were first class. Finally, the staff were tremendously welcoming and friendly. Bottom line when we talked about where to play tomorrow, we agreed let's go back to Misty Creek.

The overwhelming impression of River Run is that 18 holes were crammed in to the plot the right size for sixteen or seventeen holes. The condition of the course was okay, just, with the exception being the greens which even the most exclusive clubs would envy, they ran true and were like lightning. Don't ever be above the hole or you are staring at a three putt. While the off course facilities were most definitely 'muni' more importantly, the staff were friendly and helpful. Bottom line I wouldn't play it again but then again I'm on vacation and thus less price sensitive than I would be normally.

The layout has three loops of nine we played 19-27 as our front nine and 1-9 as the back. 1-9 was a good deal tighter and demanded accuracy. But that is not to say 19-27 were a pushover either. Everything about this place is first class with an excellent management of play from the staters and rangers. If you are in the Sarasota area play this place....it is as simple as that.

What a surprise, the Lighthouse is a neat track plenty long enough ( 6400 off the tips) to challenge the majority of golfers it also has a few quirks using the local terrain to keep the interest alive. Course conditions on the fairways were excellent and although the greens had had some recent work they still played well I imagine that in normal play are superb.

Let me say outright everyone we enountered at the Canyon Springs was about as welcoming as you go possibly wish for, and I include Rocket and Rebel the two longhorns that live by the clubhouse. As for the course itself you'll need to keep your wits about you and your shots straight - either that of bring a lot of balls! There are plenty of elevation changes and tiers on the fairways which will keep you interested. You'll read other reviews which complain of the greens in reality although not at their best (we were told by the members we played with that they come into their own in the heat and humidity of the Texas summer) they were entirley playable - those you say otherwise must have lead very sheltered lives. Head out the Canyon you won't regret it.

Let's get one thing out of the way first they have had some trouble with the greens which they are working to rectify. That said I've played on worse and they didn't have a massive impact on our scoring. The opening nine you'll find are interesting without being too taxing (one tip of note on the first you'll want to take whatever stick you have that goes 200 yards and no more!) Then you come to the back nine and that's where the fun starts. As therse holes wind there way around the old quarry workings. Give it a try you'll have fun!

The Palmer course has to be the most dramatic in the San Antonio area with far reaching views across the city from the higher altitude holes. Those elevation changes mean you better be on your clubbing toes. Likewise the close proximity of thick bush and big drop off mena you best bring a lot of balls if your a game is not in your bag. That said ball hunting usuallyu yield a ball or two even if iut isn't the one you sent in there. The day before we played the course had been battered by a Texas thunderstorm with golfball hail so we were warned that the greens had been sanded and might be a bit random. In reality we found they had recovered well and generally gave a good roll notwithstanding mother nature's efforts. In short, if you are in SAT make the time to give the Palmer a whirl....life is too short not to.

My wife and I played this course in early April. while the design and layout of the course were excellent it was let down the woeful condition of the course. If that quality matched the rest of the set up I say it was a don't miss. But sadly until that changes I argue you are better off spending your money elsewhere.

If you are in the Houston area you have to give Tour 18 a try it's a lot of fun. Additionally it's location just a few miles east of IAH make it a good last day of the trip on the waynto the airport choice.

We first played the Plantation over 20 years ago on our first Florida golf trip and many times in the intervening years. We had always enjoyed it's classic Florida layout and sharing the course with all manner of fauna from Ospreys to Gators. Sadly while the layout remains the broadly the same (except for the ruination which turned the old first into a driving range some years ago) the condition is woeful. It is clear that aside from replacing a number of the cart paths last year little has been put into the course itself. it appears that the present owners have little interest in maintaining what was one of the nature coast's best little tracks...which is rather sad...

We first played Juliette Falls last year and immediately it found a place in our "must play when in FL" list. The layout is challenging without being brutal. Unquestionably, it's a course that requires thought - it doesn't take kindly to players who attempt to overwhelm it with brute force....a painful lesson the pro and 2 h'cap guys we were paired with on our second visit learned the hard way! The greens will demand your flat stick "A" game but are by no means ridiculous. Off the course there is a great little bar in the clubhouse which always seems to be buzzing with members and visitors reliving the slings and arrows of their rounds.

This is a great layout with elevation changes and a variety of holes that's a lot of fun to play. If some money was spent on the condition of the course notably the profiling of the bunkers as well as some thin areas of the fairways the course would be elevated from "give it a try" to a "must play" . Off the course there is renovation work going on at the clubhouse which itself is a handsome building in the antebellum style it'll be interesting to see what it is like when finished. In the pro shop there is a team which handled a booking problem we had with aplomb and a " no problem here's how we can fix it" attitude...top notch. If you are in Ocala it's certainly worth a go...we will play it again if we are back this way.

We have played Candler Hills before and enjoyed it enormously as other reviewers have noted off course the staff are great and the amenities excellent..Likewise the the layout is great but for some reason the the day we played the greens were slow, and when I say slow I mean putting through treacle slow, in addition the fairways were very thin. To be fair this may have something to do with the time of year and the changing of the seasons and so forth. and we will certainly give it another try in the future.