Default User Avatar

PlayItForward280

Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
Lives
Carlisle, PA
Handicap
25+
Age
65+
Gender
Male
Skill
Intermediate
Plays
A few times a week

Review Statistics

Average Rating

4.2
4.2
Total 49 Reviews

Rating Breakdown

49 Reviews
5 Stars
22
4 Stars
17
3 Stars
10
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Recommended Courses
47
Not Recommended Courses
2
Helpful Votes Count
8
Not Helpful Votes Count
3
First Review
07/02/2014
Last Review
06/28/2020

Reviews Map

Reviews

4.2
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Course Difficulty
First time playing this course
Recommended
Review has

Carlisle Barracks Golf Course

Played On 06/25/2020
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Great Golfing in Carlisle II

Many improvements were made to this already outstanding layout since my 2014 review. Some obvious; some subtle. I'll just mention changes to my previous review in this update.

A new clubhouse with pro shop, locker room , and bar/restaurant opened in January 2020. It is now fully operational. A new putting green was installed in front of the clubhouse. It opened in June 2020. Since it is brand new, it rolls about 10 to 15 percent slower than the greens on the course. That will change as the green matures.

Improvements to the course include tree removals and plantings, work on several tee boxes, and changes to the way the sand in the bunkers is maintained. The bunkers are softer now.

I have played over a hundred rounds here since 2014, and the greens always roll true and consistent with the exception of #4 and #17. Those greens roll significantly faster than the others. I was told they are more modern construction than the rest.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate

Greencastle Golf Club

Played On 06/21/2019
3.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

What Was The Architect Thinking?

This course is splayed over a large tract of hilly land that offers a few memorable views but almost no level lies. Forget about walking the course, one would have to be an Olympian! A sign on the first hole instructs cart drivers to use the Z Rule, but most of the fairways are so steeply sloped along the margins that a cart is uncomfortably tilted making the Z Rule unworkable.

Blind shots are an acceptable aspect of golf course design, but when a golfer can't easily determine which fairway to use from the tee, that design feature loses its charm! That's what we encountered on the ninth tee. One could easily play up the eighteenth fairway where you can see the flag from the tee, instead of the blind ninth.

This has been a very wet spring. Thus, I was not surprised to find the course lush and green. The course drains well; I didn't notice any marshy areas where one should hit a golf shot. And we experienced deluges over the last four days!

Many greens have significant slope; I wonder how many playable pin locations are available on some them. One green had significant bare spots. Green speed is reasonable given the severity of the slope. Some tee boxes are in sad shape and could easily get very hard during dry spells.

The exterior of the clubhouse is very attractive, and the Pro Shop in the basement is brand new.

Homes located along the fairways on the edges of the property should not pose a problem for golfers except, perhaps, on one hole ,#10 I think, where a few yards get close to the fairway. Perhaps the course was designed to accommodate homesites along the interior holes that were never developed. That is a possible explanation for what the architect was thinking.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/18/2019

We appreciate the time you took to thoroughly review our course! We can't say we disagree with your comment about the 9th tee! That's why we're adding forward tee boxes to help with speed of play and confusion on which fairway to play! We are continually making changes to better the course so we hope you'll be back soon to see our changes!

-Greencastle Golf Club

Country Club of Harrisburg

Played On 06/17/2019
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Play This Course Whenever You Can

I played this gem in a scramble, and my team scored even par, best ball. The course is that difficult! Although I doubt I would have scored less than 120 on my own ball, I would play this course again in a heartbeat. It's that good!

A previous review mentioned the blind holes, the entry road as a hazard, the hilly terrain, the spectacular views of the Susquehanna River and Fishing Creek Valley. All true! The course layout is very compact. Fairways, greens, and tees are tightly squeezed together, but one is almost never aware of other golfers on the course. Outstanding! No homes along the fairways! Again, outstanding!

Although listed as less than 6500 yards, the course plays long for this 79 year old. The greens are small, tiered, and sloped, The are well-bunkered. The putting surface is near perfect, fast, and rolls true. Don't expect many one-putts!

The pro shop is well stocked with quality merchandise. The staff handled the scramble without a blip. Carts are gas powered and well worn. One of ours broke down at the turn.

Conditions Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing

Try It; You’ll Like It!

Everything about this course is outstanding — greens, fairways, layout, and staff! The course is fairly long for seniors and women. I was hitting 3-wood into most of the greens. Fairways are wide, but there are lots of bunkers. You’ll have to think your way around this course!
Water only comes into play on two or three holes for seniors. Even though the large parking lot seemed very full, the course was surprisingly empty. Try it; you’ll like it!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
62534e2e-6240-598a-896d-b552a59e30c4
Commented on 08/01/2018

Great review, thank you!

I Recommend This Course
4.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Day On Historic Course But Expected A Little More

Yesterday I played this historic course on a picture-perfect day. The course was soggy from heavy rains two days earlier; so, it was cart path only. I was impressed the soggy conditions didn't keep the ground crew from maintaining the fairways and greens in beautiful aesthetic shape. Of course, we didn't get much (if any) roll on the fairways, but the greens were receptive.

Most golfers will enjoy this resort course. Pace of play is OK. Our foursome completed the round in 4 hours 35 minutes; not a bad time for cart path only. Best of all, we never pushed the foursome ahead of us or delayed the foursome behind us.

Fairways are generous. the length is manageable assuming one plays from the appropriate tees, and there are risk/reward choices to be made. Greens are challenging to say the least. Lots of slope, subtle undulation, and grain issues.

I was a little disappointed with the architecture. I expected some memorable holes, and there really aren't many. For me, only #17 stands out; it's a relatively long par three with a long, narrow green. There's a deep bunker to the left and a hill on the right. A truly scary hole.

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

The Omni Grove Park Inn

Played On 08/18/2017
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

One of the Best

This round was my first experience with a Donald Ross design, and I was delighted. Course layout is outstanding, but not overly challenging for an experienced golfer. The greens are evil! Hardly a straight putt on any of them. They are the strength of the course.

The course is beautiful with wonderful vistas of the mountains on many holes. It is in prime condition. This was the only area course I've played this week with bunkers dry enough to play from. Great sand.

On course amenities are outstanding.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
Wet weather
Used cart

Cart Paths Only -- To Wet For My Taste

Playing as a single and the first golfer out on the South Nine, I had no problems with pace of play on that nine. Things slowed down a bit on the North Nine as I got behind a slow foursome that struggled with the cart paths only rule that was truly necessary due to the soggy conditions. They let me play through after a couple of holes, and I finished my round in 3 hours 30 minutes. Not bad.

In my opinion, the South Nine was to wet for play. The North Nine only had one or two really wet places where water was standing above the soil. Most bunkers on both nines were water hazards, and many were severely eroded. All were unplayable. I used my ball retriever to get my ball from one particularly deep pond/bunker.

Greens were in good shape.

On-course amenities (drinking water, restrooms, etc.) are not up to par for a resort course. The restaurant and pro shop definitely are!

Watch for the white squirrels!

If I get a really good rate, I'd tee it up here again; otherwise, there are many local options.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate

Cummings Cove Golf & Country Club

Played On 08/14/2017
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Great Course

I played this mountainous layout for the first time from the cart paths only which means I attempted shots with the wrong club because the right one was across the fairway in the cart. You know the drill!

Electric carts are new with GPS. Nice! Water, restrooms, etc. are as expected on a high-end course like this one.

All the usual hazards are in play. None should bother an experienced golfer playing from the proper tees. Our threesome agreed to not play from the bunkers because they were solid hardpan -- obviously flooded out and eroded from recent heavy rains. Rough is Bermuda -- stay on the fairway or you'll be sorry.

The best hint I can offer is to choose one club longer when in doubt. I did, and it worked out on all but one hole -- a very short, steep uphill par three that I overshot. The course plays long.

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

Black Rock Golf Course

Played On 08/09/2017
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing

A Great Course -- Tough But Fair

Rarely do you shoot a really high score on a course new to you and want to go back and give it another try. Black Rock is one of those courses!

It has everything: length, great bunkers with good sand, water, scenery, undulating greens, tree-lined fairways, blind shots, and rough just high enough to challenge you.

It also has a slow pace of play, even though the course was not particularly crowded.

Everything considered, it's a great value at the Golf Now bargain rate.

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

Piney Apple Golf Course

Played On 05/26/2017
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Golf Gem in Apple-Growing Country

If you can get beyond the quirky design on the back nine, this is a nifty little gem set in some of Adams County's prettiest terrain.

The "clubhouse" is a mobile home beside a gravel parking lot, but it's sparkling clean inside, and the young lady behind the counter is friendly and helpful.

Carts are electric without any new-fangled frills, but they have ball and club washers on them. All the usual amenities are available: driving range, putting green, etc.

The course is hilly with elevation changes, doglegs, and ponds to make it interesting. On this cloudy, cool morning following a night of rain, balls didn't run like they do when the layout is hard and dry. The green surfaces are flawless, and they hold approach shots well. There are plenty of interesting slopes to make putting a challenge. Bunkers were soaked with standing water in some of them. There are good-size pebbles in the ones I found myself in; not something I expect to encounter in bunkers

Views of the surrounding orchards are outstanding, even on a day with showers rolling through the area. I finally got rained on playing 17 and 18.

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

Valley Green Golf Course

Played On 04/14/2017
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Fun, But Ragged Around The Edges

The tees are probably the only truly level ground you'll encounter on the first nine. Almost everything else slopes -- a little or a lot. The back nine, not as much.

The greens are the crown jewels of this course. Small, sloped, and sometimes bilevel, they rolled putts beautifully. Chips and pitches were predictable, and approach shots that came in at a high angle held the green. I noted almost no ball marks or scuffs.

Carts are gas powered, and the've been around the course more than a few times. Mine was fairly clean and very serviceable. No complaints.

It's easy to find your way around the course. Signage is more than adequate. Asphalt cart paths exist on all the holes, but they are old and bumpy.

I only remember two "water holes", #1 and #18, and the water only came into play on #18. Fairway and green side bunkers are present on a few holes, but not many. I luckily avoided them today; so, I can't report on the quality of the sand. The ones I noted all seemed to be well raked.

Pace of play could be a problem. I had a fast first nine; no one ahead of or behind me until I caught up to a threesome on #9. The back nine had waits at every tee with10 minute waits at the tee on #16 thru #18.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate

Old Corkscrew Golf Club

Played On 10/13/2016
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Florida Golf As It Should Be

Old Corkscrew gerts 4 stars because it is the prettiest ground for golf I've seen in Southwest Florida. There are no homes lining the fairways; native vegetation lines them instead. Avian wildlife is all about you. The course itself is well maintained, but not outstanding. The greens show ball marks and scuffs. Tees are in good shape, but I repaired divots on some of them that I didn't make. Fresh divots in fairways also are common and noticeable. On most courses, I would consider this routine, but several courses in this area that can be played for the same dollars are absolutely pristine.

Bunkers come into play from all tees. Water and forced carries are pretty much eliminated from the green and gold (the forward) tees. Some holes even have significant elevation changes. To score well, you'll have to think your way around this layout.

Cart paths are mostly gravel with some cement sections. Electric carts are provided with the usual amenities (i.e., GPS tracker, ice cooler, towels, divot repair materials). Our cart was a bit shopworn, but it was very serviceable.

This is the only course I've played in this area that I would enjoy walking. Fairways double back on each other but native vegetation separates them so you feel as your group is alone on the course.

The greens are fast, they are relatively small, and they slope and undulate. My score would have been a lot better, had I sunk a few more five to six footers. I was able to successfully use my putter from off the green .

The Pro Shop is well stocked. Water, ice, and restrooms are scattered around the course. We had a very good lunch on the patio between nines.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Response from on 10/14/2016:
Thank you Playitforward280 for your review and feedback of our golf course. We appreciate you taking the time and are very pleased you enjoyed all aspects of the course. Please let us know if you ever need anything while you are here and please come back and see us again soon!
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Welcoming, Wide-Open Golf Course

Bonita National is a sprawling, wide-open course that is very user friendly. From the forward tees, water and other fairway hazards are almost never in play.

Our foursome used three different tees. Three out of four drives usually landed about the same distance from the green. A good thing in my opinion.

Greens are fairly fast. None of our foursome truly "broke the code" on this round.

Carts are gas powered. Ice and water are available at the pro shop and at intervals along the course. Restrooms, too.

Wildlife, especially birds, is abundant.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Fairly Easy
76c70635-3992-5e43-bea1-c86e9a66a3ca
Commented on 10/18/2016

Hi "PlayItForward280" Thank you so much for the great review! We appreciate you taking the time to review our course. It sounds like your group had a wonderful time today, please come back and see us again soon.

I Recommend This Course
5.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Play As Often As You Can

Fairways are wide, bunkers should not come into play for most of us, and the abundant ponds are not significant hazards from the forward tees. The course is in perfect condition from tees to greens. Chipping greens, practice green, and driving range are available. A cart is essential because the course sprawls over a vast area. Distances between many greens and the next tee are enormous.

We were paired with a member, making our round very relaxing and enjoyable. His advice was extremely valuable on several holes, especially on five, a hole that almost everyone can hit their drive through the dogleg.

The course's main defenses are the undulating greens and the Bermuda grass rough. The undulations look intimidating, and they are. Luckily the greens are only moderately fast. The Bermuda grass rough doesn't look so bad at first glance, but it can and will swallow a ball. Getting it out is not a sure thing.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate

Forest Glen Golf & Country Club

Played On 10/09/2016
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Pristine Golf Venue

I booked my round through GolfNow so I was very pleased to be paired with a delightful couple who were members and very familiar with the course.

The course is in pristine condition. Fairways are fairly narrow with bunkers, water, or both in play on many holes. You get lots of roll on the fairways. Greens are a bit slow, but the surfaces are perfect! There are bilevel greens as well as many that undulate.

The course covers a lot of ground so one is rarely aware of golfers on adjacent holes. A cart is necessary! There are many tee options; golfers of all levels should be able to find one that suits.

Staff, especially Norm who met me coming and going, are friendly and helpful. Plenty of ice and cold water are available on the course. Restrooms, too.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
3.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Average weather
Used cart

One Resort -- Two Courses

We played Mustang and Flamingo on Sunday (Oct 2) and Monday (Oct 3). Flamingo is the more impressive, harder, and wetter of the two courses.

These are resort courses with wide fairways, low-cut rough, and nothing memorable about the holes.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate

Rich Valley Golf Course

Played On 09/02/2016
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Something a Little Different

Rich Valley offers something a little different from most courses around Carlisle. It is short and hilly with small greens and sharp doglegs. I played the golds, and had no trouble reaching most greens in regulation when my drive stayed in the fairway. Lots of times, I had less than 120 yards to the green. Fairways were great to play from -- greens, not so much. The greens looked good, but I noticed that my playing partners' putts bounced a lot instead of rolling smoothly. I assume mine did as well.

Bunkers on the front nine are in deplorable shape. The sand was firmly packed and crabgrass was growing in some bunkers, most notably in the large bunker that crosses the entire fairway on four. Bunkers on the back nine were in much better condition. Most were freshly raked.

Separating the fairway from the rough was hard on some tees for the golfer playing the layout for the first time, I could usually see where the flag was located, but I couldn't tell for sure where the fairway grass ended and the short rough began. It really didn't create too much of a problem because the short rough is not penal. And errant balls are easy to find.

I enjoyed my round. Surprisingly for such a short layout, I used 11 of the 14 clubs in my bag. That means one has to apply a little strategy to get around the course.

Carts are electric. Cart paths are paved and very smooth. Our starter was very helpful. Water and restroom facilities are located on the course. Signage is adequate. We played in the morning; thus, the restaurant was closed.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Fairly Easy

The Bridges Golf Club

Played On 08/25/2016
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Maybe Next Year

This is a well-designed course on a rolling piece of property with lots of the namesake bridges over wetlands and a meandering creek. Only a few holes have significant water hazards. Lots of up, down, and sidehill lies on the fairways along with undulating greens make for an interesting round.

The greens reportedly were severely damaged last year. They are much improved this year. They are playable, but there is a tremendous variation from green to green and even on some individual greens. Speed ranges from fast to downright slow. Grass color varies from dark green to light green on the same green.

Fairways are in good shape.

Not a walker's course. Lots of elevation changes, and significant distance between some greens and the next tee. Carts are gas powered and in average condition.

I look forward to playing here again, but not this year. Maybe next year.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate

Bulle Rock Golf Club

Played On 08/19/2016
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Bucket List Course

We teed off on the back nine at 11:00AM on a hot August day following a thunderstorm that produced a deluge the night before. The only reason we knew that was because the course played cart paths only and the starter told us about the storm. Except for a few soggy areas on the lowest portions of a few fairways, the course was pristine.

Cart paths only significantly slows pace of play. You'll get a workout walking across wide fairways getting to your ball and climbing/descending short stretches of pretty steep terrain. You'll also have to carry multiple clubs to some shots because it's hard to see what kind of lie you're in from the cart path.

I rarely had a flat lie on the fairway -- almost all of them slope one way or another. Or they have humps and dips to negotiate.

Rough bordering fairways isn't tall, but it's high enough to "hide" a ball and make second shots difficult. Rough bordering some greens is taller; it definitely makes it hard to get up and down.

Many greens are long and narrow. Pins are located sequentially on the front, middle, and back of the greens. It takes an extra club to reach the back pin locations. After all that rain, the greens easily held our approach shots. They were fast, but I'll bet they usually run even faster. Not too many undulations or multi levels. Just slopes. I like that! Many greens feature huge oscillating fans. They're really nice on a hot day!

There is water on the course -- ponds and a creek. Bunkers -- green side and fairway -- come into play on many holes.

Well-stocked pro shop. Great locker room. Nice electric carts. Very friendly staff. Great turkey sandwich at the turn. All amenities are first rate.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging

Royal Manchester Golf Links

Played On 08/12/2016
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Central P A Advisor
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing
Poor weather
Used cart

Outstanding Design, Outstanding Condition, Outstanding Staff

We teed off on one of the hottest, muggiest days so far this summer. Shoes and thunderstorms were threatening, and they hit with a vengeance! We came in after four holes to wait out the storm, tried again when it ended, and scurried right back when lightning struck very nearby. We completed our round after the storms passed.

The course drains very well as it is built on mounds of fly ash mixed with sand from the power plant that looms over the course. These mounds provide visual barriers between fairways so that one feels secluded while on the course. The course architecture is very appealing with a variety of ups, downs, and doglegs.

Fairways and greens are in wonderful shape. Sand in the bunkers is very nice to play out of, even after a heavy rain. Blue, white. gold, and red tees are well placed to give every golfer a chance at par. Even first timers can find their way around these links easily, thanks to outstanding signage on the cart paths.

This is the best course I've played in south central PA.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Now Reading