ericgrafton

My first time here was when I started golfing just over 3 years ago. Since that time, the course conditions continue to improve. I have played MANY courses since, and yet this continues to be one of my favorites. There is something abut the layout I really enjoy, and it's always "peaceful" . Staff are some of the nicest around. A little more grass in the fairway, redone traps, and this would be a 5 star + course for me. If this course was on my side of the bridge, I'd be here every other week.

This is a nice place to play, nothing notable, just a nice place to play at the right price. The clubhouse staff was super friendly, and 5 stars all the way for price, and service.

The greens were small, and it would help scores if you can play a few times to understand the breaks, and prepare for their size. Approach attacks will change a second time out. If you hit straight, and to the correct dogleg yardage, your only challenge will be the size of the greens.

Layout was ok, just ok. A little bit of back and forth, and contrived hazards.

The only real negative about my experience was the start. I arrive 30 minutes ahead of my tee, only to be hurried to the tee box and was told "the starter is waiting on me". NO, no one is waiting on me, you want to move me up to pair me up, fine, but don't rush me out of the gate. Maybe this is a result of being a single, or buying a Hot Deal, but I would like the option of rushing, or waiting for a later tee.

Let’s start with the good….

This is a really nice golf course, a 5 star course with the right adjustments. Greens are in excellent condition, sand was actually sand (not rocks), tee boxes were grass (not dirt), and relatively level. Our foursome loved the layout, and overall “feel”. It sorta had a little Wyncote vibe with a few more houses around. The bar service was AWESOME! The food was AWESOME! And the price with what was included, and course conditions, made this a superb value. Based on the course, food, and clubhouse service, made this a worth a 50 min drive.

Now……. here’s the rub.

Starter / Ranger need to chill out…………don’t ruin a groups outing by hounding them unnecessarily.

From the clubhouse to the first tee we noticed one of the carts was so slow we could’ve walked faster. The starter / ranger followed (lurked around) us out to the first tee box, at which point we brought this to his attention. His immediate response was, “they’re all basically slow”. Two of our foursome went to tee up on the blue tees , followed by a comment by the starter “I guess you guys are all single digit handicappers”. “Those are for signal digit handicappers”. We would’ve made the correction on our own, and didn’t need guidance. He then explained the 1st hole was cart path only, and scramble after…..he also mentioned “pace or play” twice on the first box (which I thought was a little unusual). We ALL felt like we were being pushed along before we ever teed off. Pulling up to our approach shots on the first hole, the ranger came out with a new cart to exchange. I guess he noticed how long it took us to get to our drives with the slow cart. Things were going seemingly well until the 5th hole. NOTE; there was NO ONE in the preceding tee box on 2 & 3 when we left the greens, and we were on the green when the threesome(regulars with 3 separate carts) entered the tee box on 4. Shortly after our tee shots on 5, we felt the presence of the ranger again. Get this, the ranger approached us again, and mentioned keeping the “pace of play” up. This was IN THE MIDDLE OF A HOLE, and after ALL four of us reached the green in 3 on a 508 par 5. Was he expecting us to Dustin Johnson it in 2? After mentioning the pace of play in the middle of 5, he told us the group behind us drops off after 6 . Yea, then why in the world would you interrupt a hole to tell us that, when it didn’t matter anyway. We finished 5 upset (needless to say), and plotted along 6 & 7 at OUR pace. Guess what happened at 8??....Yep, you guessed it, a 10 min wait on a par 3 waiting for the group in front of us. This prompted a call by me to the clubhouse, followed shortly by a visit from the manager. He proceeded to tell us where we should be time wise after 7…guess what, we were nearly 10 minutes ahead of pace. He then suggested we were behind based on our tee time….but how about this, he had the time we teed off wrong by nearly 25 minutes. When realizing (egg in face) we were ahead of schedule, he attributed this to the ranger moving us along…(dude, just admit you guys screwed up). The ONLY delays in our round to that point was the starter/ ranger that hounded us. We stopped off for a drink and dog on the turn, and moved to 10. A group came out of the clubhouse and met us at the 10th. They were the group that teed off nearly 30 minutes ahead of us. Imagine, a stop for a drink and dog, and were ahead of the group that started 30 minutes ahead of us. We let them move through, as they were a group of 3…..from that point forward we waited for them. On 12 we were greeted by yet another “ranger”. He asked us if were held up at any point, and we responded, “no” (only to avoid explaining as it would be a waste). His response was a sarcastic “wow” (implying that we were dragging along).

So, a group of 4 played in the middle of a Sunday with a cart exchange, a stop off after 9, and 3 interruptions by management in 4 hours and 15 minutes. Yes, I guess that’s really dragging……(written in a sarcastic tone). I’ve played 72 rounds in 14 months, and this was only the second time pace of play was mentioned to me....let alone being hounded over it. The only other time was when my buddy and I were paired up with a couple of hacks on a cart path only in a swamp.

We visited the pro shop one more time to complain about the additional rangers sarcastic “wow”. The manager sort of led onto why we felt pressured out of the gate….he commented, “ We had an event here earlier and that slowed things down (paraphrased)”. So, to the ranger that didn’t have the sense of putting the 3 regulars in 3 carts ahead of the 4 some that didn’t play there before, and the manager that didn’t adjust for the earlier delays……..your poor planning doesn’t become our emergency. Thanks for ruining what was otherwise a wonderful day.

I've played this course many times, and it's always a challenge, and pleasure. This is one of the first courses I played when I started playing golf last March. I thought "you have to be kidding, golf is really hard". Since that time, I've played more than 60 rounds at more than 25 different locations. Of all the rounds I've played, my most memorable moments are here. This course will challenge your course management skills, patience, and ability to use every club in your bag. The staff here has ALWAYS treated me well,..some of the nicest golf staff around. You don't get treated different if you buy a full price round, or a $20 Hot Deal. This is the primary reason I will, and do suggest other golfers to visit. You will lose a ball or two, you will get frustrated, and you will be physically tired approaching the tee box of 17...it's the charm and challenge of this place.

***Inniscrone will make you a better golfer, you just wont know it, until after you're in the tee box of another course***

The staff was super friendly and accommodating, one of the best. Course conditions were beyond what one could expect mid season, let alone February. It was one of the more enjoyable times on a golf course I've had. The course is a challenge with its undulating fairways, elevated greens, blind landing zones. If you haven't played here before, don't get frustrated. The first time out you're better served playing conservatively, than attacking. OK, here's the real rub, the greens. They're in amazing condition, but are VERY difficult. I've played golf only a year, and my strength is putting. This place turned a strength into a weakness. It' safe to say it cost me 9-10 strokes, when I normally gain 4-6 strokes. Hole 11 green is flat out unfair.....!!!!

Remember, bring you A game putting, and be patient.

I've played this course several times, and really enjoy being here. The course is a work in progress, and it appears a genuine effort is being made to improve conditions. I love the course layout, one of my favorites. If you play with the understanding conditions will eventually improve, and not to expect too much right now, you will enjoy your round. The amenities are just right, and the clubhouse super friendly. I will be back throughout the season....

I liked this course the last time I visited in the spring. It's progressively getting better. I was shocked by the nice course conditions this time of year. The staff was super friendly, and helpful. I will be coming here more frequently, and plan to play when the greenery is peak. For a February day in the upper 60's, it was busy (as expected), but the pace of play was terrific. Smiles all around..no complaints of any kind. The greens are in great shape, and long putts can be made frequently. As with most NJ greens, there isn't much break....you can putt through what little breaks there are. If not sure...putt straight with authority.

What is it with NJ golf courses and the haughty attitude of some of their staff? They act as if they're doing you a favor by letting you play there. My experience has been, NJ courses are relatively boring, and often overpriced. (read further).

It's difficult to write anything other than average for this course. The conditions of the course were good considering it's January and raining. Pace of play was fine until I caught up with a group on 11, but that's on me (I was playing fast). The ranger was very nice, and accommodating. It's an open course with a lot of long straight shots......greens played surprisingly quick given length of grass and wet conditions. I'm sure it's a more scenic place with mid season greenery. For the most part, a decent place to play mid season for the right price.

Here's the rub.....

If you purchase a Hot Deal round through this place, expect to be treated poorly. I was greeted with a non smile "you arrived" attitude. Upon receiving my starter slip, I was told the cart needed to be returned by 4:30 (sunset). This was after i booked a full round for a 2:00 PM tee. When i asked if I was expected to play a full round in 2 1/2 hours, I was told, quote; "for what you paid, it's really like 9 holes anyway'. Wrong answer......what i paid for a round is irrelevant. Not to mention sunset was 5:07, not 4:30. If you need the carts back by a certain time, put the specific time on your listing. Ironically, I had no intention of playing a full round. Had they not said anything, they would've had the cart back after 9 holes, and I would've been happy. Golf courses pay Golf Now by providing a certain number of Hot Deals. That's the cost of doing business. The customer should be treated no differently. I can't tell you how many full price rounds i've booked/paid, based on an experience I had with a Hot Deal, there were many. But that will never happen here..... Certain staff here may not see the forest past the tree.

I started golfing in March, have booked over 40 rounds, and have yet to play a Jersey course worthy of 5 stars. I live in South Jersey, and spend most of my time on Delaware and PA courses. They're in better condition, have friendlier staff, are more scenic (interesting), and are less expensive. To be honest, Blue Heron, Mays Landing CC, Harbor Pines, Buena Vista Country Club, and White Oaks are basically all the same. Mc Cullough's is more interesting than the previously mentioned, and it's on a landfill. This being said, I had a decent time here....decent. The staff was nice, course was OK (good deal of stone in traps, greens OK, tee boxes OK), everything OK...nothing stood out expect the pace of place....HORRIBLE. 2 hours 45 min to play front 9. I can't blame overbooking on this, but I will say the group of 4 in front needed situational awareness, and a ranger needed to make an appearance. The groups behind us were stacking up like the planes waiting to land in Die Hard 2. 2 of our 4 some called it quits after 9. I finally decided to overtake and pass the slowbies on 11. Had i not, I wouldn't have finished the last few holes. As with nearly all of the Jersey courses I've played, nothing memorable, and nothing I would pay more than a Hot Deal rate to play again.

This is the first time I've played the Presidential ,and enjoyed it thoroughly. I've played the Ambassador many times, and it's always enjoyable. It's hard to believe the courses are across the street from each other, as it has the feeling of being in a different area all together. I drive over an hour, and fight Blue Route traffic to play here, and it's worth it. The pace of play Friday was slow, but the weather and scenery allowed for an enjoyably slow round. The ranger came out to make sure all was well..and that's all one could ask. As always, the staff at Hickory Valley is terrific. Only wish i lived closer to justify becoming a member.

Super windy day....and was told it would be a little difficult if it was windy. Had beautiful shots drift a stray. Difference between landing on the green and putting for birdie, or going up and down. Will love to play on a calmer day. If you haven't played before...hit your tee shot on 7 to the right, you hear me, to the right. All your instincts say left, and the little hole map tricks you. Hit a tee fade to the right on 7, and enjoy a great round at a beautiful place.

Lets start with the positive. I've played this course many times, and it's always a pleasant experience. The course conditions are good (aeration notwithstanding), and the price is reasonable for a NJ course.

Now, the not so good. When I show up 25 minutes before my tee time (good etiquette?), I shouldn't receive a lecture on their lack of carts. I placed my bag on one of several available carts, and proceeded to get an earful about "how few carts were available", "I have 2 or 3 foursomes going out", "take you bag off and wait by the tree"...etc. 2 or 3 foursomes going out 20 minutes before a single...really? Side note; no one showed up ahead of me, prior to my scheduled time. I was paired up with another single and a twosome (behind me). They were a great bunch of guys....had lots of fun.

If there are too few carts available, that's one of two issues. Either there are to many people booked and on the course, or you don't have enough carts. Either way....not my concern as the customer. The starter should greet me with a friendly smile, tell me to enjoy my round, and be thankful I'm spending green fees, snack stand, and money in the clubhouse. I'm not the only one to bring up the issue with the starter, apparently this is an ongoing issue with this particular person.

IMO, there is way too much interaction with this particular starter and golfers. Like I would tell me kids when they were little..."be seen and not heard"

Had a nice time, and shot my best round. Had the greens not been coming off aeration, it would've been even better. The course conditions were good, the staff was super friendly, and it was an enjoyable time. The course wasn't easy, but not super difficult....somewhere in between. If your ball likes the beach, it'll have a blast here. The price was "ok", and I suspect will only go up when greens are 100%. it's a place I'll visit again if I can score another Golf Now deal.

I would have a difficult time finding another course this nice for the money. I can't write a single thing negative about it. Other than my score, I would duplicate everything about my golfing experience here again and again. I plan on coming back and playing both course on the same day.

Where do I start...

Signs should read "Don't be in cart path only" unless you want your teeth rattled out of your head.

Clean your ball by putting into cup on green (as 6 of the front 9 had them filled with water). I would've rather putted on the tee boxes instead of the greens.

Hitting drives into fairway means nothing for finding your ball. There were times I couldn't distinguish between fairway, rough, super rough, or jungle. I'm new to golf, but can hit a ball with extreme accuracy off of a tee at 230-240 yds. It was literally like hitting into an abyss....I yelled "so long ball" from the third tee on. Oddly, despite the poor course conditions, the tee boxes were in really good shape. This made it even more frustrating, as good tee shots were wasted.

Fairways???...you tell me...I didn't know where one ended, the other began, or if I was in rough or fairway. On 8, I hit a great shot intentionally to curve ball into what I thought was 8 fairway (as in front of me looked like rough). As it turned out, it was the fairway of another hole. I recovered with a gorgeous 5 iron shot back into the middle of the fairway of the hole I was playing.......what was I thinking!!! I should've known better than to hit a ball into the middle of a fairway without spotters and a film crew. Yes, I had to drop a new ball in the middle of the fairway after hitting in the middle of the fairway.....lost ball....again (said in Gump voice).

The good part was no one seemed too uptight...everyone was laughing when balls ended up in each others fairway, or a shot went errant from hitting off a section of brick hard dirt in middle of fairway. At one point a ball flew over a bunch of guys on a green and proceeded to ricochet off a tree (rather loud). The guys on the green were laughing so hard they couldn't put.

I would've been upset if I was charged $15...let alone $27 for 9 holes...never again.

It looked to me like a place preparing for a sale to a developer, rather than a place encouraging growth of the sport. This is the course they should've blown up at the end of Caddy Shack.

BTW, the cart was fantastic.

This is the second time I've played here. I'm relatively new to golf, but have played a great number of courses the last few months. This is (for me) the most challenging I've played, and will ultimately improve my game....or kill me in the process. About halfway through I'm thinking "what went wrong", followed by "I'm coming back until I break 80 here, or the 300+ year old tree falls on me. The course is well maintained, an interesting layout, and has the most friendly and accommodating staff I've met so far. If you're new to golf, don't be discouraged if your score is unusually high, it's a challenging "thinker" kind of place. Again, the staff from the parking lot greeter, to the club house, to the starter, are the best around. You will enjoy yourself, and possibly be humbled in the process.

I will be back....had lots of fun. Everyone was friendly and accommodating (staff and other golfers). The fairways are in great shape, and the greens were flawless, and FAST. I would rate 5 stars if the sand had less stones, and was softer. Also, many of the tee boxes were uneven and had high grass. When teeing off, find a flatter area...it'll save you 4-5 strokes.

Was on the 15th headed to the green with my putter...wind and rain kicked up like it was the end of the world. Yes...I ran, and fast...didn't look back. I'll be back to finish a complete round very soon.