Robert1007488

Local Lakeland golfer. Great round of golf at Cleveland Heights. Very friendly. Solid course. Typical course conditions for winter golf in Florida. Greens not in the best condition as expected. C.H. is not for the best of golfers but excellent for good golfers and recreational golfers. Starter managed the flow of golfers very well.

Cart path required throughout the course due to very heavy rains in previous days. Needed lift, clean and place everywhere including shots from the rough. Still enjoyed the round. Afternoon pace-of-play was excellent. Staff is congenial. Always find good people to play with when I go alone. Have played Shalamar many times. Always enjoy the layout and challenges for an internediate player. Greens were all in good condition. Off-course amenities are limited due COVID19, as expected.

The changes to Links of Sandpiper are worth giving the course a chance. Outstanding ammenities, staff, and value for the price. I've heard most of the complaints about the layout changes on the back nine. The course is not set up for bombers and long ball hitters. So stay home unless you are willing to play placement golf, use more of your clubs and don't complain. At this time of year, most of Florida's golf courses are full and thus pace of play is slower. Doesn't matter what course you are on. This is a very good thing for golf generally, and Sandpiper. Go play Sandpiper and enjoy the experience. I have to rate my experiences at Sandpiper as excellent all around.

I have played Sandpiper on and off over the last 13 years. It has had its ups and downs but has remained one of my favorites. Under new ownership, everything is getting better, despite COVID19. I and my friends play as early as possible to avoid the hot Florida sun. Some regulars do play extremely slow but I either stay well behind them or go through if allowed. When the course is crowded and slow, just be patient and enjoy the outdoors. Beats being locked up in the house.
Since the course has 9 holes with tee boxes set up for very young or very new golfers, I have brought along a ten year old grandson. It gives him a chance to get the feel of playing golf on an actual course. The shorter tee box setups are perfect for a young or new golfer.
The greens are very good. The regular tee boxes are good. Most of the fairways are in good condition and will get better with time. The sand traps are in great condition. The course is a bit shorter but still a fun golf experience. The extras that have been added to the course and the club house areas are excellent.
I intend to cotinue golfing at Sandpiper and to encourage others to play there as well.

Like many Polk Cty golfers, I gave up on Sandpiper a number of years ago. Over the last couple of years, major changes have been taking place: Clubhouse, practice area, practice green, course modifications and improvements. Everything that can be improved is being improved. Much of the renovation is in progress. That shouldn't deter anyone from playing the course (9 holes available currently). Play Sandpiper, watch the course as it is being remodeled and enjoy a fun round. Then every time you go back, something else will have improved. I started playing Sandpiper again when I heard about the changes taking place. For awhile, we could only play the back nine, then only the front. Twice through the same nine holes has not bother me in the least. People are friendly and seem to be happy they are involved in this project. Customer service is superior. Course conditions and playability are good for the average golfer and getting better.

Played Saturday morning very early, 7:20am. Course was a bit wet and muddy in places but overall in good condition. Fairways were fine, many are tight. Rough was at a reasonable length - no lost balls. Greens were fairly fast but not ridiculous. Greens have some dead spots but very few. People need to repair their ball and spike marks on this course. Customer service was excellent, always is. I plan to play Schalamar as often as I can get on the course. This is a 55 plus community so take that into consideration. There can be slow play but the golfers are courteous.

Everything about this course is high end for Lakeland. There are better courses in Orlando but not by much and their costs are much too high. Because the course is so well maintained, I played my best golf. Tee to green, every part of the course is in excellent condition. I and my golf buddies will be back to Eaglebrook many times in the coming months. The service was very friendly. Plenty of challenge for an above average golfer.

Played with three locals of varying ability from senior to near pro length stirker. Enjoyed the first time experience golfing in Melbourne. People were friendly on the course and in the Pro Shop. Starter was excellent. Course was well maintained throughout. Greens were in good condition though not challenging. The driving range needs a good deal of attention. Could not find a single decent spot of grass to hit from as the turf was spotty everywhere. Range could use some pads to hit off. Overall experience was very positive.

I used to play Sandpiper weekly three years ago in a league. It was in reasonably good condition then. Going back this year was a big disappointment. No aspect of the course was in decent condition: tee boxes, fairways or greens. Sadly, I can no longer recommend the course.

I have started to play more often at Schalamar Creek than any of the other moderate level courses in Lakeland due to the friendly people and decent course conditions. The course managers allow me to play alone or with other GolfNow players as I wish. I often play alone to speed my time on the course. Nobody minds or causes me to alter my plans. These are the friendliest people - Pro Shop, starter, and out on the course - you would ever want to be around. Always accomodating and always cordial. There are no snob members on this course. At least I have not run across any. Sure have at other courses that allow public play. The course is in decent condition. Some of the greens are a bit rough. Out on the fairways and off into the rough is well kept. The course is as challenging as you want it to be. The Gold Tees and Blue Tees are challenging. The White and Red Tees are excellent for seniors, women and youth. Plenty of water, sand and hazards. Play the course wise and you will enjoy the experience. That means don't take unnecessary risks and put your ball in someone's house. Club down off the tee and and you will still have a decent second shot.

Cleveland Heights has the potential to be an enjoyable golf course. However, the conditions on the day I played the B and C courses were terrible. The A course is not available for play and neither is the regular driving range. It appears it may be a long while before either is ready for use.

The grounds suffer from extreme neglect. The greens are not in normal putting condition. Therefore, it is common to three putt from any distance as the ball rarely tracks a true line.

The rough has not been mowed due to an extended rainy season with above normal rain fall. The course was a swamp. The ball did not roll at all. Often it plugged in the middle of the fairways.

To be fair, I believe many courses in the area are suffering due to the weather. Stay away for a month or more until the course is back in playing condition.