WilliamCoen

Both parties are blaming each other for this insulting unprofessional collapse of reason. Booked 10/2/19 for a 7 am single Sunday 10/6/19. Next day get phone call from Golfnow telling me that they canceled my tee time because Grandview told them to do so because the rate had increased 10/1/19. Fine, but did Grandview or Golfnow offer me the same tee time at the higher rate? I mean I already had it scheduled and confirmed. NO, neither the course nor reservation system even gave me the chance, they both RESOLD my tee time to another at the higher rate. So I trust Golfnow to provide me tee time opportunities and I trust Grandview to honor my tee times. Both failed me completely. As this time of year we overseed winter grasses locally, the availability of tee times is dramatically reduced as less courses are open for play. So what options do I have? Can't find another tee time or course available on such short notice. Option number two is VENT, done here. Option number three is to not use Golfnow nor ever play at Grandview, done. Beware golfers because both Golfnow and Grandview are NEVER wrong. And when they are... you don't get honored, you get dropped like a two foot putt. And they both would like you to think its your problem not there's.

I booked my tee time thru Golfnow based on the reviews before my 8/26/19 booking for a twosome at 7:05am on our National Holiday Labor Day. I trust Golfnow when they post a warning hazard sign for a course being overseeded, aerated, flooded or under repair. I RELY ON THAT WARNING TO MAKE MY TEE TIME CHOICES. Just as the two "suckers" like me who posted 8/30/19 I arrived to find the greens aerated to the size of a nickle, heavily sanded such that our early morning putts had rooster tails of debris from even inside two feet. THE GREENS WERE UNPUTTABLE. As a 4 hdcp half my game is using the flat stick. Our group of four, handicaps from 1 to 8, had no birdies yet nine approach shots to within six feet, two inside two feet. Ben Crenshaw in his prime could not make a putt on these minefields. I'm certain the normal plan is the Club informs Golfnow of their repair and seasonal maintenance. As these dates often change due to weather patterns no way can a course inform Golfnow months in advance. The course must inform Golfnow, not Golfnow investigating when. Those irrefutable facts lead to only one conclusion: ShadowGlen intentionally failed to inform Golfnow of their aeration. Why? The almighty buck. Really what do they care if tourists, let alone locals, ever come back. The place was packed. On a National Holiday are you going to abruptly leave the parking lot and try to find an honest course that's got a similar tee time. You won't find it on such short notice. No, they got you, and your money, and too bad for you "sucker". And so help me if these thieves reply "We appreciate your review and will use it to help us improve moving forward." You get the idea. Too bad as the course layout is better than most, the staff very friendly, but obviously the management who chose to RIP US ALL OFF...

Our twosome played Saturday morning 8/31/19. While a bit soggy from the pre-dawn summer sprinklers the course was in fine shape. The greens had healed from aerating some two weeks prior and rolled evenly and true. I expect next week they'll be really great. The bunker sand was first rate, thick soft smooth and well maintained. One complaint is that the sides of the bunkers needed work to remove the trailing grasses and some 6" to 10" shoots around the edges.. Just a maintenance oversight perhaps. No rain in the past week so no excuse there. They look ragged and I'm not sure that was the architect's intent. We had to literally step on the ball to find them in the overgrowth. The course layout within the forest is second to none. Can't possibly imagine Barton Creek is better, but I do know that at a third the price I'd choose Wolfdancer everytime over a $300.00 vanity club. Clubhouse staff, shop, restaurant and bar are all very nice and welcoming. 8.5 out of 10 and with a touch more attention to bunker detail and another week of green healing and dare I say they could easily be darn near a 10. Austin's Bargain Great Course.

Teed off first of the morning (7:30 am) on a Sunday. Hardly a soul around. Restaurant not open until 8:00 am which was a big problem for this coffee drinker... But the great staff brought me out a delicious large cup full just before the headache started, about the fourth tee. Restaurant is run by other than the golf staff I was informed. The course was in great shape, fairways tight, bunkers manicured and the greens were just perfect. They were very smooth, very quick, held approach wedges. All you could ask for in a premium golf course. With the sun shining and the trees changing to autumn colors I felt like I was in heaven. Five stars and congratulations to the great team at Oak Creek Country Club. Play here at any cost, only a fool would be disappointed.

A palm lined and lava outcropping tropical delight. Paspalum greens were perfect, rolling quick and smoothly. The rough requires a firmer stroke as this amazing grass strain sticks the blade unlike the common bermuda found at Mauna Lani's penny pinching neighbors. Playing the tips you'll find the use of visual intimidation off the tee is ever present yet the fairways are quite large to compensate for the blustery typical trade winds. Outstanding #7 and #15 par threes on the ocean are not only amazingly beautiful but fair compared to the monstrosity of near by Mauna Kea's two Pacific signatures. The par four #13 is as well quite beautiful down to the ocean side green overlooking the bay and #15. Off the back tee the excellent just inland par four #14 looks like the meeting of heaven with a slice of green fairway overwhelmed by Dante's Inferno of several black lava outcroppings. Nothing like this hole on earth! Aim for the jagged big black mound slightly right and you'll find the fairway is more than ample to capture good drives. Along with its uniquely different but also great North course Mauna Lani was clearly the best of the Big Island north west coast resort courses. With the magical year round turf you could play these two fine tracks every day and never have the same experience because of the ever changing winds off the brilliant warm blue Pacific. Paradise found.

Vog, extreme humidity and no wind plus early summer morning soaking wet (sprinklers running here and there on every hole) and aerated fairways and greens made for a horrible experience. Arnie, Jack and Gary would never play here in July! Almost impossible to hold onto new corded grips, sweat soaked by the second hole, sunglasses dripped on to the point of uselessness. Punched (nickel sized) and sanded greens were no fun. Played perfectly manicured Mauna Lani North (81 from tips) and South (79) with Paspalum greens and fairways the days before, FAR SUPERIOR. Why this so called monumental course accepts inferior grass strains is beyond contempt. Quirky roller coaster type design leaves much to be desired. Like dating a supermodel to find she's a complete bore with warts and rashes under her designer clothes. On the positive side the staff was very professional and attentive. Call ahead for course and weather conditions if you dare waste your money on an old reputation.

A terrific rolling mesquite tree lined course whose only clue to Hawaii is the couple of holes out to the ocean palm trees. Paspalum grass greens and fairways were near perfect. Great use of well trimmed old large trees in the fairways on several of the inland holes. Position off the tee requires a bit of local knowledge that the hole layout cards don't readily show. Elevation changes were nicely designed unlike the quirky and penal Mauna Kea a few miles up the road. Worth the trip from the mainland and along with the more tropical lava and palm lined South course offers two distinct different challenges that you could play day after day. Just oddly felt like I was playing in Tucson as the lava outcroppings were almost non existent until the famous par three #17. Hit a few iron and wedge shots from the unique thick rough before you play, it really sticks the blade and requires more uumph to get thru vs. the common bermuda at Mauna Lani's lesser neighbors.

While the lava rock contrast on the out of bounds vs. the front side out adjacent back side return fairway grass was sort of cool visually the course layout and challenges were less. In my home town of Phoenix we've easily 30 better public and resort (let alone private) courses. Weiskopf's trademark drivable par 4's are perhaps the most interesting holes in #5 (lava boulders in fairway bunker hiding the green) and #13 (lake left to green edge and center fairway bunker). A couple of additional lava outcroppings on #17 and #18 add interest to the finish but the other black rock areas are really not in play for better players (from tips 77, 4 hdcp). Greens were not too interesting or swoopy and hairy-slow late afternoon. As everything in Hawaii is twice the cost of identical on the mainland the price here is reasonable but hardly worthy of top ten ranking in warm weather tourist golf states like CA, AZ or FLA. Don't travel to the Big Island just for this course, you'll be disappointed compared to the superior Mauna Lani North and South neighbors with amazing paspalum grass.

Terrific new club on the far west side set into the White Tanks foothills overlooking the valley. Rather than plant thousands of shrubs and cactus (Scottsdale) the designers just quarried the holes from the native moonscape. Leaving the rough cut boulders and jagged rocks off the very wide and forgiving fairways forces you to keep the ball in play at all costs. As with the original Verrado Founders course the turfed areas are tight cut to the edges of the playing field. No rough to stop an off line shot, don't run it thru. The deep white sanded bunkers, huge greens and overall design and conditioning make this a must play. With a bit of elevation changes you work your way around the mountain down into the back nine thru the neighborhood. The elevated tee on the 18th played from the tips gives you a 275 yard carry (minimum) to clear the lake. Bite off as much as your courage provides. A great uphill par 5 finisher. Nice bar grill overlooking 18 or up the hill a bit to the Vic restaurant completes a day well spent.

One of the most entertaining courses in the State. Our group played the tips which with the elevated tees plays shorter than the 7000 yardage... until the wind picks up around 9am. Roller coaster ups and downs to selectively bunkered mounded green complexes. Don't be above the pin on these supreme bent grass greens. Three jack city for the player on the wrong levels, but birdie putts that gently slip in true with the proper approach. New clubhouse since last fall is a terrific add to this fine location and impressive golf community. A must play for serious and adventurous golfers.

Grass tee to green interspersed with adjacent and crossing lakes, streams on every hole. Palm trees in lieu of cactus, lots of other mature shade trees. All with a calming vibe that'll lull you to sleep if you don't give this fine course its respect by selecting the right spot for your drive to set up the best approach shot. When you see North Scottsdale courses and clubs of lesser pedigree asking twice the price to play you know how terrific Ocotillo is. My Chicago guest has played the top 30 in our state and has stated this is in his top 10. I agree. I mean just how many thorns, needles, and rocky lies do you need to claim desert target golf is the fun? Leave those bad memories behind and come play one of Florida's best right here in the Southwest USA.

It's understood that maintenance costs are cutting into profits but does that mean we should fill in all of the strategic fairway bunkers and many green side bunkers? What was once a challenge for low handicaps from the back tees is now a pushover. If I were the course architect I'd have them remove my name and put it where those bunkers went. A travesty. The back tee slope of 129 should be reduced to 117. Do not play if you want good conditions and a challenging test. They ruined it!

The lush overseed from tee to green and edge to edge of the past has disappeared in favor of mostly barren but fast rough through decreasing water useage. While the greens and bunkers get full attention and high quality treatment the fairways are average at best for this high season. But at the Golf Now discounted rate the overall experience is good due to the bargain price. For a better player this is a tough challenge to break par from the 7000 yard tips.

The greens rolled smoothly and held approaches from 210 yards out. The conditions were quite good, care was taken with greenside bunkers and run off areas. While I played in the afternoon the fairways were dry enough for a little run on drawn tee shots. Walking is like a day in the park. The club has cut down on watering in several areas that don't come in play unless you duck hook a drive. But the overall tee shot target areas and near by fairway bunkering are beautifully prepped, fast and firm after overseeding.