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sorenj

Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
Lives
Boise, ID
Handicap
10-14
Age
45-54
Gender
Male
Skill
Intermediate
Plays
Once a month

Review Statistics

Average Rating

4.7
4.7
Total 103 Reviews
1 Featured Reviews

Rating Breakdown

103 Reviews
5 Stars
75
4 Stars
23
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Recommended Courses
101
Not Recommended Courses
2
Helpful Votes Count
83
Not Helpful Votes Count
5
First Review
04/21/2017
Last Review
07/28/2023

Reviews Map

Reviews

4.7

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I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Walked

Fun and unique high desert routing

I'll start by saying that I loved my experience at Silvies, both on the Craddock and the Hankins courses (this will serve as a review of both, *although after this paragraph there is one little addition for the Hankins course). I have no reservation about my 5 star rating whatsoever. I will put the caveat on it that you need to go into it with the proper expectations or you could be frustrated.

*Hankins 18th hole has a challenge to hit your longest drive ever, and they list all the reasons you might just do so (see pic). This is legit, I hit (by far,, over 40 yards) my furthest drive ever on this hole (on my first try, didn't even need the bonus tries). This is 100% on brand for Silvies... fun wherever, however you can find it... and the flask is a cool keepsake!

Part of what goes into my rating is the routing, which is fine as a stand alone course, but when you take into account that it reverses daily to play in the opposite direction (for the most part, there are 27 greens, so it's not a fully reversible routing like The Loop), I feel that adds significantly to both the experience and my course evaluation.

Again, unlike the Loop, you aren't constantly being reminded that you just played here the day before (although, at times you will be, like when you hit your drive right over a green going the other way... see pic)... the holes and routing mostly feel different. You'll notice a fairway you were on the previous day, or a green you attacked from another angle here and there... but for the most part the two courses feel more different than the same. I think this is a real accomplishment given the amount of ground they actually do share (on the pic of the course maps attached, the green areas are in play on that version of the course while the greyed out areas are not... as you can see, most of the property is in use both ways).

The fairways are (mostly) wide, fast and allow you to approach them in a variety of ways, I tried both driver and long iron off a few holes and found both very playable options. Personally I enjoyed the Craddock routing a little more than the Hankins, mostly because there was a bit more to the par 3's and I thought it was a slightly tougher test; however I thoroughly enjoyed both versions.

Silvies is a high desert course that is also on an eco-friendly property that - from what I've read from the course - prioritizes water use as much as playability. It's also a working ranch (eco dude ranch, specifically) and the rustic/imperfect feel just works in my opinion. Not everything is supposed to be country club perfect, and I personally wouldn't want it to be (having said that I also wouldn't want my 5 star rating to imply that is what you are getting at Silvies).

To my mind, they accomplish this very well. While the fairways are very hard (and very fast), they are also a bit burnt out here and there and you can wind up with a few bad lies (on dirt, between clumps of grass so it plays like a divot etc.) right in the middle of the fairway. If this is going to ruin your experience (at any price point) this may not be the course for you.

Having said that, the majority of the fairways were fine and the greens were terrific all around. They were remarkably receptive given the fast conditions elsewhere and rolled out well and true (they weren't super fast, but certainly were brisk enough). If you've played Forest Dunes and the Loop... it's as if you took the greens from the Dunes course - dried them out and sped them up just a little - and put them on the Loop (using the Loop as an example, because it's also reversible).

You will hear complaints about the bunkers being more mud than sand... and it's true they are very thick. However, if you close your face up (so that it's essentially square) and take a little more "sand"/dirt, I found they play just fine. Tip: there is a practice bunker at the far end of the driving range and you can practice a few there... I did and was very glad when I landed in one of the greenside bunkers... I was able to play out of it just fine. I VERY highly recommend using that practice bunker before you get out on the course.

Additionally, as you play your way - hopefully around rather than in - the bunkers... notice the rakes. They are all individually crafted and created on site and the "captions" are pretty fun (cautionary tale: they are also heavy and I almost took the teeth of one to my shin once).

I can't say enough about the service at Silvies, every facet of our stay (and there are lots of facets, this isn't just a golf destination, it is a full service all inclusive resort) was fantastic from this standpoint.

Staying at Silvies is *not* inexpensive and I highly recommend checking out all that the resort has to offer and making sure there are things you want to do beyond golf. For example, guy I played behind the second day I was there sat next to me at dinner, until he left around 8:30 to go partake of one of the many fishing holes throughout the property. There is a climbing wall, a full spa, shooting range and much more.

The cabins are also fantastic... spacious with wonderful views. So, there's plenty of value there. It's also probably worth noting that this might be the first golf destination I've been to that had more women and more couples than groups of guys on property. Silvies is just a different feel all around.

I headed to Silvies thinking this would be the one time I went there, my wife and I left talking about coming back again soon. If you can go in with the "right" mind set I absolutely recommend heading up there, it really is a terrific high desert golf experience.

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

Bear Valley Meadows Golf Club

Played On 07/25/2023
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Walked

Pasture golf (literally) - I absolutely loved it

This review is kinda hard to do from a "how many stars" standpoint because so much of the return on Bear Valley Meadows is contingent on your attitude and expectations going in (I gave it three stars because I didn't want people heading there based on the rec without reading this first... but personally my enjoyment level was more of a 4-star experience). You are not going to have any good lies (even on the tee boxes), you are going to hit shots off of dirt and rocks, you are going to probably lose balls that are right in the middle of the "fairway." If you can't be okay with this, you should not go.

I said "yes" to recommending to friends, because of who my (golf oriented) friends are... and that I know so many of them enjoy experiences over pristine greens etc.

Having said all of that, if you can play in the spirit of having a fun experience seeing what it would actually be like to play in a field that very little has been done too... other than mowing... it's all out there for you in Seneca. I had an absolute blast playing this $7 for 9, $12 for all day (honor box) course.

It's just pure (rough, very rough) golf. No yardage markers, no distances on sprinklers (in fact it's tough to identify a sprinkler that actually is doing anything other than the fact that there is green grass mixed in with the brown). It's kinda hard to determine where some of the tee boxes are, even if you are standing right next to them (the benches on several of them help a lot).

Some of the unique features include a paved lot as the "fairway" on the par 3 second hole, one (exactly 1) O.B. sign in a place you'd never hit a ball, a covered bridge on #9/18 that is an old shipping container, and - if you're lucky, a captive audience as you wind down your round...

We found it on our way to Silvies Ranch and thought it would be a fun add on/contrast course... it was both (especially the contrast part). I played with 4 clubs (4, 6, 9, gw) where were plenty, there is absolutely no need for a putter, the less time the ball spends on the ground the better.

You'd likely be frustrated if you traveled all the way to Seneca to play this course, but if you're in the area and in the right mood (and maybe have a couple rock clubs handy) it really is a fun way to take a very different look at what golf could be (or might have been a couple hundred years ago). Despite everything that might have appeared negative I said above, I'm certain I'll play it again at some point and have a blast then too.

No staff rating because no staff; no amenities rating because no amenities... it's just golf... pasture golf.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Walked

Fun and unique high desert routing

I'll start by saying that I loved my experience at Silvies, both on the Craddock and the Hankins courses (this will serve as a review of both). I have no reservation about my 5 star rating whatsoever. I will put the caveat on it that you need to go into it with the proper expectations or you could be frustrated.

Part of what goes into my rating is the routing, which is fine as a stand alone course, but when you take into account that it reverses daily to play in the opposite direction (for the most part, there are 27 greens, so it's not a fully reversible routing like The Loop), I feel that adds significantly to both the experience and my course evaluation.

Again, unlike the Loop, you aren't constantly being reminded that you just played here the day before (although, at times you will be, like when you hit your drive right over a green going the other way... see pic)... the holes and routing mostly feel different. You'll notice a fairway you were on the previous day, or a green you attacked from another angle here and there... but for the most part the two courses feel more different than the same. I think this is a real accomplishment given the amount of ground they actually do share (on the pic of the course maps attached, the green areas are in play on that version of the course while the greyed out areas are not... as you can see, most of the property is in use both ways).

The fairways are (mostly) wide, fast and allow you to approach them in a variety of ways, I tried both driver and long iron off a few holes and found both very playable options. Personally I enjoyed the Craddock routing a little more than the Hankins, mostly because there was a bit more to the par 3's and I thought it was a slightly tougher test; however I thoroughly enjoyed both versions.

Silvies is a high desert course that is also on an eco-friendly property that - from what I've read from the course - prioritizes water use as much as playability. It's also a working ranch (eco dude ranch, specifically) and the rustic/imperfect feel just works in my opinion. Not everything is supposed to be country club perfect, and I personally wouldn't want it to be (having said that I also wouldn't want my 5 star rating to imply that is what you are getting at Silvies).

To my mind, they accomplish this very well. While the fairways are very hard (and very fast), they are also a bit burnt out here and there and you can wind up with a few bad lies (on dirt, between clumps of grass so it plays like a divot etc.) right in the middle of the fairway. If this is going to ruin your experience (at any price point) this may not be the course for you.

Having said that, the majority of the fairways were fine and the greens were terrific all around. They were remarkably receptive given the fast conditions elsewhere and rolled out well and true (they weren't super fast, but certainly were brisk enough). If you've played Forest Dunes and the Loop... it's as if you took the greens from the Dunes course - dried them out and sped them up just a little - and put them on the Loop (using the Loop as an example, because it's also reversible).

You will hear complaints about the bunkers being more mud than sand... and it's true they are very thick. However, if you close your face up (so that it's essentially square) and take a little more "sand"/dirt, I found they play just fine. Tip: there is a practice bunker at the far end of the driving range and you can practice a few there... I did and was very glad when I landed in one of the greenside bunkers... I was able to play out of it just fine. I VERY highly recommend using that practice bunker before you get out on the course.

Additionally, as you play your way - hopefully around rather than in - the bunkers... notice the rakes. They are all individually crafted and created on site and the "captions" are pretty fun (cautionary tale: they are also heavy and I almost took the teeth of one to my shin once).

I can't say enough about the service at Silvies, every facet of our stay (and there are lots of facets, this isn't just a golf destination, it is a full service all inclusive resort) was fantastic from this standpoint.

Staying at Silvies is *not* inexpensive and I highly recommend checking out all that the resort has to offer and making sure there are things you want to do beyond golf. For example, guy I played behind the second day I was there sat next to me at dinner, until he left around 8:30 to go partake of one of the many fishing holes throughout the property. There is a climbing wall, a full spa, shooting range and much more.

The cabins are also fantastic... spacious with wonderful views. So, there's plenty of value there. It's also probably worth noting that this might be the first golf destination I've been to that had more women and more couples than groups of guys on property. Silvies is just a different feel all around.

I headed to Silvies thinking this would be the one time I went there, my wife and I left talking about coming back again soon. If you can go in with the "right" mind set I absolutely recommend heading up there, it really is a terrific high desert golf experience.

Conditions Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Walked

Puts the "challenge" in "challenge course"

McVeigh's Gauntlet is named (the gauntlet part anyway) is named after the challenge of shooting par and getting a t-shirt (and drink... and maybe something else I can't recall)... but it could also be used to describe the golf on many of the holes (not to mention the hike).

That said, I really enjoyed making my way up down and around this little hilly course. The challenge (I found it to be the most difficult golf of all the courses on the property) was both welcome and fun.

As noted in a previous review... a few of the 7 holes are pretty much "hit the green, or go searching for a ball" situations. 1 (bottom of a hill to a hilltop) and 2 (hilltop to hilltop" are both like this, followed by #3 which is a target golf par 4 that will tempt you to fire at the green 200 yards away (I took a whack at it with a spare ball and wasn't much worse of than on my errant second shot, so it's not a terrible strategy if you've got a fairly accurate 200 yard club, the target is pretty small though so emphasis on the accurate part of that).

It gets a bit easier and (relatively) more conventional after that, and, as a bonus after #3 there is a beer tree with a cooler stocked with free beer, tough to argue with that.

#6 is a fun hole, 244 downhill, I hit a 4i pin high (but way right so it was all the way at the bottom of the greenside hill. % is the most conventional hole out there, so enjoy it (and the reprieve) when you get to it.

the Gauntlet is where you can take one of the notorious goat caddies (but only in the morning and only if you request is ahead of time, so be sure to get on that if you want one... I missed that in the "fine print" and missed out on both counts). Honestly though, visiting the goats at the caddie shack was probably as much goat as I really wanted on my round, so it worked out fine for me.

Probably my least favorite part of the course was the bonus hole... too long and curvy to putt and to narrow with too small a "green" to really try to chip (which didn't stop me from playing it that way). But, hey, it's free golf so how bad can it be!

As I mentioned, it's challenging, and I didn't come close to the 23 needed to earn the gauntlet prizes (I shot 28). But it's a blast and might be the course I'd play the most on future visits (just as a night-cap for other rounds I played earlier in the day).

The service at Silvies is always top notch

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

Wine Valley Golf Course

Played On 05/24/2022
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Just a wonderful treat where I did not expect to find it...

Wine Valley, over 18 holes in about 3 hours and 15 minutes, went from an last minutes add on a road trip from Seattle back home to one of my all time favorite courses, and a place I'll take dedicated trips to in the future.

On a trip where I played Chambers Bay and Gamble Sands, this may have been the best course I played (Gamble was my favorite, but that doesn't mean it was necessarily better). Wine Valley, to me, combines the best of Chambers (challenging set up) and Gamble (fun and playable).

To me Wine Valley is a "second shot course" with open and accessible fairways but well protected upon approach with bunkers, angles, and quick rolling greens with ample contour. With 5 par 5's, there are plenty of options during play with nice variety in holes mixed in throughout a great routing. Also, there are 5 par 3's, each requiring a different club off the tee (for me at least), which is always one of my requirements to a really high course rating.

There course plays anywhere from 7600 (76.4/133) to 5845 (68.4/114) so there is a tee box for just about everyone. I played two from the tips and that was just about right for me (6760/72.6/127). The difference in tees was more than just distance (angles etc.) and I'll probably play a variety of tees on return trips to get a fuller experience.

I only found the sand twice (once in the fairway and one greenside) and I thought the sand itself played fine, some of the angles could play pretty tough if you were in the wrong space though. There's not a lot of water on the course, but I did find it on #9 by misjudging the distance and pushing my ball a little right (this was one of two lost balls I had... the other into tall grass).

I had great service at Wine Valley, and absolutely will be back to play again. If you get the chance, I'd absolutely recommend that you give it a go yourself!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Fun course and an op for a personal best...

Gamble Sands is just a fun course, I don't know how you can like/love golf and not have a terrific time playing here. And, if you can master the putting, there's real scoring opportunities at Gamble... I could easily see posting a personal best (narrator: he didn't).

None of this means the course is overly easy or lacking in challenge or defense. There are plenty of bunkers and uneven lies to go around; but there are also fairways that want to filter you to good locations, accessible greens, and those greens role true (albeit a little fast with decent roll out, so be sure of your read).

At first I was having trouble putting Gamble Sands up with a couple of the other courses on this trip (Chambers Bay and Wine Valley specifically), but upon reflection I was holding back because the round was so fun I thought I had to penalize the course for that. This is/was a mistake. really everything I like in a course is here... multiple ways to approach holes, including risk reward options, great greens complexes, variety in the par three tee shots (4 par 3's... 4 different clubs ranging from GW to 3H), good routing with variety all around, etc.

While Gamble is probably a little expensive to make part of my regular rotation, dollar for dollar, I think I'd play it far more often than I'd play Chambers, for example. Gamble Sands is out of the way and requires a commute for just about anyone who wants to play here; however, I'd say without a doubt, it's worth the trip. If you come, be sure to carve out a little time for the Quick Sands short course... just a ton of fun as well with a wide variety of shots/angles/etc (including a puttable par3 hole).

The service I received while visiting was terrific as well. I'll absolutely be back for more (and maybe I'll even get that low score).

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
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Commented on 08/15/2022

What an awesome review! We are so very appreciative you took the time to share with other golfers. We are grateful we were able to host you and look forward to doing it again soon.
Lastly, we look forward to sharing this review with our team members.
Have a great day!
- Blake, GM

Chambers Bay

Played On 05/19/2022
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Great Links Style Course

Chambers bay is a destination course and as such I expected to pay a decent price to play (and, of course, I did). What was a little disturbing (and led to the lower than usual pace of play and value ratings) was taking over 5 hours to play a round that started in the 8:00 hour. I worry about what later starting times must be like.

Having put the negatives behind us, Chambers is a terrific links(ish) golf course that has plenty of challenge for those looking for it, but I found quite playable for myself and probably people of a wide variety of skill levels (provided they play the right tees).

The course eases you out with a very gettable par 5 (that I butchered by topping my drive less than 125 yards into the scrub) and a attackable par 4 second, which I birdied with just 3w/8i. Quite frankly I may have shot a better score had I hit fewer driver's off the tee's and used 3w or even 4i. The roll out is great and driver often took me into more narrow and better protected landing areas.

I imagine it's hard to play here and avoid sand altogether, and I found it my fair share of times. The good news is I found it very playable and didn't lose many strokes to bunkers (although I definitely lost one to the trap in the middle of the 18th fairway, which I hit while trying to lay up short of it). I found the placement of the bunkers terrific from both a cosmetic as well and enhancement of play standpoint.

As for my golf, my best hole was probably 10 - mostly from the standpoint of extraditing myself from a fairway bunker (the weakest shot in my game) - and saving par. I had one Birdie on the day, a fairly ho-hum GIR/1-putt on #2 and putting, in general, prevented what could have been a nicer score. I had about 8 more putts than my average, the greens are for real, be sure to roll a few before you start.

I'm very glad I played this course and would recommend it to any big golf fan at least once. Based on pace and cost, I'm not sure how many times I'll play it again, but that has nothing to do with the quality of the golf itself, which was great. My service experience was very good as well from the clubhouse through the on course experience. I didn't take a caddie, but my playing partners did, and he was great as well.

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

Creekside Golf Club

Played On 05/17/2022
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Nice course around Salem

When visiting Salem I wasn't sure where to try to play, but I was fortunate enough to get an invitation from someone I knew from online to play Creekside.

I very much enjoyed my round, the course was in good condition and the pace of play was terrific, we were around all 18 in 2 hours and 39 minutes (according to my shot tracking app).

Creekside has a few quirky holes and isn't the longest course in the world (by a long shot), but I found it to be fun and just challenging enough to keep me honest. I hit 15 greens in regulation and had 24 putts with no sand or penalties so, yeah, it wasn't an overwhelming challenge.

Having said that, I thought it was fun... from a completely blind tee shot on hole 16 (one of the pics included in the review) to a great "just for fun" shot on the par 3 17th where you can take a driver or wood (I used a 3w) and try to bounce a ball off the stone wall behind the hole on to the green. I tried it after hitting my real shot and didn't fair so well, but it was fun trying.

Again, there are a lot of different looks, for example, the par 4 second hole where 5i was almost too much off the tee and the par 4 10th, which looks a bit intimidating crossing the creek twice on your way to the green... but in reality, is pretty straight forward and the creek doesn't really come into play without a pretty bad shot.

All in all I really enjoyed my round at Creekside (especially since I got it in well under three hours. I'd certainly play it again is in the Salem area, but probably wouldn't travel there to play it.

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

CommonGround Golf Course

Played On 08/12/2021
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Makes the most of what it's got...

For a relatively flat piece of land, CommonGround packs plenty of options and decisions into it's 18 holes. Almost every shot gives you something to contemplate, which I really appreciated.

Lets start with the fairway bunkers, which tend to run perpendicular rather than parallel to the short grass and are placed strategically to capture the attention of an aggressive player but become more cosmetic when taking a more conservative approach. This was great, allowing me to pick my tee-box poison regarding risk/reward hole by hole. Similarly, I don't know if there is a wasted (read: superfluous) grain of sand around the greens... the traps on this course are absolutely designed to be part of the playing (not viewing) experience (generally speaking, this is less common than one might think).

One of the things I really care about when evaluating a course is the par 3's, and CommonGround has a nice set with good variety from the Augusta inspired 6th to a long carry on 12 and a large grass mound on 14 leading to a blind tee-shot (not something you see everyday on a perfectly flat 165 yard(ish) par 3).

Given this is a Doak course, how you approach the greens can be as important as what you do once you are on them and CommonGround uses angles and the little bit of elevation change that is present to keep you actively engaging the course mentally as well. The greens were fast with a good deal of rollout putting a three putt in play on every hole (I had 3 of them, which is two more than I average). they are true though, and (at least on the day I played) were very close in speed to the practice green so I highly recommend rolling a few there before you start, it could save you a few strokes.

I was partnered with regulars (one plays daily, the other two multiple days a week) so I had lots of advice on how to get around the course. For the most part, it's all out there in front of you, but there are a few places (the par 5 11th for example) where it really helped to have a second set of eyes to help with carry's and fill you in on what you can't see. I'm told They have a good caddie program, which would probably only add to the experience.

I didn't find CommonGround overly difficult, I played with rental clubs (avoid if possible... there's a reason they are free) and still managed to post a 73 (+2) from the gold tees (6619/70.6/128); however, I would put this caveat on that... the long grass around the course is very thick and while looking fairly innocuous was difficult to play out of. I watched a guy in the group in front of me - who was otherwise moving around the course nicely - take five hacks at a ball, move about three feet (combined) and then just pick it up and throw it on the fairway. In other words, if you miss the (fairly wide) fairways, things could get decidedly tougher.

Unfortunately, my clubhouse experience (before and after my round) wasn't anything to write home about. I've read other reviews that say the service they received was good (or better) so my hope is I just caught them on a bad day... but it was definitely a bad day.

Overall, I really enjoyed playing CommonGround and would make a point to give it another run when I get back to the Denver area (I'll also be sure to pack my own clubs when I do).

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Walked

**UPDATE REVIEW** A shadow of it's former self... construction going on

**This is just an update review since my old one is the only review for this course and is VERY outdated right now because of course construction.**

Everything in my previous review that pertains to holes 1-4 and 8,9 is still valid, but holes 5-7 are closed as of now.

Unfortunately, the original Freedom course has succumbed to the construction boon in the treasure valley and residences are going where the best (IMO) holes used to be, so this is now a 6 hole course where you can schedule 6, 12, or 18 hole rounds. The three "big" holes - 5 (714 yard par 5 from the tips), 6 (473 par 4 from the tips), and 7 (640 yard par 5 from the tips) - and temporarily closed. I'm told they will reopen in a year or so, but won't be quite the monsters they were. Hole 4 - a 467 yard par 4 - and number 9 - a 462 par 4 - are still open, so it's not completely without teeth.

To me this is unfortunate, as the distance on this course was the real draw. The remaining 6 holes are still good, and it is kind of nice to have a 6 hole routing you can play for people a little stretched for the time a traditional round (even a 9 hole round) takes.

There are also almost always (in my experience) tee times available now. But again, it's not what it was before (i.e. in my last review) so I thought it was a good idea to update it.

When it fully reopens I'll update again if there aren't other reviews already covering it. Sorry, no new pics since, again, this is just an update.

Hope it's helpful.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Walked

Bring your ground game!

I played The Loop three times in two days; Black once and Red twice (practice round on the Red and then one round each in a tournament, ironically, my practice round was 5 strokes better than both of my tournament rounds).

Bring your ground game is what I was told (over and over again) before heading to Forest Dunes to play the Loop... my big discovery was that, despite putting in some time working on it just for this course, my ground game isn't very good. This should not dissuade you from bringing it if you've got it.

Hard fast fairways, followed by hard fast greens that are nearly impossible to hold at times (especially in the wind that I played in) lead to a really different experience than you can't find many places in the US (at least in my experience). Landing well short of the greens and running up led to my best scoring holes... I also wasn't thinking twice about putting from 20-30 feet off the green once I got over my fear of doing so. It's just that kind of course.

For the most part, all of this course (both ways) is in front of you and there are no tricks, it's just great links(ish) golf. I say "ish" because there is no water whatsoever and most of the lies are flat... in fact most of the course is flat. But my drives went further than I have any reasonable right to expect them to and my approach shots did as well (often running off the green until I got the swing of things). Once we (as a group) got over having to adjust to the greens, we all enjoyed the challenge.

While most of the lightly forested areas off the fairways are receptive to finding your balls (and the fairways are pretty wide and open), do be weary of the fairway bunkers... native grasses growing within them as well as rough edges and contours can make them harder to get out of then the other "hazard" areas.

I've heard people complain about the lack of visual charm on The Loop - especially as compared to the original Forest Dunes course - but to me this is part of why I liked it so much. While Forest Dunes is a (fantastic) resort'ish course, The Loop is a completely different (rustic/utilitarian/more difficult) feel and, for me, it's a significant feature to have both of these versions of golf available at the same venue.

I was really surprised as to how well Doak managed to make the holes play both ways without feeling tricked out or awkward. The only hole that I thought was questionable at all was 8 on Black, which is a par three into a green that slopes pretty significantly away from the tee box... it's just really hard (in my limited experience) to keep a ball on this green. To be fair, there is no danger in running off, other than a long putt/chip.

As I mentioned, I had the pleasure of playing both courses in one day as part of a tournament (The dual, held three times a year), whether you do that or stay a couple days and get both in that way, I highly recommend playing the course both ways to fully appreciate the genius of Doak's work.

While you're there, you'll certainly benefit from the outstanding service (a big part of why I've been back to Forest Dunes multiple times) and you should take the time to play the putting course as well as the short par 3 Bootlegger course. Forest Dunes is simply a terrific destination for golf and I can't wait to get back there again, if I were you, I'd make plans to go as well.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

This course is about having a good time... and they nailed it

There are some things you should know about the Bootlegger before you get started.

1. As often as not, you may find shoes piled up by the first tee (people like to play it barefoot and this is not discouraged).
2. You may see really large groups playing together (I think the group in front of us was about 12 strong, this was *not* a pace problem at any point).
3. There will be music (there are speakers installed throughout the 10 holes).

The fun and loose environment of the Bootlegger is not an accident, it's the idea... and it's great.

All of the holes are relatively easy to play (the longest is the straight forward 1st, playing a whopping 119 during my round. Tee boxes are range matts that are re-positioned if a different length is wanted. I'm not a fan of matts in general but for essentially just pitching, it's just fun (I think it also helps ensure good contact and therefore a more enjoyable experience for everyone). I brought two clubs (GW/52) and my putter which proved to be one club too many (the 52 would have been fine) as most holes are between 80 and 90 yards.

You won't find it a challenge to hit many of the greens, but there is some play in them and some strategy to your approaches. There really is not any meaningful defense offered by the course either (again, the idea is to have fun). The only bunkers - for example - are safety nets in case of a long shot.

I wound up playing with someone from the Forest Dunes staff and letting them play first gave me some advanced intel on the course (for example, a couple holes where a slight miss to the left led to the ball trickling very nicely onto the green).

In speaking the the staffer I was playing with, the goal is to speed up the course so that it plays similarly to the Loop (read: FAST), but right now I'd say it plays more like the Dunes course (probably more like what you're used to at home). I gave the course conditions a 5 in my review, but that was based on my enjoyment of them, not a reconciliation of where the course hopes they will eventually be.

The greens fees for the Bootlegger are a little pricey at first glance ($49); however, you can play it all day long (after the 1:00pm first tee time, that is) so the value grows as you continue to play. Again, keep in mind, this is designed to be fun, not overly serious golf. We found ourselves really enjoying our conversation and taking one or sometimes two putts on the greens and picking up everything that was within a couple feet. You don't have to play it that way.. but it's also just fine to do so. And, even playing that way, we hardly waited at all for that group of 12 in front of us that I mentioned before. At an average of ~85 yards a hole, it's easy to keep moving, even in a large group.

Some of the tee boxes are a little cozy with the previous greens (close enough that I thought about it before I took my shot); but again, the course is so short that it never appeared to be an issue at all.

I thought it was a blast and will certainly spend time up there the next time to go to Forest Dunes. if you're staying on prem, get in in the afternoon, and play the following the morning (especially if that round is on the Dunes course), it would be a terrific way to spend your first afternoon... and also get in some short game work before you round the next day.

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

Forest Dunes Golf Club

Played On 07/30/2021
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Just a terrific place to play golf...

Long review, so for the TL;DR crown, here a short reader ROI...

1. Fantastic, beautiful course in terrific condition
2. A tee box for everyone, receptive and fair greens
3. Next level service experience
4. *Completely* different golf experience than the Loop, if your playing both during your stay

Forest Dunes was one of the first truly special golf courses I've played. I first played it in 2017 before I had played places like Bandon, Sand Hollow, the Prairie Club or Spyglass (to name a few examples), so I went in prepared for it to be not quite a great as I first thought it was. This turned out to be a false concern... Forest Dunes is as great as my first impression led me to believe.

Cut through forest and rolling sand every hole is scenic, challenging, and - largely - unique. After my first round there my favorite hole was split fairway par 4 sixth and, while I still love that hole, I think I may have switched allegiances to the par 4 ,12th. It's just a beautiful (yet rather simple) hole, with a pretty open fairway and a dogleg left into a green semi-protected by water front right... yet still very accessible.

This course is almost perfectly manicured from tee to green with the biggest flaws I found being unfixed ball marks on the greens (obviously not the clubs fault). I found the greens to be fair and roll nicely, the speed was good, but never punitive (*very* different than the Loop, if you go and play both, be sure to use the practice green for whatever course you play second for a bit before you jump on). I only found the sand once and it played very well, light and deep enough to take your normal sand swing and get the expected results.

Again, in a stark contrast to the Loop, your drives on this course are more a function of carry than roll out, so tee it high and let it fly. I had several tee shots that wound up within just a couple yards (sometimes feet) of where they landed. The greens were very receptive to approach shots and you can certainly put up a score here if you are on the right tee boxes for your skill level. On that note, there is no real reason not to be, Forest Dunes has 5 tee boxes before getting into combo tees... there is a proper length/difficulty for everyone here.

The courses defense is multifaceted, which I appreciated. It uses angles on several holes, strategic bunkering on others, and course management (with a few different risk/reward plays available throughout the course) on many. With the exception of a truly wayward shot into the thick scrub lining the course, not-good shots are not overly punished here, and in most cases, if you can find/see your ball, you can recover decently.

On thing I like about the course is that there are few side by side holes, so you rarely actually feel the presence of other golfers (although I did "take the opportunity" to share a fairway waste-area between 10 and 18 with some golfers going the other way while playing 10), It's just kind of you and the trees. My wife and I stopped multiple times to just enjoy the sound of the wind going through the trees... and pretty much nothing else (caveat to this: in the afternoon, as you play 10 and 18, you probably will hear the music coming from the Bootlegger short course).

I cannot say enough about the service at Forest Dunes. From the clubhouse, to the starters, to the random maintenance person driving by on a cart in the parking lot... everyone on the property seems genuinely vested in you enjoying your stay. It's worth noting that this is not the "snooty" kind of "invested" you might receive at some high end places, it's more of a family/good friend investment vibe. Attention to detail is nice as well... I had a morning time on the Loop (Red) and then an afternoon time on the Dunes... the first thing the starter at the Dunes asked me was how my found at the Loop way, the second thing he said was "this is a different course" and then talked about speed of fairways, greens, etc. It was great.

There is no doubt I'll be back to Forest Dunes as soon as I'm able to be, and I highly recommend visiting and playing, it's is one of my favorite all time courses and the culture/environment only adds to that.

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

Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course

Played On 07/29/2021
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Walked

Stunning views and some pretty good golf as well...

A few things to say about Arcadia, right off the bat...

1. The views are spectacular
2. The course, in my opinion, starts you out easy on the front nine and up's it's game (as well as it's views) on the back
3. It is (at least in the paces I got in trouble) forgiving of mistakes off the tee (around the green not as much).
4. The practice facility is great, including having a chipping green that includes both regular bunkers and a massive practice pot bunker as well.

The golf itself at Arcadia Bluffs is very good. Mostly (especially on hte front nine and last few holes of the back) the fairways are wide and accessible off the tee and the greens are largely approachable. I will say that I felt approaching the greens from the right spots was more important than usual here. For example, on the par 5 third I thought I had put myself in good position left of the green-side bunker. I had a blind chip up to the green, but it seemed straightforward... until I got up there and found how narrow it was from that angle and that I had blown through it... bogey.

Bug again, I found it mostly forgiving... on both the fourth and eleventh holes I missed badly off the tee and had to send out a search party for my ball. However, in both cases I was able to find it, recover and save par. A lot of that had to do with not trying to do too much from trouble, however. I witnessed a few efforts at hero shots that produced nothing but blow-up holes. Arcadia is a good place to play with your head as well as your clubs.

My favorite holes were probably 10 (with a completely blind tee shot, at least if you follow the "candy-cane" line indicator) and 11 (an incredibly scenic par five running about as close to the lake as you can get). The par 4 12th now has 2 greens and a sign to let you know which is being used on that day (I'm told this ie because they fear losing the original (left) green on the whole to erosion). This caused a little confusion with my GPS yardage app as it didn't have the "new" green in it yet, but was a nice excuse to play it a little more organically.

I didn't find many bunkers, but with the exception of one - surprisingly thin sand - the few I found played very well. The course itself was in very good shape I thought. The greens weren't as fast as I expected; however, don't be overly fooled, they were plenty fast and the rollout on them can be significant if you misjudge the pace. I took a couple three putts from just not quite fully assessing the speed of the greens before rolling my ball.

I found the service at Arcadia above average, but not fantastic. Everyone I ran into was efficient, to be sure, but for the most part my interactions were very professional and brisk (one delightful exception was the starter who was outstanding). I was at Forest Dunes later in the week taking with someone about people playing the bootlegger barefoot and someone commented "can you imagine the stuffed shirts up at Arcadia allowing that"... while I didn't run into any snobbery in my time here, something did ring a little true about the general idea that it's a different - slightly more... formal, lets say - vibe here than the other northern Michigan courses I played on this trip. I wouldn't let it change your mind about a trip here (you should absolutely go at least once), but I'd say the air is a little crisper for more reasons that just the breeze coming off the lake.

YOu've probably read plenty about the views, so I won't belabor that, but I'd be remiss if I didn't at least mention that this is a wonderfully pleasing course from a visual perspective. The wide panoramic views that are present from almost every hole make you feel like you on a ocean course and you'll simply never tire of looking around as you go.

I chose to walk this course (despite them "recommending" that I ride). I found it walkable and really enjoyed the stroll; however, there is a decent amount of elevation change and some fairly long walks from green to tee as well... so I wouldn't call it an easy walk by any stretch.

As with most that have played here, I'd absolutely recommend playing the Bluffs (I didn't play the South course, but I spent the rest of the week in Northern Michigan being told that was a mistake... so maybe make time for that too if you head this way). We very much enjoyed out time in Arcadia and will likely be back in the future.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

A shotmakers course, in great shape, and fun.

The Heather is not a bomb and gouge course, it's more of a classic shotmakers route. If I recall correctly there are only 3 (non-par 3) holes on the course that don't have some degree of dog-leg to them... and - while it is straight - 18 presents it's own set if shot making decisions. As an example, on the par 4 3rd and hit 7i off the tee and on the par 5 ninth, I led with a six... and parred both holes (it's worth noting that if I had played one tee box back, I probably could have hit a bigger club on #3, there is a corner to cut, but I couldn't reliably get my driver high enough fast enough, and it was short enough to par with the 7i anyway... but... there are a few holes that might actually be a little easier to play from the back tees, something to consider). To me, this never got boring and I enjoyed having to think as much about my first shot at my approach.

The course itself is beautiful, excellently maintained and framed with trees most of the way around.. There is plenty of water on the course, although not much of it really needs to come into play (you'll ned to carry it on a couple of the par threes, but it's all right in front of you and none of them are long enough to make you question if you can make the shot). What was particularly cool about the water (as you can see in a couple of my pics) is in the morning it can get very pretty with the "smoke on the water." Even the slightly smokey skys played into the scenery, and made the sunrise a bit more dramatic.

As mentioned, the courses primary defense is angles; however, there are some large and occasionally deep bunkers to contend with around the greens as well. Fortunately, the sand is terrific and plays exactly as it should, so these shouldn't be too big of a problem if you are comfortable from the sand (I was 1/2 on sand saves).

It's worth noting that the service we received was top notch all the way around... up to and including the grounds crew who we caught up to on (I think) the 12th hole (we play pretty quickly... the entire round took about 2:35). They were very accommodating and worked with use to make sure our experience wasn't compromised while we worked through the holes they were busy maintaining.

The 18th hole is an interesting example of having to make decisions even on a straight forward hole. The large pond that protects the green is certainly reachable to the right (and everywhere to a big hitter) so I elected to skirt the left edge and allow for a big hit to play through to a slivery of fairway that runs to the left of the pond. My ~250 yard drive (which probably would have been wet if it had been to the right) left me about 175/180 to the center of the green about 165 of which was carry. Fun hole, but I can see a lot of ways to have ti ruin a round if you don't carefully consider each shot.

#9 is an interesting hole as well, and might be my favorite on the course just because of the strategy options available.I opted for a pair of six irons which allowed me to navigate the somewhat narrow fairways (most of the Heather is wide in the landing areas, #9 was a little more challenging) and left me a pretty stock (145) pitching wedge into the green. There's certainly an option to try a bigger club off the tee and try to reach the relatively short par 5 in two, but this seemed like an "easy 5, or... a 7" type of hole to me and I opted for the 5.

I had a ton of courses to choose from on my vacation to Northern Michigan, I can say without any regret I'm glad I chose The Heather as one of them. I'd absolutely recommend it to a friend and will probably include it in future trips back to the area.

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

Elk Ridge Golf Course

Played On 07/18/2021
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Fun and playable course... hidden gem consideration

I found Elk Ridge to be a very enjoyable course that was very forgiving tee to green. I think adds to the enjoyment regardless of the players skill level (with the possible exception of a low handicapper looking to be really tested)... you just aren't likely to lose a lot of balls or get in a tremendous amount of trouble anywhere on this course... It's just super-playable.

Pace of play for me was great (we were the 3rd group off), and as far as I could tell groups seemed to keep moving in at a reasonable pace after we finished our round.

As mentioned, there isn't much defense tee to green; however, the greens do play - in my opinion - tougher than the rest of course does (this was the first time I averaged over 2 putts per hole (2.1) in around 18 months). They are relatively fast (and roll very well/consistently, I might add) and there is quite a bit of roll and undulation to them. Again, from a playability standpoint, I think this is great... you might struggle a little on the greens, but that doesn't lead to lost balls or other frustrations.

Many of the holes feature elevation changes and rolling fairways (although I was a little surprised - upon reflection after the round - to discover there were plenty of relatively flat holes as well) and while there are some fairway bunkers I found most of them to be more out of range than in. I played the blue tees and most of them were short of my drivers landing range... from the back they may have been more in play (it's not a very long course in general).

The biggest danger off the tee is probably the long grasses along most of the fairways, but even these areas were - by and large - playable. it's also worth taking a practice swing or two in the greenside rough, my playing partner commented more than once about how thick the grass was and how he was subsequently short on a few shots (particularly lobs). I didn't really experience this, so it's second hand.

The course is located in the gorge and is slightly uphill from the river banks leading to stunning 360 degree views, literally any direction you look is a picture ready to be taken. The combination of beauty and playability make it seem really difficult to have a bad day here.

My experience with the staff was terrific as well... no one showed up to staff the clubhouse (not sure what happened there) so the greenskeeper just opened up and sent everyone out with an understanding they'd stop back in at the turn or after the round to settle up. The whole thing just gave off the "you're part of the family/community" vibe seemed to resonate with everyone I met there.

I find myself driving through the gorge often and will certainly schedule another round (or more) at Elk Ridge, it's a nice combination of easy going and beautiful... I'd recommend you try it as well if you get the chance.

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

Pacific Dunes

Played On 10/22/2020
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Walked

Everything it's cracked up to be... of gorse

I had one day (and two rounds) to play at Bandon... which left me with the unenviable task of figuring out which courses to play and which to pass on. Pacific Dunes (and Sheep Ranch) were the ultimate choices... and I couldn't be happier with the decision to play PD.

Before I begin with the course, let me first talk about amenities and service. Every interaction I had at Bandon was sensational, the service was simply amazing. Additionally, the Punch Bowl putting course is situated right at the first hole of Pacific Dunes, you should absolutely plan to show up early and partake for two reasons... 1. it's fun! and 2. well... lets start the course review there

[2]the Greens at PD (also at Sheep ranch, so I assume everywhere at Bandon) are no joke. They are fast, firm and contain character, and it is a huge advantage to putt around at the Punch Bowl for a bit and get used to them before you go out in the course. It's very easy to give up several strokes adjusting to the greens. Having said that... they were in terrific shape when I played and rolled consistently and fairly all the way around the course.

The sand play, by and large, is good; however there are some spots - particularly in the fairways - where you can get into some rather significant trouble (no way to play out and you are forced to waste a shot just getting out)... I managed to do this to myself once and my playing partner did as well.

The fairways were terrific as well and the native areas, while feeling outright dangerous at times (gorse can be quite prickly) were reasonable... you really have to blow a shot most places to be heavily penalized. Of note though, PD has several sets of tees ranging from ~3900 to ~6700 and there are a lot more ways to get in trouble from the back than the front... choose your tees wisely, especially i the wind is whipping around.

I'd also recommend at least one caddie in the group, they're on course knowledge can absolutely save you strokes and heartache (and did for our group more than once), given what you are spending for your golf etc. it's a great insurance policy toward an enjoyable round of golf.

My favorite hole was probably the par 3 eleventh, running along the ocean and playing over a small canyon the view is breathtaking (pro-tip: avoid the bunker and you'll probably score better than I did). However, there are so many fantastic holes it's not difficult to see why this course is ranked in the top 10 of almost every national ranking.

I also loved the design/layout of the meandering course where you'll find #2 and #16 running parallel and #4 surrounded by #11, #12, and #13.

Bandon isn't free... although it does get cheaper is you play a couple rounds in a day... the "re-round" discount applies even if you play a different course on property as I did... but it is worth every penny for the experience. Next time I'm planning on getting in the Old Mac and Bandon Dunes courses (at least)... and then I'll be back again... it's certainly the kind of place your go back to as often as you can afford it. If you're into golf, and golf experiences, I can't recommend Bandon (and Pacific Dunes in particular) strongly enough.

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

Sheep Ranch

Played On 10/22/2020
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Walked

A nod to it's former self...

Playing Sheep Ranch feels like shades of what the pick-your-own-routing course used to be like, or at least as I imagine it. The front nine intertwines with the back throughout the routing sending you back and forth across the property... I loved it.

On paper, I feel like this is a very gettable course; however, the winds out there are real... when I played it was 2-3 clubs (my 175 club was a good 20 yards short on the 150 yard 16th hole... dead into the wind). I rated it "somewhat challenging" trying to anticipate the average day... but when I played it was quite the challenge (especially to a high ball hitter like myself).

People will talk about the fact that Sheep Ranch has no bunkers, I've even heard it criticized, but honestly I barely noticed. The course really relies on the elements to protect itself and my guess is that more often that not that's plenty.

I didn't use a caddy (none of my group did), if I had it to do over again, I probably would have... our group spent a good five minutes standing on the 14th tee debating which way to hit the ball, it's simply not obvious (at least from the back tees). There are other tidbits that would be helpful too.. like don't be long on three or you could wind up on the 16th green (actually a shared green between the two holes), I was about 5 feet from rolling all the way down.

The views out here simply don't quit... with every hole having an ocean view it's a very different look and feel than Pacific Dunes which I played in the morning. I've heard people say the routing is not really special and without the ocean views (i.e. if the course was somewhere else) it would not be nearly as great. To that I have two points... 1. there are some very special holes on this track and 2. it *is* by the ocean and absolutely should take advantage of that.

If you're playing other Bandon courses during your time there, you will notice the greens at Sheep Ranch are significantly slower then the other courses (even true of the recently punched Pacific Dunes course). As much as I like fast greens, it can be a welcome reprieve as well. Other than pace the relative new greens roll pure and should be terrific when they've matured a bit and pick up a little pace.

My favorite hole was probably either 6 or 16... both bring the ocean into play on your drive in very different ways. 6 is a choose your own adventure, all you can eat tee shot where the dogleg right lets you decide how much of the beach and cliff you want to take on (spoiler... I took on way to much on my firsts shot and had to reload.. oops). 16 is a par three firing straight into the prevailing winds (and the ocean left and behind)... the view is terrific and the whole is as well.

We played the afternoon at Sheep Ranch and this time of year you will finish a 1:30ish tee time right around sunset... my wife and I walked off the 18th tee directly over to the 12th tee box bench and took in the sunset from there. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

I cannot recommend strongly enough getting out to Sheep Ranch. I don't often start making plans to return to courses that run $300 ($150 for re-rounds) right way... but I've got Bandon on my short list for a golf getaway next year as well.

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

Salishan Golf Links

Played On 10/20/2020
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Hit 'em straight of this up and down course can get tough...

Salishan was a morning get away for me while my wife enjoyed some rest and the beach, I didn't expect anything amazing (it was the closest course with a decent rating so I just headed that way), but was delighted by this relatively hidden gem.

It was wet and probably always or at least mostly is, I'd pack your golf (or some waterproof) shoes to enjoy the day more, but the overall course conditions were pretty good. Some of the tee boxes were a little choppy, but the fairways and greens were in great shape and well maintained.

As mentioned above, Shalishan offers a variety of ways to lose balls, especially if you are wayward off the tee, but if you are hitting straight is gettable... I happened to shoot incredibly well (for me) during my round and carded a 74 from the back.

Speaking of playing from the back... if you're shooting from the tips you'll have to find and follow a trail that eventually leads across a street and into what appears to be someone's back yard (don't worry, its not, it just seems that way). From back there you are firing between trees to what seems like a really small target... it does open up though so feel free to grip it and rip it!

I thought the toughest hole was a long par three (#6) with 2/3s of the green (at least) blind because of trees along the left hand side. I didn't even challenge it and "laid up" to the right of the hole and played from there. I managed to get up and down for par which was the best score in my group (everyone else fired at the green with two people losing a ball).

Salishan isn't heavily bunkered and relies on angles and elevation changes for defense, I can see where these would be more than adequate defenses if you weren't shooting well, one of my playing partners has a very different view of the course than I do based on number of balls left behind.

For a coastal course there aren't many ocean views on the course and there are a surprising number of holes with significant elevation changes... although there is a run of rather benign holes starting the back nine that are almost completely flat before you get back into the hills, but it's probably the least link'ish course I've played on the coast.

I thought the service levels at the clubhouse were great (pro tip: the clubhouse can be a little hard to find the first time you go... it's *allllll* the way at the end of the parking lot, when you enter just head all the way to the back and you'll be good.

This wound up being a far better and more challenging course than I expected and I'd absolutely make it a part of a coast trip now (rather than just a get away day quickie)... I certainly recommend giving it a while if you find yourself in the area.

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

Falcon Ridge Golf Club

Played On 09/11/2020
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Idaho Advisor
Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

An absolute steal in Mesquite...

Full disclosure, I’m about to give a fairly glowing review to a course that was dried out and even had piles of clipped dead grass in the middle of some fairways. There are a couple reasons for this... 1. I care more about the bones than the exact condition on any given day, and, 2. Relative cost/quality of the course compared to others in the area.

My snap evaluation of Falcon Ridge was that it was an absolute steal for $30 (with a cart). The reality of golf is that a flat mediocre course is a good value at $30 with a cart… Falcon is not a flat mediocre course by any stretch.

This course has tremendous variety, hole to hole, and some captivating views, many of which would be truly fantastic if the course had been in better shape (read: less dry). Probably my least favorite thing about the course was the number of blind shots you are faced with off the tee. I’ve never been bashful about a blind tee shot, but for me this course has too many.

There are a couple holes on the back nine that could very well be on Falcon Ridge’s more famous neighbor… Wolf Creek. These holes can be exhilarating to say the least. The 12th, for example, features a nearly 140 foot drop from the tee box to a fairway that can be as easy or daunting as you want it to be based on club choice. I was aggressive and barely cleared the pond leading to a pitching wedge into the par 5 green (and a birdie). Just 10 yards shorter though and I would have been very lucky to get away with a 6.

The tenth hole looks intimidating from the tee box, but keep in mind the water carry really isn’t that far (especially with the elevation drop). For my money it’s one of the easier driving holes on the course, just keep your head about you!

Friendly advice with regard to one of those blind shots, on 11 you can reach the green with your drive if you cut the corner (go over the knoll)... there is also an enormous glass window facing the green from the opposite side that is completely reachable as well… I hit 3h off the tee and wound up in their (rather small) back yard. *Very* glad I didn’t hit driver.

I played the white tees, I would not do that again, the course was just a bit too short to be as challenging as I would want. Having said that, I think Falcon does a decent job of protecting itself, even from the white tees with angles and somewhat narrow fairways. The rough is very playable, so it takes a little work to get a truly bad lie unless you really mishit a ball.

I expected a 4 ½ to 5 hour round, playing a hilly course in mesquite and was pleasantly surprised to finish in less than 3 ½ and that was with a 15 minutes wait for staff to bring us a new cart when ours went belly up. We never had to wait after the third hole (where the cart exchange tok place) and were able to make our way around at exactly the pace we wanted to. I have no idea how normal this is… but for this friday afternoon round, the pace was terrific.

The service at Falcon was outstanding in the clubhouse, bag drop, and even out on the course. While the course was, as I mentioned, a bit dry the bunkers were still in very good shape and shots played as you hit them. The greens were fast and dry, but still rolled smoothly and true (in fact I rolled in a 40+ foot putt for a finishing birdie on 18). Downhill putts were tough though because of the speed… be sure to stay below the hole… at least if things are dry.

As mentioned above, I found Falcon Ridge to be an absolute steal of a deal as well as a fun challenging course regardless of cost. I would absolutely incorporate it into any trip I made to the area. There are better courses around, but you are going to spend 5 or 6 times as much to play them.

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