scrooge75

Rees Jones - we knew that we're going to find a real good treat when we booked that course.
For a bargain of just $29 on golfnow.com we booked ourselves for a round on the course. If you're looking for a beautiful design in a quite surrounding - there you go. It's quite peaful at the black lake an it's fun playing the course.
We played it on a drizzling day but the course was in quite well condition. For sure it's nothing compared to e.g. Forest Dunes but it's certainly a course you want to consider when being in the area. It's around 45 minutes north of Gaylord. Staff was friendly and helpful.

Prior to our play i've reviewed quited a number of articles on Arcadia Bluffs to better understand whether it's worth the money. One blog recommended Bay Harbor over Arcadia and i just can tell - NO WAY!
As soon as we have arrived at the impressive club-house we already noted something special. We were lucky to just be by our own as a two-some and we enjoyed every minute, from the check-in to the dinner while watching the stunning sunset and listening to the scottish backpipe-player.
The course was in excellent condition, the greens were fast, almost too difficult to handle. Every hole offers dramatic and stunning views, number 10-13 are my favorites since you get close to the lake, although above it on the clips.
It's a 190 USD but it should be on every avid golfers bucket list. We'll return since it was so much fun to play.

I was really looking forward to play the course since the ratings i have studied prior to our trip sounded like it's a must play.
Well, it's nice but $200+ for a round? No way, it's definitely overrated. We played twilight, which still was $101 per person. Welcome at the pro-shop was nice, we were sent out as a two-some. We got told that pace of play might be a little slow because of a big group playing theere second 9 holes on the Quarry, which were our first 9 holes. What we experienced was the worst of what we ever would have expected. We started at 5 sharp and we finished the first 9 holes 3h later leaving us with around 1h15 for playing the second 9 on the Links. Not only the pace of play but moreover the group in front of us threw away their beer cans and other trash on the course, on every cart they had a getto-blaster and they were drunk. Dont asked how the story commenced but we were able to finish the second 9 on the Links in 1h15 which was a shame since the Links nine are just fabulous. We told the pro our disappointment and asked whether we could play a day later the second nine since it already was gettin dark. The pro wasn't acting that friendly ...
The Quarry is nice but it's absolutely nothing special. Only holes 8 and 9 are at the lake - need to play? No!
The Links is way better, many of the holes are on top of the lake and in true links fashion. It's fun playing it, way more that the Quarry.
The Clubhouse was ok but i would expect something different for the money. Playing it again? No!

Ever wanted to play a course which offers almost 18 signature holes? If so you must play this course.
Conditions were just perfect. We played on a hot day up in the 90's. The fairways were pristine, the greens as well. This course is quite challenging, lot's of elevation changes, don't plan to walk it.
It's so pitoresque that you might take multiple pictures on every single hole. Doug Carrick did a great job here designing this gem. It's not cheap but e.g. compared to Eagles Nest, also a Doug Carrick design, it's way better.
There's nothing to complain except that we didn't get a table at the restaurant since they were hosting a wedding. Nothing really bad to complain. Welcome at the proshop was nice, starter instructions well done. When we played there weren't too many players on the course so pace of play was excellent. Again, it's just fantastic, i strongly recommend that course and will retrun soon again.

We got a good deal, otherwise the 169 USD regular rate would have been our limit for playing the course.
Arnold palmer and Jack Nicklaus did a great job when creating this fantastic course. We played at excellent weather, were very welcome by the helpful and friendly staff.
The course is winding thru various neighbourhoods but still creates a feeling of being in the nature. We liked all 18 holes but the last 9 were even nicer than the first ones. Water on almost every hole makes it challening but the fairways allow slices and hooks, at least most of them. Lot's of bunkers which make it require to have a strategy before you hit the ball, fine quartz sand in bunkers though. The course was in excellent condition, the greens could have been a little more undulated but they are challenging anyway.
If you're in the area, play it you won't regret it!

We got a good deal to play to course, fortunately! Otherwise we would have felt that we paid too much compared to what you get at other courses.
We were treated very well, nice staff! The course design is very nice, lot's of water but it's fair to play even for beginners. The course was in great conditions, greens were fast, fairways very well maintained. The course is along the ocean but not at all of the six ocean-holes offer ocean-feeling or views. The course flows thru various neighborhoods what we don't like that much. Compared to the Ocean course the conservatory at Hammock Beach offers much more remotness and a "being in the nature" feeling. Again, the ocean course is nice but there's better ones for the value.

This is by far the best course i've played so far and probably one of the best courses you can play on this planet.
Staff was extremly welcoming and helpful, we felt treated like being members. There's no single hole which isn't thrilling, the design is just outstanding and fantastic. There's just two houses on the course, which gives a great feeling to be out in mother nature. A lot of water and 140 bunkers but it's fair as long as you can hit straight. We'll play the course again tomorrow since it's just so nice.
We like that course much better than the Ocean at Hammock, which is nice but not even close to the Conservatory.

We played the course two days ago and it was in good shape. Nice, challening layout and wonderful views. The setting amongst the woods is fantastic. Staff was very friendly. The last week we played four courses, all higher priced ones and this one goes along with the TPC Tampa Bay (which we liked a little better because of it's perfect conditions and fairway layouts). Definitly one of the best courses in the Tampa area.