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I read the reviews and saw the ranking. I included Candler in my trip and was really excited to see it. From a design point, I found it very underwhelming. It was a very strong 4 star course. But it doesn’t get a 5 from me. There was enough sand strategically place to keep you from falling asleep, but that’s about it. Scenic vistas? Not really. And it was bordering a huge construction site of a zillion new homes so that definitely detracted from the experience. There was a lot of heavy equipment being used just of many of the fairways.
I would play it again, for sure. Conditions and the people were nice enough. But I am not going to go 1.5 hours out of my way to get there. If you live nearby, go. If you’re looking for destination golf, go elsewhere.

This course was an exceptional value. The layout took advantage of the relatively hilly (for Florida) terrain with almost all of the greens elevated. Shot placement is rewarded with smart ( and deep) bunkering, interesting angles and huge Spanish moss dripping live oaks. The course is mature and every hole makes you think. Rees Jones did a great job as usual on redoing the course. The people are friendly but the clubhouse is dated and the pro shop needs a lot of help. Conditions of the course are very good. The bunker sand is like wet cement, however.
If you appreciate really good golf design, you will love the course. If you’re looking for a luxury pampering go to a resort. I’ll definitely go back to this course.

I played on a raw January day, and the course was in great shape, especially the greens. Great place to keep the rust off in the winter but on a summer weekend day it’s not worth 6 hours of your life as it is packed.

Play this course with the full knowledge that you are playing it for convenience and not a destination wow experience. Sixty bucks could be better spent elsewhere, but you have to drive away from the proximity of 8 million people living cheek to jowl. Granted it was a Sunday morning, but it was January with winter conditions. And the City of New York still had the chutzpah to charge for parking on top of that.
The clubhouse looks like it’s about to collapse and the grill room is a greasy spoon.
The course is a blend of blah and huh, interesting holes. Plus stars for about 9 holes that take the topography into consideration. Big minus for having 3 completely bland par 3s on 15,16,and 17. Not the way you want to finish a match, like you are on an executive course. Not for sixty bucks. I’ll come back, but only at a twilight rate.

Very good layout and nicely designed holes. Bring your long game because you’ll need it. 6300 from the regular men’s tees and quite a few of the holes are straight up hill and long, and if the wind is against you, be happy with bogey. Some tight fairways and although it was early in the season, the rough right off many of the fairways will eat your ball. You need to play it a few times before you will be able to learn placement for your shots and course management. Don’t expect to show up and shoot a low number first time around. The only complaint would be nobody seems to repair ball marks on the greens, but that’s not the management it’s a public course that lets anybody out, and obviously many new to the game haven’t learned basic etiquette. Do not attempt to walk this course unless you have a couple of days to recover, or you area young mountain goat. I usually walk and carry and my pedometer is at around 7 miles at the end of the round. Here it read 10.5. And I wouldn’t want to be carrying my sticks up #15, a par 5 straight up hill that took 3 shots with my 200 yard hybrid to reach the front of the green. It’s a test, and I’ll be back even though it’s way more expensive than the 5 other county courses. But that’s because of the deal that the county entered into to acquire the course. Facilities were nicer than the other county courses and there is definitely a exceptional feel to the place for a municipal. But I will put it in the rotation, but not an every day course. This is a course for serious golfers.

Of the 6 Westchester County courses, this one gets the least respect. But lit shouldn’t. The front nine, although short, is tight and is designed on a very steep hill. It is definitely a challenge, especially if you walk and carry. The back nine is more wide open and nondescript but has its moments. The greens, fora public course, are very good and you need to pay close attention. And you can’t beat the NYC skyline view from the 18th tee. The staff is awesome. It has become my favorite Westchester course.

I left the course and asked myself was it worth the out of the way ride to get to a golf only facility in the middle of nowhere and the answer was overwhelmingly yes. After playing several excellent Florida development golf courses and finishing up here I was struck by two things that I didn’t see. Palms and cookie cutter housing. The golf was outstanding and that’s the bottom line of what we are looking for. This place was great.

Beautiful and challenging course in a newer upscale community. Any place that hosts Open qualifiers has got chops and this
course does. Water on every hole. If you play it from the tips you better have a single digit handicap. Fast greens. Kudos to the friendliest ranger I have ever come across. Staff and facilities were great. Highly recommended and I am definitely putting this course on my rotation in my Florida trips.

This is a pretty good course but definitely not worth more than $40 to play. It’s in an older development and it kinda shows. The layout is decent but the greens were slightly below average. The pace was just ok. The pro shop was pretty lame but the people were nice. Definitely not a destination spot but a decent everyday place.

If you can avoid the weekends this course is a good option. It will be a 5 hour round if you can play earlier. The conditions are decent for a very heavily used course, and the layout is straightforward. There are a few great holes, #8 for example. Also on the weekends there is a $3 NYC parking fee (which is supposed to be all the time, but only sporadically enforced) which is obscene.
The staff varies from very pleasant to downright nasty. The clubhouse is a cool old Art Deco place, but constantly booked for events that you have to work your way around. Pelham Bay, the easier course, is constantly booked for huge tournaments, so Split Rock gets the overflow of daily players.
If you remember that you are playing in a huge city, and have the luxury of having a flexible schedule you can get lucky and have a nice day. Or not.

Pro: Right off the Garden State
Cons: Right off the Garden State

It’s easy to get to and that’s the problem in the most congested area in the most congested state. Slow pace of play and fairly boring for $50. I would play it again if it was $30, but $50 was a special rate. They can charge a lot because of its location. Severe drainage problems. Pass on it.

Lakes is an excellent 9. Meadows and Fairways just meh. Best thing is that holes rarely run next to each other so you feel like you are all by yourself. But its a loooong way from green to the next tee on many holes so don't try to walk this course.
They treat you well here, and should, for $70.
I would play here a few times a year, but no more than that. Pick a nice fall foliage day for some pretty nice views.

The course is 3 different sixes. First 6 or 7 holes are the most challenging. The value is excellent, very well maintained, greens are well kept and fast for a public course. It is pretty. I have enjoyed playing here and it is totally worth a 45 minute drive to play.

This is a great course to make as a home course, as long as you live within 15 minutes and can be flexible with your time.
The front nine is tighter and shorter, and you don't even need to hit driver. The back nine you do.
It is scenic, even though it is literally in the median of a major highway. As long as you remember that you are on the golf course and not on that highway going to work.
The only beef I would have is not the fault of the course, but the county. Selling tee times for the season books most of the morning up. The $90 you plunk down for a resident pass takes a while to pay for itself, but it is good for 3 years, and there are 6 county courses that you can play. Also the discount for playing a quick back nine first thing in the morning could be better.
The superintendent has done a great job for the amount of play and the renovations a couple of years back have set in well, as opposed to the fiasco at Maple Moor, another county course.

I have been a Westchester County Parks Pass holder for 2 years and didn’t play Saxon Woods because it was always jammed. I showed up early on a Monday morning without a reservation and got right out.
The course is in very good condition for the amount of play it gets and the layout is short but will challenge you to make smart shots. The greens were a bit on the slow side but had subtle breaks.
It’s a very good every day course and value for locals.