nickrichards

The course is in fantastic shape except for the greens. They've been punched and sanded recently, but most greens have large dead spots that are like putting in a parking lot.

The fairways were in fantastic condition.

Draft beers, including XX, are $4 after your round.

This course is average in every way. It's nice when the weather supports it, and it's not as nice in winter or droughts.

I enjoy playing the course when I'm in town. You can really score well when your game is hot and it's not overly punishing if your game isn't on, but there are still challenges to golfers of all skill levels.

If this course were closer to town, you couldn't get on it for less than $80. It's definitely worth the drive.

On my play date of 6/20/2014, there were some hard dry spots on the green but I was very impressed with the conditions of the course otherwise.

It's a difficult course to play with no laser or locals to help you out due to the number of multi-level greens and elevated/de-elevated approaches into greens. This was my second time playing, and the way-out rough was mowed much shorter so I was able to salvage a few errant shots you wouldn't normally be able to find.

I've loved this course since I first played it. The conditions fluctuate, but the course has been in great shape every time I've played it over the last 18 months.

It's a brutal course. You're always above or below the ball and you rarely find your tee shot where you thought it was. I get a lot of breaks here-- some good breaks, some terrible. My scores fluctuate here more than any other course. I'm rewarded on good days, and brutally punished on the bad ones.

The guys in the pro shop are very friendly every time I go. I can almost always take off when I'm ready and rarely get behind anyone.

The hot dogs in the pro shop are a worthwhile endeavor, just make sure you call ahead if you don't want a 10-minute turn.

Love this course.

I liked this course a lot. It's more fun to play than Avery on a day when your swing isn't grooved, but it's still relatively challenging. It's in good condition as of 9/17, but they seem to have a problem with hogs scratching parts of the fairways and some issues on the greens.

There's a lot of wiggle room on this course for the higher handicappers, and there's a lot of opportunities for errant approach shots to wind up okay.

Don't let these issues deter you, as it's still a very fun and playable course.

Pace of play was great-- I saw a 5-some of retirees played a 3:45 round. Our round was 3:20 as a 2-some.

The staff was very friendly. Every marshal/starter/cart girl/etc that we encountered did a great job.

I love this course, and play it as often as I can. But it's a relatively tough course, and sees a lot of slow golf. Don't come out here expecting a <4-hour round.

The full fees are over priced, even after twilight. But if you get a deal on this site or via something like the development club, it turns out to be a good (sometimes, great) value.

This course has been ravaged by the drought. There are no fairways, greens are infected, and it's just generally in very poor condition.

I understand that this is an effect of the drought, but the fact that there's no water in many of the ball washers, no signs directing you between holes, and no water in the igloo coolers shows a general lack of effort to make it playable.

I liked the layout of the Creeks course, so I'll try it again if the drought eases up. But I can't imagine this place, even in times of abundant moisture, to be worth any more than $28/round.

This course have a lot of forced lay-ups, so my group rarely used the drivers. You really have to understand the hole before you tee up your ball.

The greens were slow on the Saturday we played, but the guys in the clubhouse told us they would be.

The staff was great. And the practice facilities were awesome, lots of tools and targets available.

The greens weren't over seeded, but I have no other complaints.

I'm really looking forward to playing this when things green up.

I actually thought twice to myself: "This course may be worth staying in Austin." That may have been a little overboard, but I had that great of an experience.

I found the course forgiving while still quite challenging. After great shots, I walked to my ball with my chest out and chin high. But even with the errant shots, I often found my ball in a better situation or lie than I had thought. An errant shot here doesn't necessarily put you in instant double-bogey territory like Avery Ranch will.

The tough greens really counter the pristine fairways. Other than one lie on hardpan in an area under a tree, my lie were all well-manicured; fairway lies were all pristine. The greens, however, are evil; there were a lot of 3-putts in our foursome, which included two members. One quipped "I've played here over 300 times, and still can't figure these out". They are slow, but this course would be impossibly tough if they were much faster.

But the staff stole the show. Upon check-in, I was asked I had played there before to which I replied "nope". I got a quick tour, was introduced to some members, then led to the first tee by the starter. At the first box, the starter then introduced me to more members and the marshalls. Each staff member I encountered gave the service I've only seen at the $50k membership country clubs. Perfect example:
I first saw the cart girl on #6 (early morning start). I asked for a sandwich, she said she doesn't carry them but I can grab one at the turn. The turn comes around and we're in a rush to #10, so I don't get my sandwich. She stops at the 10th green and asks about my sandwich, to which I answer "didn't have time to stop". She catches up to us off the 11th tee box with a sandwich made up with all the fixins, which I didn't request (but so craved). How's that for service? I had decided to rate the course 4 stars (more on that next) until this.

The one con:
The scorecards are temporary and there are no hole maps/visualizations to be found. Very tough to play a course blind AND "blind". I understand this is being rectified after the front/back swap, but that makes it tough right now. Luckily, the course didn't have a single unseen hazard so I fared well.

Overall:
Beautiful course in top shape
The staff is the star of the show

...and I hear they have FANTASTIC membership rates. I'm painfully jealous of those who live in proximity

I've played this twice in two wildly different conditions.

On the first, it was after the high school tournament. The rough was deeper and the greens were faster. I had a few fairway shots that rolled (and rolled, and rolled...) off the fairway and a few feet into the rough around no obstacles, but were never seen again.

On the second play, the rough was shorter but the greens were still quite fast; but the wind was ruthless. Some of the holes had no protection from the constant >20mph winds, which make some holes wicked.

Overall, I love the layout. There really are no blind fairways or those hidden hazards, but you're forced to layup on many approaches. A par on most holes requires a great approach, and the Par 5s aren't gimme pars.

In both visits, the staff was very friendly. It's one of those rare courses without snooty staff.

Their rates seem high, but it's a bargain with the deals I get through the site.

Lots of tight fairways that force the average golfer to hit irons off the tee. Missing the fairway by even a couple yards will often put you in the trees with no good line to punch out.

It's really one of my favorite courses to play in Austin, though it's not as pristine as some.

I thoroughly enjoyed this course, and came back to play it the following day.

We got stuck behind some high school kids, one group of which was playing slow for "qualifying". If they would have started us on the back, this would have been a non-issue. But a morning start was faster play.

The guy in the pro shop on Day 1 was too busy texting to pay much attention, and gave snide answers to questions common on someone's first trip to the course. The starter was also difficult that day. But no problems on Day 2, everyone was cordial.

There's just nothing to hit from in the winter. Fairways are effectively hardpan; balls roll for ages so the course is exceptionally long. Tee boxes are sometimes in seemingly random places between holes.

In wet seasons, this course is slightly better than average. But in cold or dry times, it's a locals course.

At peak condition, it beats driving to Norman for a decent round.