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Raptor Bay has finally gotten new carts with an excellent GPS system that gives yardage, a closeup of the green area, and your cart’s location. It was my only gripe and it has been rectified. A great course with a friendly staff. Playing the int first group I am not a big fan of holding the group up after 5 and 9 holes and then letting the next group get right on our tails for the remainder of the round. The second and third groups should be held to maintain a comfortable gap between groups, a minor operational change that would improve the experience for golfers who play early and get out of bed so that they can complete the round in under 4 hours.

I played the white tees and immediately noticed that the condition of the course was much improved from a year ago when it was barely passable. Of especial note were the greens which were smooth and fast. Bring your putting game to the large undulating surfaces which put a premium on the location of one’s approach shots. On a few holes the pins were tucked behind bunkers creating difficult second or third shots to the green. The par 3’s remain very difficult .
One unusual problem was discerning the green from the surrounding grass areas from a distance. There is little color or texture definition making depth perception and sometimes locating the green difficult. The old generation GPS system on the carts did not provide a front or back yardage making calibration of the approach shot difficult. It is time for an upgrade in that area. I would recommend to friends and family as the value was good. Not much that can be done about it but hitting practice balls off of mats into the adjoining pond does not provide a proper warmup.

A graet place for a fast paced round on a well conditione layout. Bring a couple of sleeves of balls as ther are plenty of places to lose a few.

I played Rocky River Municipal GC yesterday for the first time and had a great experience. I went out as a single and was partnered up with three other avid golfers who were also playing there through the GolfNow website as I was.

The course, set in the shadow of the Charlotte Speedway in Concord, was 25 minutes from Uptown where I was staying. At $32, including cart, it was a hard offer to resist. They have a driving range (horrible balls, but only $5 more), and an excellent putting green. The halfway house offered a hot dog, beer, and chips for $9.50. The layout was interesting, winding through full grown forests, and the green tees were 6,450 yards. With minimal roll on the dormant (brown) fairways it played a bit long for me as I typically drive the ball 210-220. When I return I will play the white tees at 6,000. The greens were near perfect and running at about a 10 stump meter. There was little grain on the Bermuda surface which was amazingly smooth. Every put had an extra 2-3 feet of roll and I had to adjust from my usual bent grass surface. The conditioning was so-so but not out of line for a heavily played muni layout.

I would return and recommend Rocky River to my golfing friends and family.

I played the white tees (6,000 yards) and enjoyed a nice round with above average conditions of the fairways and excellent greens. The traps were not great and many needed sand. The pace of play slowed dramatically with 5 groups on the 10th tee after a 2.5 hour first 9. They could use a Marshall to keep slower groups on a more agreeable pace (2 hours). The value was good ($80 for 18 holes with cart) and I would return, but probably not on a Sunday where many new golfers were slowing the pace of play.

Challenge was below average on this very flat course that winds it's way through the community of the same name. Conditioning was good (especially the greens). At the price I paid ($56) it was a very good deal.

First timer ar the Jack Nicklaus design. I have played Muirfield Village and this poses a similar strategic test, with generous tee shot targets, well placed bunkers and multi-tiered greens. Putting was a special challenge on this well-conditioned track. A definite “would recommend to any accomplished golfer. I will return.