crt928

Course Mgmt Issues Warning: 3 days prior course had significant rain, the day prior it had drizzled so Course Super called for CPO (Cart Path Only) and the Range was also closed. We took it in stride but as played the course, the course was DRY. Frustration grew with each progressive hole played, walking over dry fairways. We heard earlier in the summer had CPO for too dry of conditions. Fairways and rough are Bermuda, the most weather resistant turf there is. Not the only course where the Super has a Prima Donna disposition. Based upon other reviews, its reflected in those too.
Course layout is good. Fairways and Greens in great shape. Greens rolled frequently. I'd play the course again but would call in advance to see if any special course conditions set by Mgmt exist.

It was relatively fun to play except the greens were consistently in-consistent. Some greens like a shaggy rug and other cut as expected but still rolled slow.

When heard Love Golf Design renovated Belmont, it sounded like we'd have a very enjoyable, some challenging aspects and twists, but overall a very playable course again. First Tee becoming the principle of the course sounded awesome, extending golf's reach to the next generation of golfers. If that was the intended target, the DESIGN MISSED THE MARK. Its a punishing layout, resulting in a frustrating round. We don't need to teach kids that golf can be very difficult to succeed playing. WHY? I've never seen the majority of a courses greens to be entirely sloped, very few greens have any flat areas here. The greens' speed is inconsistent, one is relatively fast, the next one greatly slower, that's 30% of the greens problem, the remainder is their difficult playability. The result is an extremely difficult 2-putt paring of a hole. Now if you drop your 2nd shot 5' from the hole like we see the Pro's do sometimes - well, I'm not a Pro - far from it. Greens lack of consistency is usually a sign of poor greens' maintenance. Was this maintenance considered in the redesign? It appears not. SAND TRAPS - it was great to see pictures of the white fluffy sand. It's a different story when faced with deep traps with heighten walls facing the direction of the hole. Landing in a fairway trap is punishing enough, being unable to reach the green due to the tall walls - is simply just no fun. This is not a championship course any longer, it's a public course that should be inviting to the general public golfer. The Belmont Golf Course needed restoration largely in part due to the lack of sand trap and greens maintenance. Will the restoration be sustainable? I hope so, but appears to already be a challenge after one year; the maintainability requirements will continue to increase. That requires increased green fees revenue; IMHO, I'm afraid they have missed the mark and shot themselves in the foot. I won't be back anytime soon, there are more enjoyable choices.

The course is in good condition given the hot weather. Large patches of blooming clover in the rough that should be eradicated. Makes it very difficult to find your strayed shot, if you find it at all. Slows down the pace of play so surprised it was so prevalent. Greens: in good shape but inconsistent speed wise; most were much slower speed than practice green which was fast. Just makes for a frustrating putting day.

Greens were aerated and sanded after the holiday Monday, played the next Wednesday. When your putt leaves a trail through sand, its too sandy. Maintenance vehicle tracks on the greens showed through the sand too.

It was very disappointing that no notice of the maintenance was given (on GolfNow or in the Pro Shop) or reflected in greens fees. This is typically a 4.5 star course but only a 2.5 today.

I've encountered rednecks on a golf course playing loud music but never a redneck golf course playing blaringly LOUD rock music. It was so loud it was difficult to focus on the correcting my bad ball strikes. I took a work vacation day to play on a Tuesday, the majority of people at the course were seniors as would be expected. I doubt they enjoy being blasted with loud rock music but I could be wrong. I've heard this was a premier course (and cost) but not a redneck managed course which from what I experienced today, it is. Most upsetting was on 10th tee hearing an emotionally upsetting song that took me 4 holes to get out of my head. No pars on those 4 holes. The course was good, and some great staff; though others ignored their responsibilities of ensuring the customers were stocked with range balls as preferred to hit their own range balls. It was a very disappointing experience that I have no desire to repeat. Play (and pay premier greens fee) at your own risk.

I've encountered rednecks on a golf course playing loud music but never a redneck golf course playing blaringly LOUD rock music. It was so loud it was difficult to focus on the correcting my bad ball strikes. I took a work vacation day to play on a Tuesday, the majority of people at the course were seniors as would be expected. I doubt they enjoy being blasted with loud rock music but I could be wrong. I've heard this was a premier course (and cost) but not a redneck managed course which from what I experienced today, it is. Most upsetting was on 10th tee hearing an emotionally upsetting song that took me 4 holes to get out of my head. No pars on those 4 holes. The course was good, and some great staff; though others ignored their responsibilities of ensuring the customers were stocked with range balls as preferred to hit their own range balls. It was a very disappointing experience that I have no desire to repeat. Play (and pay premier greens fee) at your own risk.

If you like narrow fairways with overhanging tree limbs, if you like hazard areas butting up to greens, if you like hitting 200 ft high uphill onto hard pan and watch your ball roll back down hill, if you like the course to only have ball washers at 1st and 10th tee boxes, if you like consistently barren tee boxes, and if you having a 5-some of loud teenagers to contend with, this is the course for you. The greens rolled pretty well and true and that was the only thing enjoyable. No, I won't be back.

The course had red pin flags in back of of greens and blue ping flags in the front of the greens. (Supposed to be the opposite.) From a distance you can not tell so go with flag color. A number of tee boxes completely closed for re-turfing so only Gold tee boxes available. (Why not close 1/2 of each box at one time??) A par 4 under repair was turned into a par 3 indicated by notices printed on regular paper and weathered. The tee box was a golf range matt, not an actual substitute tee off area. Wish it was just a well managed course with no surprises.

Course is in top condition which is great to see. Last three four weeks have been very dry and the course is holding up well.

It’s an unknown Gem! This course gives other regional public courses a level of excellence they can aspire to. Amenities include Clubhouse / Pro Shop built in 2017. The driving range, chipping / sand trap, along with the putting green practice areas are in excellent conditions, just like the course itself. Though I try to avoid sand traps, the traps are well maintained with proper drainage; and your hitting out of real sand - not some compacted sandbox that hasn't been maintained in months. Fairways and greens are well maintained and in the condition I'd consider ideal. The staff, Clubhouse / Pro Shop / Marshalls, are all professional and courteous. Interactions with them leave you feeling appreciated. (As one should but that doesn’t always happen.) Though it is a 45 minute drive, the affordable greens fee makes it worthwhile. (PS. Gas prices are lower than in Richmond too!) I would and do, play this course frequently.

Unbelievable Pro Shop Experience - Upon arriving for my Tee Time I was told, since I signed up through Golf Now as a single, and the remaining 3 golfers for the tee time had brought a 4th person, they were moving my tee time. Oh really? Further, to what time was unknown and I was told they were trying to work me in with another group. The emphasis was that I signed up through ** Golf Now **. Ah, so what? They accept reservations through Golf Now, that’s their policy – not mine?? It got disgustingly worse. Arriving that the 1st tee, looking for a Starter Marshall to find out when is my new tee time, I discover there isn’t one. Back to club house, ask where is the Starter Marshall and I’m told there isn’t one. I ask so when is my tee time? Other person working, Lee is his name, states “there is time before that tee time, why don’t you just go ahead of them as a single?” I reply I’d prefer to play with a group (I wasn’t hitting the ball that well so some help is great to have; also consider golf more social then a competitive sport.). Lee’s reply is “What? I’ve never heard of someone who doesn’t want to play by their selves.” In a condescending tone. (Being he is abrasive and confrontational (this was not the only time found him to make abrasive comments) it clear to see why he’d have that disposition.) The other gentleman behind the counter states, “I’d prefer to play with a group too”. Lee was so abrasive this time that I responded, “you know, have some balls saying that to a customer, I don’t believe you just said that.”. His response? He repeats the statement! Some people just do not learn. IMHO, Lee is a detriment to the image, I’m fairly certain, the ownership desires the staff to maintain or improve upon when it comes to the customer experience. Maybe that is why he was released from the prior club he worked at.

After all that, did I feel like playing golf there? No, not hardly, but I did. I ending up joining another group scheduled not too long from my tee time reservation. What was startling was since I signed up via Golf Now, they felt they had the right to ignore the reservation that they had accepted and confirmed. No one should be discriminated against, especially a paying customer but if you’re a customer via Golf Now – your fair game? Furthermore, the staff not respect their customers and one in particular takes any opportunity to be combative with its patrons. Neither are acceptable and I won’t be playing there again for a long time. Proceed at your own risk is the best way I can close this review.

Heavy rain the week prior to playing, watched it rain 2-4" the day before there. Course probably should have been closed. Sand traps with some water is acceptable, traps with enough water a person could drown is not acceptable. Late afternoon on Lake #7, a par 5, 2nd shot went in sandtrap left of green. Walked up to find a nearly the entire trap was water filled. Standing brown water that was 12-18 -24” deep on side closest in pictures – could not see my Callaway yellow soccer ball! I was so frustrated that I took pics of it and showed staff upon return. They acted like BAU. It should have been marked so golfers could have tried to avoid, marked Danger as it was a literal drowning risk. That amount of water didn't happen overnight. Clearly the trap's drain needs repair. That is the one thing about the Hollows – they don’t strive for excellence though it’s not that far away to reach and it's sad to see.

The course was in good condition, leafs on course and in the rough need to be mowed better. Greens are in great condition. Cup placements were in highly difficult locations, which was frustrating. We were out to enjoy probably last round of golf for the year. The Greens have challenging undulations which is fun; it was not a tournament weekend but cups were setup as if was one.