sevatc

Elks is that one place that could be great, but will probably never get there. It is a great layout, and makes you hit every shot. It is challenging, and really does have a ton of potential. Conditions can be hit and miss. Some of the tee boxes are right up there with the worst tee box conditions in the city, where others are very nice. Some of the fairways and greens will be plush, and others will be burnt. Lots of inconsistencies throughout the course. Doesn't make much sense. That being said, the condition of the course ISN'T the problem, and isn't what will likely keep my friends and I away. It is the course management.

We have played here A LOT. Unfortunately, it has just gotten to the point where it is always something when we go. Someone is finally filling the water coolers. There was a time when they always seemed to be empty. That difficult task seems to have been resolved. However, when you aren't arguing with someone in the pro shop about the rate that someone else told you that you would have, and didn't notate it in the system, you are spending the bulk of your time sitting in your cart, waiting over EVERY shot. A couple of trips ago, we were part of a traffic jam that was already formed on the FIRST TEE. It was cart path only, which happens, but they let off a group of 4 older, and much less skilled golfers that were 90 minutes LATE for their tee time, in front of the 2 or 3 groups that were sitting there ready to go. You just can't do that. We were already being backed up, and then they just slammed a group of terrible golfers into a full tee sheet in front of us. That round had nightmares written all over it. We left...

On this latest trip, there was an outing, and it clearly wasn't being policed. We once again waited on every tee box and every shot. We came off of number 9 at 25 after the hour. By the time we finally got to play number 10, and finish the hole, it was 10 after the next hour. Yep, 45 minutes to get through number 10. You almost ALWAYS sit on the back at Elks anyway, but this was a whole new level. We muddled our way through 11, watching and waiting. We got to the 12 tee box, and the group in front of us was still sitting in their carts. After almost 20 minutes, and finally getting to hit shots on 12, we had had enough. All rhythm that we managed to keep up on the front (and better golfers know about rhythm)was completely gone. It wasn't worth it anymore. We left. Again.

I tend to play wherever my buddies want play. I will go anywhere, and can enjoy just about any course. I don't think I can enjoy Elks anymore. I truly hope my friends have had enough as well, and don't want to go back. At least not until they work their tee sheets better, and police the course. They are too many other courses to play that don't have those headaches.