Lives
North Carolina
Handicap
15-19
Skill
Intermediate
Plays
Once a month

Review Statistics

Average Rating

4.0
4.0
Total 9 Reviews

Rating Breakdown

9 Reviews
5 Stars
2
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Recommended Courses
8
Not Recommended Courses
1
Helpful Votes Count
0
Not Helpful Votes Count
0
First Review
08/18/2017
Last Review
08/09/2019

Reviews Map

Reviews

4.0
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First time playing this course
Recommended
Review has

The Golf Club at Ballantyne

Played On 08/07/2019
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Well Worth the Wait

I had been aiming to play Ballantyne for several years but just finally made it happen. It was indeed well worth the wait! The course conditions were very good (only a random rough spot or two), the greens were fast and rolled true, the layout was fun, varied and challenging and everything went smoothly with the round, from check in, getting set up to play, pace of play, on-course amenities (water, restrooms, snack shack, etc.) and finish.

I would highly recommend playing this course. If possible, I recommend going during the week as I suspect it is much busier (and costlier) on the weekend.

As some comments noted, it appears that the Ballantyne course will be going away within the next couple of years - a victim of being in a desirable location. If you haven't played this course - ever or in a while -- I'd highly recommend that you get out and so so before it's gone.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Charleston National Golf Club

Played On 06/19/2019
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Good Value Course

We found the course layout to be interesting and a little challenging (especially with my driving accuracy). At $48 per round, the value was great. Course conditions were very good - other than the greens being a couple of weeks post-aeration so they were a little sandy and rolled somewhat slow. I also note that the greens were generally not overly challenging.

If we had any complaints, it was the conditions of the bunkers, which looked and played like they had not been groomed in a number of days. Packed pretty hard on the surface.

All in all, a decent track that provided a challenging round.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging

Skybrook Golf Club

Played On 05/27/2019
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Skybrook is in Good Shape

I golf Skybrook about twice a year and this was the best outing I have had there yet. The course was in the best shape that I have seen it and the course was not crowded (no pace of play issues, we finished in 3.4 hours).

There are a few rough spots in fairways (e.g., 6th hole) and on greens (e.g., 17th hole), but overall I thought the course was the best I have seen in years.

And at $32 (about $1.75 per hole), it was a fantastic value. Overall, a good outing and I look forward to getting back out to Skybrook again soon.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate

The 500 Club

Played On 03/31/2019
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Glad I Tried It but Likely Won't Be Back

Had been wanting to play this course for a couple of years but was waiting until all 18 holes were open. Finally got out on 3/31/19.

The course layout was interesting - especially after the 3rd hole. As other reviewers mentioned, the greens were still trying to recover from aeration and seemed to have more sand on them than other greens that I have played after aeration. Time should fix this.

There's a lot of home development construction that affects holes 10 - 12 and to a lesser extent 15-16. Biggest impacts are actual changes to the playable course on holes 10 and 11.

I read recent Golf Advisor reviews so wasn't surprised by any of this -- but I sure would have been if I hadn't read ahead. The dude in the pro shop didn't say a peep to me about any of these conditions -- and there was not a soul in there other than he and I. Pretty shabby.

I would also recommend a little better signage, even if temporary, to help first-timers navigate around the construction related detours.

Overall, a decent outing on a decent track, but I came and I saw -- and given the multitude of other options - I likely won't be back again.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/04/2019

Hi Steven, thanks for taking the time to leave us a review. We're sorry to hear your round with us was anything short of 5-stars. We hope this doesn't deter you from returning for another round soon. Thanks for playing Larkin Golf Club!

Links at Wild Dunes Golf Links

Played On 07/06/2018
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great Experience

If you are going to golf at Isle of Palms, this is definitely the place to go. Although it is slightly more expensive than Wild Dunes' Harbor Course, it is in better condition and has a wider range of holes with different feels.

Although I found a few holes to be somewhat plain and nothing to write home about (i.e., 1, 14, 15), there are so many others that are somewhat unique (i.e., 10, 12) and scenic (i.e., 16, 17, 18) that on-balance it was a great golf experience and a good break from my regular tracks.

The course was overall in excellent condition (other than a few tee boxes that were a little rough), the greens were firm and rolled true and the fairways were in good shape.

To a person, the staff that we interacted with was friendly, helpful and courteous - like they were truly pleased to have you at the course.

Also, unlike the Harbor Course, this course was not crowded and we were able to play at our own pace (a twosome, were able to finish in around 3.5 hours).

Further, unlike the Harbor Course, there is a driving range and ample parking.

Bottom Line: A great golf experience. Course is beautiful, varied, in great condition and not over-crowded. It will definitely be my first choice for Isle of Palms golf in the future.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate

Harbor at Wild Dunes Golf Links

Played On 07/05/2018
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Walked

Good Value

Overall a good golf experience - I would recommend it to a friend. However, I played the Wild Dunes Links Course the following day and, if playing at Wild Dunes, would play the Links over the Harbor course hands-down (even though it is has a some higher fee).

The Harbor Course has a nightmare parking situation (it shares a small lot with the big hotel, tennis center and the beach) and if you don't know that in advance you better show up real early for your tee time. Also, there is no driving range.

As for the course, it is busy and has heavy traffic - like a reasonably priced, public course. Regardless, the course is in pretty good condition. The greens still evidenced aeration within the past month and showed heavy use, but overall rolled true and clean.

The layout is unique and is the first course I recall playing whose turn wasn't near the clubhouse or any other amenities (a halfway house). Given this, it would have been nice to have a beverage cart at some point (which we did not see at all).

To a man, the staff was friendly and helpful and made us feel welcome.

The pace of play was too slow for us - with a fair amount of waiting - however, we were a twosome and there were a lot of foursomes and we finished in about 4 hours, so the pace wasn't slow, just slower than we would have liked.

Bottom Line: A busy course but in as good of shape as you could expect for a heavily used public course. Layout was interesting with numerous pretty and unique holes. The downside is the lack of parking and no range. Overall, a good value (although I recommend the LInks Course just 2 miles down the road).

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
4.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Missed My Target

A nice course but not worth the rate. The layout is fair - and the three ocean holes were fun - but after trekking out to Kiawah Island I had hoped for a little better experience.

The fairways were in great shape and the greens were too, with a few minor exceptions. However, a number of tee box areas and areas around greens were in rough shape.

My biggest complaint was the number of distractions. A group teeing off from the family tees and cackling and laughing while I was putting; a car alarm blaring; kids riding bikes through the course right in my line to the hole; people in the house across the pond from the 11th green with a screaming and crying toddler; leaf blowers; nail gun popping off the 10th fairway; people walking by the 13th green yelling to their friends during my putting stroke; people wandering down the path on the 15th, oblivious that they were right in the line from the tee box; a gaggle of young girls having a group photo by the 17th green; and other similar distractions.

I'm no elitist - I play courses that wend through communities regularly and am used to occasional distractions - but Turtle Point was plainly the worst that I have seen in this regard, even more so than the average muni.

Finally, I was not impressed with the staff with whom I interacted. I generally got the sense that they could have cared less that I was there.

I would not play this course again.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate

Lochmere Golf Club

Played On 10/07/2017
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart

Average Course But Not Worth the Fee

Lochmere is a very average course - reminded me of a muni. Definitely not worth $60. Layout is very repetitive; that is, many of the holes are pretty much the same. Most of the "variety" came with water hazards. The layout is definitely flat, without any change in elevation to speak of. In my opinion, $40 should be tops for this course.

On the positive side, the staff was friendly and the course was in generally good condition. Greens were in good shape for this time of year and rolled true. Do note that the Bermuda is generally long and can be very challenging, especially around the greens.

In sum, a very plain course. In good shape. Not worth more than $40 for a round.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy

Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation

Played On 08/18/2017
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Great Course!

First time to play Olde Sycamore and really enjoyed it. The layout was interesting and forced the making of shots, rather than simply sending the ball. Will definitely play it again. Greens are in somewhat rough shape (more so on the back 9), but that is to be expected at this late stage of summer. Only complaint is that, as a first timer on the course, I didn't know what to expect on many holes -- and there is no course layout shown on the scorecard or on any of the signs at the holes. Will definitely play a lot of the holes differently the next time. Note also that the staff really seemed to lean forward to make sure that you knew what to expect with course amenities (i.e., where there was water points and bathrooms). Overall, an enjoyable round at a good course.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Response from on 08/23/2017:
Course knowledge will definitely help improve your score during your next round at Olde Sycamore. Thank you for golfing with us!
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