mredwilson

This was my first time playing Ironwood, and the work done on it has left it in really good shape. The tee boxes are just about perfect, and the greens are in really good shape as well. The fairways are in good shape, but the rough is really fuzzy and caused me to loose over a dozen balls for the 18 holes. The golf carts are new and the driving range is probably the best in Gainesville ... although to be honest the matts are really too close together, and it would be impossible for people to actually use all the matts as they are laid out. The putting green and chipping green is also very nice. I will also say, that the sand traps have real sand in them, and so it is possible to blast out without breaking your wrist on hard clay. It was pretty busy today, and there was a group in front that was slow, and a weasel behind me who kept pummeling me with balls ... that kind of spoiled an otherwise awesome day.

This is basically my home course, and so I play it several times a week. It can be a real challenge if you do not have good shot placement. Trees are a factor in nearly every hole. The course is deceptively challenging. For example, the second hole is a fairly short par 3. It looks just like it is just in front of you, and that you should be able to plop it on the green for an easy par, or even birdie. But then you realize you have an optical illusion. Huge trees on the right, and a grove of trees on the left mask the fact you are actually offset. Even with careful shot placement, you will more than likely end up in the trees ... it is like this for all 18 holes. The course is recovering from the hurricane, and the greens are coming along really well. The fairways are coming back after the hot summer, and the rough is not quite so rough any more. Great value for the money.