dh009

The conditions on the greens were amazing. I didn't see a single weed. The greens played like the felt on a billiards table -- if billiards tables had "break". The fairways were also very good, particularly for this time of year. The bunkers had plenty of fresh dry clean sand.

While the greens were good, getting to them presented troubles. The fairways are not yet grown in despite a very mild winter. The bunkers have modest amounts of sand, and there's small gravel throughout what sand there is.

This is the only course I've ever encountered that requires the purchase of practice balls to use the chipping green. You can't practice using your own balls. You can't even buy range balls and use them for chipping before going to the range. No, it has to be two different kinds of balls.

Starting this way before even getting to the first tee just makes the whole course feel unfriendly. I'll play it sometimes when I don't have any better options, but it's a long way from my being my preferred place to play.

This course is doing a great job of dealing with COVID. They added more carts so they can give each player their own individual cart. The chipping practice facility is much larger than most. The staff is still friendly even at 6-ft distance. I liked the staff here so much I just bought a membership.

This course moved up in my priority due to the way they're handling COVID. Trails of Frisco is doing much better than another area course I played last week. One player per cart (except for family members) as long as they have enough. They did have enough for me, playing on Saturday afternoon. They also have a stock of very nice 3-wheel push carts available. Although the phone line said the putting and chipping practice areas were closed, when I asked at the desk they said "Sure, go ahead. Just keep your spacing." The clubhouse bar and restrooms are open, with tables spread far apart. On the course, the fairways are fine. The greens had some tendency to bounce but were good enough for an enjoyable round. Foam rings were used around the pins, and were correctly sized to keep from making the putts easier than they should be. I'm definitely looking to play here again.

This course is in great shape. Fairways are well covered in dense grass. Rough is dense and about 3 inches deep -- enough to make it hard to find a ball hit there. The greens have recently been maintained but still roll true. My only gripe is that the chipping practice area was closed, but the pro shop staff allowed us to practice in the grass nearby.

Westridge is a unique pleasure, with 6 of everything -- 6 par-3; 6 par-4; 6 par-5. The course was in great shape, best I've seen it in the last six months. Even the bunkers appear to have received some attention, and new sand.

My experience was marred, though, by the slow pace of play. It took 5 hours to play 18, and 3 hours of that was the back 9. I used the call-for-assistance button in the cart's onboard GPS, but nobody ever responded.

The course was in surprisingly excellent condition, with smooth soft fairways, well kept greens, and a manicured rough just deep enough to hide a golf ball.

Nine-hole courses can be limiting, but Steward Peninsula tries hard to keep it interesting. Each green has two pins, red and gold. There are separate red and gold tee boxes on each hole, so when playing 18 holes the front and back loops aren't exactly the same. On some holes it makes a significant difference.

The course is surrounded by Lake Lewisville. The lake and its shoreline come into play on holes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9. Small feeder streams and ponds can be a factor on 5 and 7. Only the 6th and 8th holes are entirely safe for those afraid of water. This can make the course much more challenging when the lake level is higher than normal.

Coyote Ridge offers an experience several steps above the ordinary golf course. From the attendants waiting to greet you at the bag drop, your name printed on the cart waiting for you, the practice range stacked with nice little pyramids of courtesy balls, everything at this course says they're glad to see you and help you prepare for your round. The course is in great shape and very well maintained. Today, in a light drizzle, they still had crews going around just to pick up a few plastic grocery bags that the wind had blown into the many spruce trees adorning the course. The layout is challenging, with plenty of risk-reward choices. Bunkers guard most greens and are waiting alongside the fairway at just the right range to make you think twice. You'll pay a bit more to play here, but it's a great experience and worth it if you want to buy yourself a treat.