This course is wide open. Difficult to loose a ball. Yet, it is a good course that is improving. Pope Golf, which is a leader in golf course management, just recently took over Buffalo Creek and will strive to improve even more. Hole 1 has fairway bunkers left and right and if you use driver, you could go through the fairway into a marsh area on the right. Smart play would be a 3 wood then hit to the green with no surrounding bunkers. #2 also has fairway bunkers that really do not come into play but you must hit your second shot to a well elevated green that has a large gaurding bunker fronting it. #3 is a par 3 all carry over water with bunkers left and right and a 2 level green. #4 is straight away par 4 with a new grove of pine trees on the right. Not a difficult hole but your second shot is to a green with bunkers long and left and has an elephant ( it looks like ) buried on the right side of the green, it has that much slope! #5 is a reachable par 5 with bunkers on the right side of the fairway. The green is long and narrow and protected by a bunker the length of the green.#6 is a long par 4, not alot of trouble, just long for the average hitter and the same for #7 but #7 does have green side bunkers to a slightly elevated green. #8 is a par 3 with not much trouble and then #9, a par 5 that your tee shot must carry water and marsh. Bite off as much as you dare to make your next shot shorter to this reachable par 5.#10 & 11 are moderate par 4s without much danger. #11 does have a large bunker fronting the green. #12 can give a little problem. It is a sharp dogleg left gaurded by 2 rapidly growing oak trees on the left side. If you do not hit your drive long enough, you could be in jail! The green is also protected by a bunker. #13 is a par3 with all carry over water. #14 is a par 5 that has a large fairway bunker and the green has a lake to the right and also a rock creek about 50 yards short of the green. #15 is another long par 4 with large mounds both left and right of the fairway. If the wind is in your face, you may be in a world of hurt because the green has a few slopes and is protected by a large bunker. #16 is a par3 and the green is surrounded by large mounds and a bunker on the right side. #17 is another par 4 that requires all carry over a lake/pond and you can bite off as much as you dare. The green is slightly elevated and if you get in the front bunker, you can not see the putting surface. #18 is a par 5 with risk and reward qualities. You use to be able to take your drive to the left down #10 fairway to get a good opening to #18 green but they have planted a pine forest to the left of #18 tee box. The green has a bunker on the right side and a bulkhead on 3 sides because it is surrounded by a pond. There is the risk/reward, to go for it or not!?

Buffalo Creek Golf Course Review
Palmetto Florida Golf Course Reviews

River Club is a very fair golf track. It has plenty of landing areas on all par 5s and par 4s with only a couple of exceptions on distance control on holes #6, a par 4 and #9, another par 4. #6 is a short par 4 with HUGH mounds on the left so you can not see the green , and amongst these mounds are several bunkers daring you to try and drive the green, if you knew where you are going. #9 is another short par 4 that you should use a lofted fairway wood to a mid iron off the tee because any further and you are wet. The green is narrow and runs at a 45 degreen angle away from the fairway. You do not want to hit the bunker that runs along the back of the green because you are then blasting to a green that slopes toward the water and you could be wet once again. # 10 and #18, the tee shots are intimidating. You have to carry a vast area that contains a stream and wet lands that you CAN NOT navigate. You have to hit your tee shot trough an opening that is protected by trees on both sides. #16 is their signature hole. It has a generous landing area but you must hit it long enough to give yourself a good opportunity to hit the island green that has a hugh bunker on the right. The par 3s are not very long but challenging. #2 is guarded by a giant bunker in front of the green. #8 has water to the right and bunkers in front and to the right. #15 is a large green that is at a 90 degree / right angle and protected by a bunker the length of the green. This bunker is very deep and depending where you are in it, you may not see the putting surface.
The practice facility is very good with greens to aim at and a practice bunker where you could practice green side shots and fairway bunker shots.
The staff in the clubhouse is very good and the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I enjoy this golf course because it is not only challenging but fair.

The River Club Review
Central Florida Golf Course Reviews

This is probably the most difficult course in Manatee / Sarasota Counties. It is a "shot makers " golf course. Not very long. There is only 1 par five that you would use Driver. Several Par 4s you shouldn't use Driver. 2 Par 3s are relatively short but the other 2 are longer and more challenging. The landing areas are more narrow then you would expect for a Florida golf course. The greens have gotten a lot better and are quicker than most public courses in the area. The staff ( which is few ) are courteous and willing to assist in any way.
The ground crew and staff do an excellent job for what they have to work with. This IS one challenging track.

The Preserve Golf Club at Tara Course Review
Bradenton Florida Golf Course Reviews