It's about time for another review of good ole Fairmount Park. Got out for 9 yesterday afternoon, course was uncrowded at 1pm on a weekday for sure. R... » More

It's about time for another review of good ole Fairmount Park. Got out for 9 yesterday afternoon, course was uncrowded at 1pm on a weekday for sure. Rates are the same ($18 for 9 holes for a non-city resident) but conditions seem to be on the decline: fairways are more dead/dying/dirtpatchy, especially big swaths of the par 5 4th hole. Greens are cut and roll nicely but aren't super fast or anything. Teeboxes are either unlevel or patchy dirt. Still a perfect muni walking experience, all things considered.
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Greens are in the best shape I've seen them here: smooth and fast, not too many unrepaired pitch marks or spike marks. The rest of the course is prett... » More

Greens are in the best shape I've seen them here: smooth and fast, not too many unrepaired pitch marks or spike marks. The rest of the course is pretty normal "budget" public: Teeboxes are fine, not incredibly flat, fairways are mostly lush with the occasional weird dead spot/dirt patch/GUR, rough is grown in on some holes but never too punitive. Bunkers are basically waste areas. Still a really fun layout with a good price, $47 for a weekend afternoon, somehow got around in exactly 4 hours on a Sunday 1:00pm tee time, paired with a nice older couple and surrounded by golf bro foursomes that seemed to leave a yellow ball on every other hole. Would love to see them do a 'walking' rate like Seven Hills does, alas.
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Weekday afternoon rate is $60 and that starts at 12pm. It's too hot to walk anyways, and they don't allow walking here. IMO this rate is actually pret... » More

Weekday afternoon rate is $60 and that starts at 12pm. It's too hot to walk anyways, and they don't allow walking here. IMO this rate is actually pretty okay for this course.

Conditions have not changed a ton. Teeboxes are majority good shape, and some are closed for maintenance, that's a good sign. Fairways have good coverage except for scattered dry spots in short approach areas. Driver landing areas were great.

The greens are the feature of this place that make it worth the bit of extra dough and extra frustration. They were running slower than expected (call it 'medium' speed), but tricky nonetheless with difficult pins.

The attached bar and grill is actually a separate business, didn't see a beverage cart but we also didn't have anyone behind us and POP was spot on for a 3-some at 4 hours. Nice time of day to play cart golf without waiting. I'd come back twice a week if they'd let me walk in the afternoons..
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Played at 11:50 on a Sunday for $43 via a GolfNow hot deal. I believe rack rate is $58+ on weekends. This course remains one of the best value options... » More

Played at 11:50 on a Sunday for $43 via a GolfNow hot deal. I believe rack rate is $58+ on weekends. This course remains one of the best value options in the area. Conditions are not pristine but completely playable. Teeboxes have flat spots and some are worse than others, some bunkers have more sand than others, fairways have good coverage and you won't find a bad lie after a striped drive. You will have to hit off some funky dirt or weeds if you're errant off the tee.

I have come to appreciate the layout even more after learning that this course was designed by the same architects as Tukwet Canyon. The greens are in great shape, rolling very nicely, medium speed on the flat, and soft to a well-struck approach or wedge. I was pleasantly surprised to have 4 hour round while walking with 2 other singles in carts on a Sunday afternoon. Clubhouse is great as ever, the $5 hotdog was grilled perfectly.
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