This may be one of the most disappointing rounds of golf I have ever played. The fairways seemed to be either dried out and thin or overly watered. Cart path only on some holes. Greens that were rock ... Continue »

This may be one of the most disappointing rounds of golf I have ever played. The fairways seemed to be either dried out and thin or overly watered. Cart path only on some holes. Greens that were rock hard and sand traps that are just bad. The tee boxes were nice .
I last played this course about a year and a half ago when they were in a transition time of changing the grass for this course but it has not gotten any better. The staff was friendly when I checked in but when I finished I walked in to the pro shop and handed a comp gift certificate for two and told them to keep it. Pace of play was nearly 6 hours. The group in front of us was 2 holes behind after 7 holes The marshal told us he gave them a "pep talk"
We were on the third hole when we first saw the marshal and told him about the group. There were 4 groups of golfers on that hole, and he just drove away.
I work in the hospitality industry and used to recommend this course to clients and guests but no more.

Played Sat 11/09 8:30 teetime. You could say Black gold is an expensive muni course but it's worth the money. The course is well maintained. In my opinion, I couldn't notice the issue of grass tran... Continue »

Played Sat 11/09 8:30 teetime. You could say Black gold is an expensive muni course but it's worth the money. The course is well maintained. In my opinion, I couldn't notice the issue of grass transition on the back nine that other people mentioned. Fairways roll well. There were couple of wet muddy areas on fairways, but no big problem. Greens are very hard and very fast. Beware: Putts continued to roll, which contributed to my many 3-putts :) You better bring your A putting game. I was in only one sand; it was fluffy. On couple of long par 3's, they closed blue tee boxes; they put blue tee on the black tee box. So we played from white tee. Other than that, tee boxes were level.
Their customer service was excellent. Free range ball and the proshop gives you one of those pagers that buzzes when you're up on the 1st tee. I thought that was an excellent tool. Overall, it's a very nice course with good maintenance. Also, it has one of my favorite finishing holes.

Played BG last Wed 10/30. This was my third time playing, once a year I get a coupon to play this golf club for free... well got to pay a $30 cart fee, so not so free. BG is a beautiful course, with g... Continue »

Played BG last Wed 10/30. This was my third time playing, once a year I get a coupon to play this golf club for free... well got to pay a $30 cart fee, so not so free. BG is a beautiful course, with great service, great carts with GPS and normally great conditions.
BG plays tougher than the course rating. The greens on the front were lightning quick and hard as a rock, literally they felt like cement below my feet, give yourself room, they were not holding well.
Fairways were a few shades softer, but you would be well advised to play conservatively off the T, they were still firm enough to bounce or roll through into trouble, even if you are in the fairway, you are constantly dealing with uneven lies. Overall fairway grass and rough was in great condition.I enjoyed the front, but the back overall was frustrating and not nearly as enjoyable.
Greens on the back were much slower and bumpier, yet to fully recover from aeration and a frustrating transition.
POP on the back was poor. We got behind early on the back, because the guys we were paired with wanted to order from the snack bar, and we never really recovered. Not only were we playing poorly, we were waiting on just about every shot. Of course the group behind thought we were the sole problem, and sent a few drives our way, almost leading to a confrontation. They backed off, but not until I had to give them the evil eye and they realized we had to wait on the next par 3.
The designers did a descent job here, particularly with the greens, but overall it is not one of those layouts that you must play again.

Great tuff course. I always bring extra balls on mountain courses like this. Staff is always top notch. Bunkers were consistent. Tee boxs were level with nice short grass to tee from. Fairways were ... Continue »

Great tuff course. I always bring extra balls on mountain courses like this. Staff is always top notch. Bunkers were consistent. Tee boxs were level with nice short grass to tee from. Fairways were great, it appeared that every divot was filled. Greens, were lighting fast. Made chipping and approaches hard to stay on the greens when landing on the wrong postions. Once you get on the green your looking at 3 putting very easily if your further than 30ft from the hole with their speed & slope. Oh, and all putts break towards the valley. Enjoy the challenge, I did.

Played Tues 7:44 tee time, got out on time. Customer service was very good, check in was timely, starter was friendly advised us of course conditions, service at 19th hole was great.

The course - s... Continue »

Played Tues 7:44 tee time, got out on time. Customer service was very good, check in was timely, starter was friendly advised us of course conditions, service at 19th hole was great.

The course - some maintenance was being performed, mowing, chemical fertilizer being sprayed on fairways but workers were courteous and tried to stay in the background. Tee boxes were OK some had divots, rough was short but punishing, grabbed your hosel and made it difficult to get ball out especially if sitting low. Fairways were running well some had unfilled divots, greens were fast and not real receptive unless you came in high and soft or you really had backspin. Putts were quick especially downhillers. Bunkers had good sand.

All in all course is in very good shape, would rate it at 7.5-8. My round sucked but my partners had good rounds, overall a great golf day - AGAIN! Ain't life great.

Played Wednesday 10 /2 @ 3:40 pm with a old friend. Only got 14 holes in as we were stuck behind a slow threesome and we really weren't pushing them. Just kind of shooting the breeze and enjoying each... Continue »

Played Wednesday 10 /2 @ 3:40 pm with a old friend. Only got 14 holes in as we were stuck behind a slow threesome and we really weren't pushing them. Just kind of shooting the breeze and enjoying each others company. Conditions are great. Everything is in above average conditions. Tough course, bring your "a" game. Staff is really nice - they kept the bar open late so we could watch the end of the Rays / Indians playoff game. Recommend.

Black Gold CC was a real joy to play today. The staff is very professional and helpful.
The course maintenance was superb and the greens were both challenging and rolled very true. Can't wait to go b... Continue »

Black Gold CC was a real joy to play today. The staff is very professional and helpful.
The course maintenance was superb and the greens were both challenging and rolled very true. Can't wait to go back soon!

Played 9/28/13. I would guess 90 % recovered from aeration almost 3 weeks ago. Good, firm and quite smooth greens, and good pace. Most greens fully recovered, and just a handful 80-90 %. Get back out ... Continue »

Played 9/28/13. I would guess 90 % recovered from aeration almost 3 weeks ago. Good, firm and quite smooth greens, and good pace. Most greens fully recovered, and just a handful 80-90 %. Get back out ot play again here as soon as you can. Overall very good conditions. Most fairways in good condition, with a few still very thin in spots and GUR. I found 4 bunkers, 3 were perfect, one was a little thin. POP a bit slow on this Saturday. Very good service inside and out. Only mats available on range right now, as grass range area is recovering as well. No reason not to play here. Enjoy.

Had the chance to play Black Gold today via a free round from a friend. Let me say first that I am glad it was free because this course in my opinion does not live up to the hype that I have heard so ... Continue »

Had the chance to play Black Gold today via a free round from a friend. Let me say first that I am glad it was free because this course in my opinion does not live up to the hype that I have heard so much about. There are many better conditioned courses that are far more worthy of the rack rate that you find at B.G.
The course sets up well, and I think plays shorter than the listed yardage. For the average hitter it allows for lay up shots with good angles to the pin. Having said that, I found the conditions to be just average or slightly above. The fairways have several dry areas to go along with many thin lies. Our group today also encountered many areas that were GUR as outlined by white paint. The rough here is quite different with a 50/50 combo of thick and very thin, if not bare lies this presentation appears on several holes.
The Tee Boxes here were thin and on many occasions dry, however they were level and had only minor Divot damage, appearing where you would expect to find it.
The bunkers range from small pot bunkers to large and deep with steep faces. The sand quality is just average, with many bunkers needing new sand because of very thin or almost pan type lies.
The Greens go from medium in size, to large above average monsters. Our group today found many areas on the greens to be bare although small, with several dead spots from old ball marks, and several new unrepaired ball marks. The Greens are quick here rolling at a 11, with several presenting challenging breaks, however due to the damage mentioned putting was difficult to get a true roll, nothing to severe but still nothing you would hope to find here or any other course.
Staff is friendly, and the starter gives you good information about the course, and what to expect when putting. The Club House here is outstanding, well stocked and the snack bar gives a good variety of items to choose from at respectable prices.
The course is a fun round, and the views are fantastic of the O.C but I there are better courses to be had for what they are asking, if you have the money then play it, if you have to really think about it, then I would play somewhere else, but if again you have the chance, at a discount rate give it a whirl.