Played on 8/4/09, midweek, and found this course to be visually, one of the most daunting courses i have ever played. Also played from the tips so that plays a huge factor into it and it was my first ... Continue »

Played on 8/4/09, midweek, and found this course to be visually, one of the most daunting courses i have ever played. Also played from the tips so that plays a huge factor into it and it was my first time playing it. Teed off in the afternoon, 315, and didn't have a wait on any hole.

For a first time player here, if you can, take the time to drive down the fairways and know where you are hitting your shot to! Also, drive down the fairway to view the green, i hit a couple approach shots that i thought were perfect that either over drawed or over faded and either was in a horrible lie in dust/dirt or just plain lost the ball in the thick rough or elsewhere.

The tee shots seem to make this course as difficult as it is. Quite a few blind tee shots with the most elevation changes tee to green i have ever played. hole 6, 9, 10, 13, 15, and 16 come to mind. do not play the back tees unless you can hit your driver consistently or more importantly you do not get phased by dramatic tee shots. One note to anyone playing the tips for hole 12; go to the main tee box with the tee box yardages and read the hole guide, you will miss it if you go straight to the black tees (guess what we did). The ravine is 230 to reach and 270ish to clear (don’t quote me on the yardages). I hit what i thought was a perfect tee shot (straight) to a very generous fairway, and my partner hit his usual draw which is usually longer than me to the left side. We drive up and see a large ravine! Couldn't find either of our tee shots and re-teed with four irons, both of us landed safely just before the ravine. After hitting said shots we drive around the ravine and i find my original tee shot (driver) about 95 out and couldn't find my partners ball.

If this course had the same quality of tee to fairway layout (very high) as they do with their greens this course would be amazing. That said; the greens were mediocre at best, pretty bumpy and slow but nothing unbearable for most long putts. Just make sure to hit the putts hard. Surprisingly, inside of 10 feet or so the greens were true. i hit/holed a couple mid range putts that didn't fall off line too badly but my partner might disagree with one particular putt since he lost the hole.

Things this course could improve:
A) The driving range and range balls: hodgepodge of dirty, ancient crap ass balls (should have paid me to hit those)! Mats from the 80’s with a wacky range. You hit into a hill to yardages that seem very suspect (then again I don’t go to the course for the range, I got to warm up so at least they have one).
B) Tee boxes, level them out
C) Better guides on holes for the first timer, first hole was a doozy and diatribe on 12 (see above)
D) Improving the greens, rolling or maybe cut a little closer?
E) Beverage cart? Or at least water throughout the course, one empty water cooler on 14

All in all, this course is on my radar. It has A LOT of potential but I’m sure the mentioned deficiencies are budgetary issues.

Positives:
A) the price point, $35 midweek, 3pm
B) sure to make you a better player, or at least a more confident ball striker
C) the panoramic views
D) random positive: the onsite learning/golf center for junior golfers, there is hope for the future

This just my opinion and remember I did like this course overall and will be back at some point, just need to remember to bring a lot of extra water and sunscreen!!