Bend's 2022-2024 Golf Log

[Bubb]

My son just got back from Myrtle and he said True Blue was the best course of the week and it wasn’t close. He’s a very good player and was playing with kids in the PGM program at Coastal Carolina. They also played Caledonia, King’s North, Grande Dunes, Pawley’s Plantation and World Tour Golf Links. 

[Atwsc7]

5 hours ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Have not touched a golf club since a few days after Christmas. Have Spring Break coming up and I think I will take a drive down to NC and SC to play 5-6 rounds. There are not many golf courses that I still want to play around Myrtle Beach, with the exception of True Blue. That'll add another 6 hours of driving to the trip. I'll probably suck it up and cross it off my list of places to play in South Carolina.

 

I really enjoy older Donald Ross golf courses, so I have a few that I have wanted to play; but nothing high end. Still not ready to pony up the big bucks to play the Pinehurst Resort courses, maybe I will next year.

 

Asheboro GC (NC)

Pinewood CC (NC)

Cheraw CC (SC)

Lancaster GC (SC)

Fort Mill GC (SC)

 

True Blue GC ? (SC)

Fort Mill is a great layout. Donald Ross did the front 9 and it reminds me a lot of Mid Pines with the Fairway and green Complexes.

I think Cheraw CC is shut down, but not 100% sure. Cheraw State Park is right near it and a great layout

True Blue is a fun course as well. 

Edited March 12, 2024 by Atwsc7

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I'll probably jump out of the car and play 9 at Fort Mill on the way home. I decided that I would play the Pete Dye River course on the way to Asheboro.

 

I'll drop Cheraw CC and I added Aiken GC also.

 

I have played about 15 courses in Myrtle Beach, True Blue is about the only good one left that I still really want to play. Maybe The Dunes Club, but that's it.

Edited March 13, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Courses and tee times are set:

 

Sun - Pete Dye River Course

Mon - Pinewood CC, Asheboro GC

Tues - True Blue, Fort Jackson

Wed - Aiken GC

 

If I can squeeze another 9 holes somewhere on the way home I will. Fort Mill GC maybe.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Made it back from my short golf trip. Was rained out on the last day, so I just headed home. I played:

 

Pete Dye River Course (VA)

Asheboro Municipal (NC)

Pinewood CC (NC)

True Blue GC (SC)

Fort Jackson Wildcat (SC)

 

Monday morning I walked 9 holes at Asheboro Municipal, was 37 degrees when I teed off! It was 45 degrees when I finished nine holes. The locals were all bundled up in Winter jackets.  Walked 9 before heading over to Pinewood CC just down the road a few miles. Fun 9 hole course with a Donald Ross pedigree. $10 to walk all you want.

Edited March 30, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

On my way, I decided to play Virginia Tech's Pete Dye River Course. It was a let down of sorts; I was expecting a better course. Place was packed with SLOW golfers. The course sits along a river flood plain. I felt like this was the weakest Pete Dye course that I have ever played, and I have played many. I would not go out of your way to play here. 

Edited March 30, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

After playing the Asheboro Muni I played at Pinewood CC, a private course open to the public on Mondays. It was decent enough, but does not crack my top 80 courses played out of 589. Both Asheboro and Pinewood would be decent courses to add onto your Pinehurst trip as warm up rounds. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I literally only have two more courses that I would like to play around Myrtle Beach; True Blue and The Dunes Club. True Blue was definitely overpriced at $164, but I enjoyed the course for the most part. Shot a 94 with 4 lost water balls! Lots of room off the tee, and lots of water and lots more sand to deal with. Course was in average condition at best. The sand is all designated as waste areas, but I would have liked to see the traps, at least right near the green, actually maintained. It was almost hard pan. The traffic around Myrtle Beach is really terrible and it takes forever to get anywhere. I may never get to play Dunes Club, and that's OK. Myrtle Beach courses are aging poorly, are very overplayed and not really not worth the pricepoint IMO, too many better places to golf now for similar prices. Maybe I am just getting older and appreciate places like the Pinehurst area more?

Edited March 30, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

After playing True Blue I headed over to play the Wildcat Course at Fort Jackson.  I was actually stationed here from 1990-1992 while In the Army. Luckily (not really) I have a service connected disability (knee) so I can play all the military golf courses. They have 36 holes now. The Wildcat course has four holes from the original course and 14 newer holes. The Old Hickory course has the original back nine combined with a newer nine holes that opened in 1992.  Surprised they charged me $35. I guess I could have walked for $15. Fun course, but not maintained all that well, which is a shame. I had probably played the original course at least 200 times during the two years I lived here. 

Edited March 30, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I had planned on playing Aiken Golf Club before heading home but severe storms cancelled that plan. I had a back up plan to play Wasioto Winds GC in Kentucky, but was rained out there also. I am going to try and head down to Louisville to play at either Champion's Pointe or Chariot Run on Monday since I am off work. 

[postfold]

On 3/12/2024 at 7:24 AM, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

I really enjoy older Donald Ross golf courses, so I have a few that I have wanted to play; but nothing high end. Still not ready to pony up the big bucks to play the Pinehurst Resort courses, maybe I will next year.

 

Asheboro GC (NC)

 

 

Asheboro is a lot of fun for not very much money.  It's a great warm up course when driving down to Pinehurst.

 

Have you played the Sanford Municipal course?  That's another very basic Ross course that's not far from Pinehurst if you're headed back that way soon.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I am playing both NCR South and Westbrook CC next week, pretty excited. My list of Ohio privates that I really want to play is getting smaller. Will report back. 

 

And, I am playing on playing Sanford, Hyland and Whispering Pines the next time down in the Fall. I have not played any of the Pinehurst Resort courses, I am saving them for last. 

Edited April 12, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[Dancin]

I played NCR South and Moraine back to back a few years ago both for the first time. I had little expectations for NCR South and huge expectations for Moraine. Moraine was great, but since it had been raining that week I didn't really get to experience it at its best with the ball running. NCR South really blew me away given my expectations. I was expecting an overgrown tree lined tight slog with relatively boring greens and that was way off base. I thought NCR South was just as good as Moraine. You're in for a treat.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Had the pleasure of being able to play NCR CC (South course) in Dayton, Ohio yesterday. Super nice golf course,  but maybe one of the most difficult golf courses that I have ever played. Playing poorly certainly didn't help matters any. The rough was brutal. The sidehill and weird lies were brutal as well. Immaculate conditions, especially for this time of year in Ohio. I am glad that I could get this one crossed off my list. I have a handful of Ohio courses that I still would like to play. This was my 208th course in Ohio, and my 590th overall. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I played Westbrook CC in Mansfield, Ohio yesterday. Cold and windy, maybe 47 degrees. Westbrook CC is an older, Donald Ross club. The greens, even in April, were some of the fastest I have ever played. I had higher expectations (playing VERY poorly did not help matters) for this course, too many straight holes. 

 

 

Edited April 21, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I am pretty excited about the next 6 months. Lots of great golf coming down the pike. I have some more to add to this list soon.

 

June:

Totteridge GC (PA)

The Bridge Club (NY)

Montauk Downs (NY)

Ferry Point Links (NY)

Skyway GC (NJ)

Erie GC (PA)

Ledges (UT)

Coral Canyon (UT)

Sand Hollow (UT)

Red Dixie Hills (UT)

Wolf Creek  (NV)

Conestoga (NV)

 

July:

Sand Valley (WI)

Mammoth Dunes (WI)

Sedge Valley (WI)

The Lido (WI)

Sandbox (WI)

Ravisloe CC (WI)

Calumet CC (WI)p

Crystal Downs (MI)

Diamond Springs (MI)

 

 

Edited June 5, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[Argonne69]

I'd skip Calumet CC. It's been a mess for a while. 

 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Anything else nearby worth playing?

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Anything else nearby worth playing?

 

Not really. I used to be a regular at Coyote Run, which is close to Ravisloe, but it's your typical day to day muni. 

 

Have you played Harborside? It's not super close, but it's not a long drive. 

 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Have not played Harborside, but it looks decent enough.

[Argonne69]

7 hours ago, BEND OF THE RIVER GC said:

Have not played Harborside, but it looks decent enough.

 

Two decent links style courses. No trees, and generally very windy as it's built on top of an old landfill. With no natural soil base, it's usually quite soft. Plenty of fun holes, especially on the Port course. 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2024 by Argonne69

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Between rain and my son's soccer games, I have not golfed in a few weeks. I played Smock GC just South of Indianapolis today. It's getting tough finding a "new" course that I have yet to play that is less than 2 hours from Cincinnati. This was a nice Indianapolis municipal golf course, and it was in really nice shape. Not too bad for a city owned course, nice pro shop as well. Decided to walk today, which was nice. I am going to try and play more walking rounds this season. Course number 592. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Was surprised to find a course within an hour from where I live that I had not played; Hillsboro Elks GC in Hillsboro, Ohio. Fun little 9 hole golf course, fairly tight too. Course was in good shape. Price was right, $22 with cart for nine holes. 210th Ohio course played. Course number 593 played overall. A few more weeks until we fly to Denver and then drive to St. George, UT. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

It's been raining here quite a bit, which has kept me from golfing, but I have some great courses lined up in the next few weeks:

 

Totteridge GC (PA)

Montauk Downs (NY)

Shelter Island CC (NY)

Ferry Point Links (NY)

Skyway GC (NJ) (if I can get a tee time)

Erie GC (PA)

Chippewa GC (OH)

 

Was hoping to get to playBethpage Black and Red, but staying too far away to be there by 4:30am to get a tee time. I'll go back out next Fall and get all the Bethpage courses knocked out.

 

When I return from NY, after a few days at home, we are headed to St. George, UT. I am hoping to get these courses in:

 

Sandhollow (UT)

Copper Rock (UT)

Dixie Red Hills (UT)

Conestoga (NV)

Wolfcreek (NV)

 

Stay tuned. 

Edited June 5, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Yesterday I played Totteridge GC just East of Pittsburgh to break up the drive out to Long Island. Fun, somewhat hilly course designed by Rees Jones. Rees uses large bunkers, it's a style I don't care for all that much. Especially when they need more sand in them! Worth playing if you are nearby. Course number 594. 

 

Edited June 10, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Today I played Montauk Downs GC on the far Eastern tip of Long Island. It's closer to Rhode Island than it is to the Big Apple. Front nine I played in a downpour w a slight fever (wife got me sick before I left and I have felt like crap all day). Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed course from 1927. It's super fun golf course, glad that I was finally able to cross it off my list. Conditions good for a state owned course. They rape non-New Yorkers, $111 greens fee and another $23 for the cart. Residents pay half that! I could play here every day  and be happy. Course number 595.

Edited June 13, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Today I was very, very fortunate (and ecstatic) to be able to play "The Bridge" in Sag Harbor, NY on Long Island. This private course has a $2,000,000 initiation fee. Walking only, mandatory caddies. Just a perfect day on a perfect golf course. Some of the absolute toughest greens that I have ever putted on!  It was built on land that used to be Bridgehampton Raceway. Honestly, I don't know if it gets any better than this. Course number 596. Tomorrow morning I play Ferry Point near New York City. 

Edited June 10, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I got up super early and left Montauk and headed East. First stop was Ferry Point Golf Links. I liked it better before I played it. It's super tough. The first cut is like 3-5" and your ball almost disappears, and to make matters worse, the tall fescue is immediately after that rough. Weekdays it's $240 PLUS $45 for the cart! Weekends it's ~$350 PLUS cart. I paid $110 (military rate) and declined the offer of spending another $45 for a cart. Pace of play was 5.25 hours, cut that rough! I would not play here for more than $100 myself. If this is a course on your list, be sure and play it sooner rather than later. One of the guys in my group was a golf club portfolio manager for Troon Golf (they manage this course) and he said Bally's plan is to level the course and build a casino. He also said that the course was super profitable, but not casino profitable. 

Edited June 13, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

When I left Ferry Point, the traffic was bad and I had a 4pm tee time at Skyway GC in Jersey City. It was only 22 miles away but it took over 1.25 hiurs to get there. I tried not to run over the women standing in the middle of theorad hawking limes of all things. No one was stopping, I wonder how often they get run over?

Edited June 13, 2024 by BEND OF THE RIVER GC

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I actually made it to Skyway in time. Skyway GC is owned by Jersey City, and it's right in the middle of an industrial area. It's a 9 hole course, and it was packed, foursomes everywhere. Had some cool views and was a fun round. Course number 598.