Rocky River is aerating next week, July 7-10.

Rocky River: 7/8-7/11 closed for aeration with discounted rates for 10 days after that.

Rocky River is aerating their Bermuda greens Mon 7/3-Wed 7/5.

The fairways that were sprigged with new grass have now been mowed and are OPEN for play. All holes are back to their regular length, except 2 and 6 which being played from the forward tees.
The greens are in GREAT shape and rolling a consistent 10 on the stimpmeter.
Thanks for everyone's patience as we have restored Rocky River to the condition you have come to expect.
Ryan Brickley
PGA Director of Golf

Found this statement from Rocky River today on efforts to repair the winter kill damage to their fairways:

Like many courses in North Carolina this past winter, Rocky River Golf Club unfortunately experienced some winter kill of Bermuda grass in fairways and teeing areas. Some courses in Greensboro and Raleigh have had to close completely due to the damage incurred, but in Concord the impact was not quite as bad.

Rocky River has re-sprigged fairway areas on 8 holes and expects to have all areas completely back by Mid-August. The course REMAINS OPEN though, with several holes on the front 9 shortened to route play around the newly repaired areas. The 9 has been reduced to a Par of 31, and is playing much shorter which has been very popular! for juniors and senior players!

We are offering reduced rates for the entire month of July to compensate for the repaired areas. We apologize for the temporary situation but look forward to when it's back to 100% later this summer and fall.

Thank you for your patience and continued support of the club!

Rocky River will NOT have any Spring aerification because of the new greens. They only need 1 per year, and that will happen in July. Course is is great shape!

Ryan Brickley
PGA Director of Golf

Check out the Charlotte Observer post below. Rocky River opens on the 20th with special rates and Verdict Ridge follows on the 25th. Good stuff.

http://green-side.blogspot.com/2012/08/rocky-river-verdict-ridge-open-with-new.html

Rocky River has started green replacement with Bermuda; they will have 9 holes available for about 10 days, then temporary greens only until reopening approximately August 15. Verdict Ridge will start replacement June 25, limited temporary greens then available until reopening approximately September 1.

Ri Ra Irish Pub would like to welcome all interested parties in joining us for our 3rd annual Charity Golf Classic: Wednesday, August 25th 2010 10 AM Shotgun, 9 AM registration, Rocky River GC. All proceeds will benefit the NC Fire Fighters Burned Childrens Fund. Cost is $100 Per/$400 foursome. There will be breakfast, lunch and beverages (including beer) provided along with lots of prizes, raffle items and giveaways. One lucky foursome will win a golf trip to play in Ireland! To register please go to www.rira.com and follow the links to the registration page. CHEERS!

Rocky River's greens have vastly improved over the past year there was a stretch for about 2 years when they were very bad. Of late they have gotten better, they are not perfect but are definately getting better.

Hello,

I am going to play Rocky River for fathers day and was wondering if the greens are good. I have heard mixed reviews on them. Has anyone played it lately?

Thanks and Happy fathers day to all the great dad's and as my dad used to say "TAKE It easy but Take it."

Love the site and knowledge B-Man

Yes - I have played Skybrook, Highland Crk and Rocky River within last two weeks. I play Highland Crk, Skybrook, Rocky River and Tradition often because I live up here. I am not positive how they are comparing to other courses in the area as I stick to northern trail and this area usually.

However with these courses - Rocky River had some serious issues with their greens last year but they seem to be much better now. Some of the greens were totally gone last year but they are back nicely, I heard they made some changes with the superintendent staff. Highland Creek I like because it is challenging, tough but fair course, relatively easy to get on, and people have a nice attitude. Highland Crk was in not so good shape last year but it seems like ownership was not investing in any of these courses last year much. It looks better this year. They recently aerated the greens but they are back to normal now. I like Skybrook the best but it is overpriced for what you get. They have had and have brown and bare spots in fairways. Rocky River does not have GPS / yardages on the carts which is odd in this day and age but I like the course, and it is typically in good shape - minus the green issue from last year.

I am down on Tradition because it is over crowded, slow, and the staff have borderline rude attitude often. But I have not played there recently. I like Birkdale, the only down side is the electrical lines. It is a nice course in good shape.

EA ratings of Northern Trail area courses below -
Skybrook and Birkdale T1
HCGC and Rocky River T3
Tradition 5

Played here a few weeks ago. Overall, the course was in good condition. The fairways were nice and green, plenty to hit off of. Some of the greens were a little suspect of the trouble they are having out there with the re-sodding and the loss of some of the greens around the edges. Some un-fixed ball marks were not helping much either, but that is due to the laziness of some "golfers". Hopefully, with a lot of hard work and care, they can get the greens back to the caliber they were a few years back. Not really a $49.00 course for a 1:00 Sunday tee time. This course is a good $35-39 rate, not $50.00. Will definately go back, but it will be awhile.

I play Rocky River every couple weeks and the last time was 8/25... it was in good shape with the exception of a few greens having some problems. Usually the greens at RR roll as good as pretty much anything in the area, except maybe the Warrior. Other courses I have played this time of year have also had problems with greens as well, so I'm really not that surprised. Hopefully they will start growing back in before fall and should start rolling well again well before the end of the year.

I spoke to the director of golf and PGA pro out at Rocky River. He acknowledged that they have 3 problem greens right now (#4, #10 and #16) with bad spots and will be re-sodding them soon. He expects they will be back in shape by mid-September. The problems started with flooding last year that required re-sodding and the new sod contained nematode worms that damaged the roots.

I'm interested to read other opinions on the current state of the course. The pro felt that the other 15 greens were very good and rolling well and he said they've kept the pins on the other 3 holes away from the bad spots. So it should still play fine.

I haven't been out to Rocky River in a while but I enjoy the layout and would like to get out there again. Let me know if you've played recently.

i've played this course twice in 2 years and always hear great layout bad greens. i think that when the hotel/conference center bought the course that's when it went really downhill. too expensive for what you get.

Played Rocky River this morning (8/23) for the first time. The layout is pretty interesting and there are some great holes. However, the greens are really struggling. Many areas of dead grass and a few holes even have large (5x5 roughly) areas of dirt/mud. Probably a great course ... just not right now.

I'll have to get back out there some time. I probably haven't played Rocky River in six or seven years. Great layout, but I got so sick of the crazy pin positions I started playing elsewhere. It's a shame to have such big greens and not want to use them.

Headed out to Rocky River Golf Club for the first time today. Wasn't extremely impressed with the course. Looks like it has some wear and tear, which is completely understandable for it being August right now.

The greens were consistent but had a lot of ball marks. The tee boxes were in bad condition. Fairways were fine and the rough was very thick. I hate being in the rough to begin with, and this course's rough made it that much harder.

I would say this is a "good" course. Not great, but not bad. Definitely a course to check out. It's right next to Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Played Rocky River last Saturday. I thought it was in really good shape T-boxes needed work but fairways were really nice and the greens were very puttable.Price was great for the weekend with the coupon offered on there website. I say go for it!

I have not played Rocky River in years. Good course overall, but try to avoid playing on weekends. Normally on weekends they used to put the pins in impossible locations at the edges, and the greens are big. You could hit the center of the green and still have 50 feet for birdie. Don't know if they still do this, but call ahead and ask sarcastically if they have the pins actually on the greens. Seriously though, it's a solid course, but find out the pin positions before you go.

Not to be outdone by the Carolina Trail, Rocky River is offering a similar rate for any day / any time rounds - $36. It's only good through 6/30, though (the CT coupons are good thru 8/31):

http://www.clickitgolf.com/course.php?courseId=74

We just played there last week. Course was in good shape and fairways were just starting to green up and grow. Greens were in good shape and held well.

I agree - the greens at Rocky River couldn't be any slower. For me, it takes the enjoyment out of the round. Additionally, I think their tee boxes are in poor shape. It's a shame, b/c this course has such a great layout.

6/22 - Played at Olde Sycamore. This used to be my favorite until Carolina Lakes came around, but I still love it. It was in great shape, quick and fair greens, and a good test of golf. Sign up for their online discounts - some decent deals can be found.

Played three courses this past weekend:

20th - Rocky River - I hadn't played this course since last July. Course was in pretty good shape but the greens were sloooowww, slowest I've played here in Charlotte.

21st - Eagle Chase - First time here. Course is in pretty good shape. Very hilly fairways but no "bowls" to hit into like many mountain courses. No frills in the clubhouse but that doesn't matter to me. Well worht the drive from Huntersville.

22nd - Highland Creek - Very dissapointing. Fairways are OK. Tee boxes need some work. The greens are horrendous. I'm pretty sure that there is a local rule that forbids fixing your ball mark on the green. They were the worst I've ever seen them.

I played Rocky River Wednesday, August 29 and found the greens in horrible shape. I was shocked! I have always loved the greens at Rocky River. They had large areas with no grass. Some greens had been somehow plowed with cuts running the length of the green. All greens had been punched. The holes were about 50% healed over.

If you love Rocky River because of their consistant nice condition, don't play it now. You'll want a refund.

In great shape on 8-3-06.
Tees as good as they've ever been.
Fairways really lush (not dried out), and green.
Didn't have a bad lie all day.
Summer rules are a snap.
A few of the greens had some burnt spots on them.
However, the superintendent did a good job of placing the hole locations.
Sure wish that they would change the flags to solid colors so they could be seen from far away. Those checkered flags without pin sheets are ridiculous.
Seniors for $29.00
"ONLY IN AMERICA"

Not sure if anyone else has played here recently, but I played Rocky River last weekend and the greens were the fastest I've ever played. I couldn't get my speed right and was blowing putts way by the hole. However, if you can get your speed right, there aren't greens that will roll more true, and you could have a great round.