Here is the list I have of aerification schedules for local courses. Please reply to add any updates I missed. June 1st Week: Stonebridge Fort Mill Sifford June 2nd Week: The 500 Club Red Bridge Warrior June 3rd Week: Mooresville Eagle Chase River Bend Monroe CC

Here is the list I have of aerification schedules for local courses. Please reply to add any updates I missed. June 1st Week: Stonebridge Fort Mill Sifford June 2nd Week: The 500 Club Red Bridge Warrior June 3rd Week: Mooresville Eagle Chase River Bend Monroe CC

This is not a duplicate. :-P Stonebridge Golf Club: Mon 9/11 (closed) and Tue/Wed 9/12-9/13 (9 holes). Rounds will be discounted $10 through 9/21.

A few Aeration dates to keep in mind: Stonebridge: 5/30-5/31 Monroe CC: 6/6-6/7 Renovation updates: River Oaks is closing in the next 2 weeks until Labor Day for renovation of 2 holes (#1 and #8) as well as the switchover from Bentgrass to Mach 1 Bermuda greens. The Revival at the Crescent is closing July 5th for a similar conversion to Mach 1 Bermuda on the greens. They also are targeting a Labor Day re-opening.

I am a little late getting this thread started, but here is an update. Stonebridge Golf Club: Mon 4/3 (closed) and Tue 4/4 (9 holes). Rounds will be discounted $10 through 4/9.

Stonebridge: Monday, August 22nd - Course, Clubhouse, and Practice Facility Closed all day Tuesday, August 23rd - 9 holes open $10 off all rack rates August 23-28

Stonebridge aerated in March and is planning to again in May: May 16th - Aerification, clubhouse/course/practice facilities closed all day May 17th - Aerification, only 9 holes open

Stonebridge is flipping their nines beginning on Friday, 4/15. No reason given.

Starting this thread for aerification dates for local courses: Stonebridge: 3/21-3/22 – March 21st, Golf Course/Clubhouse/Practice Facilities will be closed. March 22nd - 9 holes will be open, Practice Facilities will be open.

Heads up on this maintenance alert from Stonebridge.

Aerification Alert: May 17-18 (Mon-Tues). Only 9 holes will be open each day. $10 discount from May 17-23.

Very Green, good shape, but ball marks on the green. Above avg shape and played in 4hrs on SAT AM

I'm totally with the course on this one. PT was asked to move up 2 or 3 holes. PT says no one could "prove" they were holding up play.

Guys, get a clue. If you're not sure you are holding up play, you are. You have no right, tournament or other, to slow play. You say you were on pace for 4 1/2 hours, the course says 5: guess what, the course is right.

earlier this year in a egolf tournament,stonebridge allowed 4 walkers out around 3pm right in between our tournament groups.fortunately the marshals took them out to holes that wouldnt interfere with tourny but whoever gave them tee times needs to understand thats not right.never had issue with anyone at course then again i only play it maybe 3 times a year.

I just cant understand why courses book these events knowing darn well that these players are going to play a 5 hour round. Then they book tee times behind these groups and then the golfers stuck behind just get pissed off and never come back. Why don't you simply leave an hour open between a large group and regular tee times? You may loose the revenue but you will make it up by not loosing a future booking.

PT and others -- I try to give both sides equal time in situations like this because everyone has their own perspective. I let Boyd Everling from Stonebridge know about this recent critique and he quickly responded:

As with any situation there are two sides to a story and here is our side.

On Sat. Oct. 23rd, we had a 25 player outing that started at 8:30. The outing was very slow and we were getting many complaints from the golfers behind them. For example, the first group played at a 3 hour pace of play for 9-holes. Their lead groups had as many as 3 holes open in front of them, therefore slowing down the rest of the golfers. Even with the groups skipping holes, most of the groups finished at 5-hours plus. We had 120 players behind the event that morni! ng that were happy that we were putting in the effort to speed play so that they could enjoy their round of golf as well.

We try to make all of our players' experience at Stonebridge as pleasant as possible, and a pace of play above 5 hours is not enjoyable for any golfer.

We do value the input of all our golfers and strive to improve whereever possible.

We appreciate the opportunity to explain the events of that day.

Bobby West, PGA
Boyd Everling, PGA

I don't like to bash anyone and had some reservations about even posting this to begin with. I have always enjoyed playing this course and actually shot my best round ever here last summer. A couple of weeks ago I was playing in a company sponsored tournament and we were on a 4 1/2 hour pace. My experience is that these events usually take a little longer because of how focused everyone is on their game. We were asked by staff to skip hitting off the tee on one hole and then one more hole later was asked to skip 2 holes entirely. We only had 3 left to play at that time. No one could prove that any play on the course was being held up. After our round we hung around for about 45 minutes just to watch and saw only 2 groups go off 10 and it took that whole time before a group even played 18. We finished on 17. That just told me that 1. we weren't holding up the rest of the course and 2. they just didn't want us there only our money. This came from the Director of Golf who I had never seen before so I guess that including the whole staff is a bit much. They were doing what he told them to. It seemed to me they didn't schedule their tee times efficiently and we had to suffer. I hate the thought of not playing there again but I can't take being treated like golf scum.

This course is in great shape. One of the best in the area that I have seen.That being said...The staff has alot to be desired. I have played there numerous times and have friends that play there weekly and none of us have ever been treated so rudely as this past weekend. I will never set foot on their course again and neither will any of the others. I have no words to explain how bad an experience it was.

Greens are in very good shape for this time of year. Fairways are also good...and will be great soon.

Yep, I played a second round of 18 holes today, but this time at Stonebridge. Great conditions, as usual. Apparently, they're going to aerate right after Labor Day, so get those rounds in while you can!

played Stonebridge 8/16 the greens are beat up and no one repairs ball marks...why? too crowded due to the V I P card
So with the bad greens and pace of play will probably skip it for a while...

Played on Sunday and the course is in fairly good shape for this time of year. Greens were a little shaggy and they were watering them during the day....but decent shape. Play was painfully slow, however, with no Ranger in sight.

Played Stonebridge today, and it was awesome. The conditions of the fairways were country club-esque and the greens were in the usual top notch shape. They also have a free VIP program that gives you the lowest rate avaialble at all time. Highly recomend

Anybody try the 29.00 carolina trail coupons ? I was curious about the select Tee times. The price is great but don't really want to have to play in the heat of the day. The coupon say anytime but the fine print has select time.

Played Olde Sycamore on Thursday and the course was in great shape. Greens were firm and fast but rolled real nice.

Played Stonebridge on Tuesday and the fairway was a little shaggy due to the rain and not being cut but otherwise in great condition.

Anybody play springfield lately ? Looking to play next week as the rates are down and enjoyed playing there last year.

B-man,
I've been golfing, but too busy to provide course updates, so here's a bunch from the last month or so:

Fort Mill -- The improvements made here are all subtle and these have to be some of the fastest greens in Charlotte... at least at this point of the year. Great value. The course is in good shape.

Charlotte Golf Links -- The greens and bunkers are in better shape than they've been in the past. Sadly, in an effort to speed up play they've made some changes that make the course a lot easier. Specific changes include slashing the thicket areas between holes #6 and 17, to the right of #7, between holes #10 and #18, and between holes #14 and #15.

Stonebridge -- I played the same day as you, it seems! I think the course is in very good condition for this time of year. No changes to course layout there.

Ballantyne Resort -- The changes they made to a few holes seem to be designed specifically to speed up play only. Nothing of any real note. Sad to see hole #2 get changed to a much less interesting hole.

Olde Sycamore -- I'm growing tired of this course for one very nit-picky reason. The hole placement of the first par-3 (hole #4) is terribly unfair... and it screws up my entire round every time. The hole is perched atop a massive slope. If you're above the hole and you miss the putt by two inches... you wind up 20 feet away. If you're downhill and miss the putt by 4 inches... it rolls back down 20 feet. Sidehill putts are death. That's not the way golf is meant to be played. Rant over. The course is in so-so shape.


Pebble Creek (Par 3) -- Yes, I'm not above playing a little pitch-n-putt. I know it's early in the season, but this place usually has nice greens and bunkers. Not so. It's in terrible shape, even for this time of year.

Carolina Lakes (Sun City) -- Continues to be one of the nicest and well-maintained courses around. Not too tough off the tee, but the greens are sinister. They raised prices again and now it's not a good value... but it is a good course when you have some extra cash.

I have played Stonebridge twice in the past month, both weekend afternoons. The course layout and conditions were good.

However, both rounds took over 5 hours to complete, and that was after our tee time was delayed by 15-30 minutes (and these were relatively warm, dry days, so there was no frost delay). Rangers were scarce and only promised the pace would improve, which it did not.

Weekend pace of play is a problem at most public courses, but it is time we hold courses accountable to improve the pace. Sadly, Stonebridge has not done so.

Played Stonebridge 11/2. Greens were punched Monday 10/27. They were a little bumpy but give them 2 weeks and they will be back strong. Course in good shape.

Clt Links today- course was pretty empty (I think most were watching the beating the Chiefs took). Fairways were nice and greens were fast. Most of the greens were in great shape, with the usual divot marks. Most of the tee boxes were in decent shape. As stated before, the rough is almost unfair... even worse, is the shrubage a few feet outside of the rough... it's so easy to lose a ball if your shot is a little off track. Keep it in the fairway and you'll really enjoy your round.
Stonebridge - played yesterday early in the AM... really chilly. course was in great shape and very green. The tee boxes were in good shape and the greens were in great condition. greens were kind of slow in the AM because of the dew, but they sped up as the sun came up.

Played Stonebridge on 9/29. Course in good condition. Greens rolled good and pace of play was great. Tee'd off at 9am and finished at 1pm as a threesome. Lot of ball marks on the greens but they are in great shape and roll good. People should not be able to play golf if they don't fix there dam ball marks on the greens! Fairways were also in good shape. Get down to Mineral Springs and play this course. Worth the drive!

3 July - Played Warrior for the first time. Pretty impressive. Course was in great shape, greens, tee boxes, everything. Well worth the drive. Playing partner walked on and shot four over, the annoying b@$t@rd.

4 July - Olde Sycamore - Was in it's usual immaculate shape. Of the 30 or so public/semi-private courses I've played in this area, I think this is the nicest and also the most difficult.

5 July - Tega Cay. Second time I've played here. I think it's a very nice course but it is another one that doesn't believe in bunker maintenance. I've noticed that about several courses in the area.

12 July - Skybrook - Played here several times and it's always in great shape but it's also one of those courses that could use a little more bunker maintenance. It is on the Carolina Trail now but not part of any of the packages. Not sure what the deal is there.

13 July - Stonebridge - Nice course but it is a haul from Huntersville. Again, bunker maintenance. How hard is it to go in, turn over the bunkers and rake them smooth. I don't get it. I know, I know, if you don't hit into them you won't have that problem. Whatever.

Playing Pinetuck on the 18th and Eagle Chase on the 19th. I'll write up something about Pinetuck next week.

1) The Divide was in decent condition, though the greens were long and slow. I always considered this a straightforward course, but on closer inspection, there are a handful of interesting holes here. But they keep the course in fine shape -- better then CLT Links (although Links finally improved the greens).

2) Stonebridge had everyone starting on the #10 hole and I'm convinced that is a better experience than normal (despite two back-to-back Par 5s). Conditions were okay -- greens were recently punched and also showing signs of wear.

3) Springfield was in very good shape, but the greens were long, slow and bumpy. Understandable, given our current drought. Bunkers were in perfect condition.

B-man,

C'mon, man, it's Masters Week! No 2007 course updates from you yet? Where's the love, man?

Here are a few observations I had over the past few weeks:

1) Ballantyne Resort course is in great shape. It's not a favorite of mine (especially at the price) but the fairways and greens (recently aerated) are in very good shape. It's still a mystery to me why they can't even out the tee boxes. It always seems like tee shots are from sidehill lies.

2) Stonebridge has had great greens this winter/spring! In my opinion, Stonebridge and Charlotte National really keeps the best greens in town.

3) Charlotte Golf Links -- I've heard that the greens are very long and slow...again. Why can't they ever seems to get the greens right? The place is always packed with people...you have to believe they're making money. Yet, in my 2 1/2 years here, the greens are always terrible. What a waste of a Tom Doak design! I've also heard rumors that they finally sold the course to a condo developer. Not sure if that's true.

4) Regent Park -- I've also heard that the greens were in bad shape at RP this year. Haven't experienced first-hand. If true, I hope that's not a sign of things to come from the new management that bought the place.

- J.D.

For those visiting Charlotte this fall, please know that this summer's conditions were very hard on local area greens - very wet and humid early and very, very dry for an extended period only now starting to come back. My opinion on those asked about in earlier posts:

Springfield - tough tough, forced carries and truly unique place - just now developing real estate on/around course. Play it now as it is one of the best premium courses in the area. I played last week and greens were so so - having just been punched and suffering a bit from the bad summer - great value durring the week and unique.

Eagle Chase - kind of a long drive, I call this a bubba course. I mean it in a nice way - more like a muni look and feel it is low end but really good layout, not in great shape - almost like a mtn course with elevation change.

Olde Sycamore - Probably best greens around right now - very playable and tough layout. typical Charlotte style course in a housing development.

Regent Park - great layout and usually great shape - i have heard greens were lost earlier this year and have stayed away but will defer to earlier posters and go back on their rec.

Waterford - in Rock Hill SC - 30 min from Charlotte. A gem, and a Hale Irwin Course very fun and some unique holes (#3 has you drive thru a "chute") Good shape

Charlotte Golf Links - scottish style layout with lots of Gorse, bunkers and elevated greens - good shape and right off 485

Stonebridge - good shape for the most part and forgiving layout

Larkhaven is a muni that is not in the same tier as above but fun/fair and cheap

Verdict Ridge is TIGHT and LOTS of houses but very nice and good shape last time I played

My top 4:

Waterford
Olde Sycamore
Springfield
Charlotte Golf Links