Most of you should be seeing much better reviews lately for the former Carolina Trail courses. They are starting to really come back in shape, which is great to see.

I received two emails yesterday - one with a $10 off coupon for any of the 5 former courses - The Divide, Waterford, Tradition, Highland Creek and Birkdale - and one from Waterford. Here's the full text:

NEW OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AT WATERFORD GOLF CLUB
As you have probably heard, a foreclosure process was recently completed with respect to Waterford Golf Club. As a result of that process, effective August 1, 2014, Romspen-Waterford LLC is now the owner of the facility.

The new owners are committed to returning the golf ! course to its rightful place as one of the best daily fee facilities in the Charlotte area and have retained the services of Traditional Golf Management to operate the club. We understand that this has been a very volatile environment and we are confident that the new ownership and management will provide the much needed stability that this club needs. We are currently working on both operating and capital plans that will allow us to show continuous improvement in the facility and service levels at the club.

We are excited to begin the process of restoring the course to the quality that was enjoyed years ago. We look forward to earning back your business and seeing you on the golf course.

Played Waterford yesterday (5/29/11). Course is in pretty good shape, but the greens were unusually slow. Actually they were probably the slowest I have ever seen there. Fairways were pretty good. There were several bunkers with standing water, but the fairways played hard and fast - weird. Overall, I give it a B.

Played on SAT AM. Wet, and a Few Greens were shot...Course was in OK shape, and Cart girl did not show til 17th hole. Coupon online for 37 bucks, otherwise I thought it was AVG at BEst...If it was in good shape, it would have been sweet. Bunkers were perfect.

Played yesterday afternoon. Greens in great shape, fast as usual. They got a lot of rain the last few days and it was cart path only, but this was more of a precaution. (Several players were ignoring the cart-path only, with no damage.)

There was a bit of drainage problems in some of the bunkers -- #2 fairway bunker being the worst I saw, but overall the course was in decent shape.

Played Monroe CC Friday. I have nothing to add to B-Man's comments except to second them. If you get a chance, go play it.

Played Waterford Saturday. Course was in really good shape. Tee boxes were a little beat up but it's hard to take care of them when the course gets a lot of play. This is my second favotrite Trail course after Skybrook.

Played Eagle Chase Monday. Course was in great shape. Even with all the rain we had it was still 90 degrees. There are a lot of elevation changes on this course but I don't find it gimmicky. I wish it was closer to the house.

Played Waterford yesterday. Pace of play was fine. Fairways and tee boxes were in good condition. Greens were in a hurting state. They were super slow and pot marked and pretty much all of them had crab grass spots. #5 and #6 greens were worthy to note because they appeared to be the worst of the bunch. #6 has many many bare spots from where they tried to spot kill the crab grass. Well - they did but managed to create hundreds of bare spots on the green.

Other than that - another day of golf.

Played 8/9/08. The fairways were in pretty good condition. The greens rolled mostly good and were pretty fast, but the appearence was poor, lots of ball mark spots, a big fungus (black-dark green) problem, and some of the greens either were beginning to have a crab grass problem or when they overseeded the fairways with bermuda earlier this summer they got careless and hit some. But for $35 on a Sat it was a steal. All in all I enjoyed the course.

I've added Carolina Lakes Golf Club (Indian Land, SC) to the roster. I've still got to get out there and post my review, though. Let me know if you've played there and how you liked it.

Also, I received some quick updates from J.D.:

Waterford -- Greens are in good shape and lightning quick as usual. But the fairways could be a bit better, even with our drought conditions.

Carolina Lakes -- Probably one of the best courses in South Charlotte. Excellent condition. Good luck trying to hold the greens on anything more than a PW.

Emerald Lake -- Good greens, but the course was in better condition earlier in the year.

Springfield -- Fantastic condition and still one of the toughest off-the-tee courses around.

Played 10/1 - very good shape - they have not yet airified and wont for a few more weeks. Greens are fast and firm - did not hold well as they are truly very firm and unusually fast for a Carolina Trail Course.

I really like the layout here and the course is most always well maintained - Big hitters will be extra pleased to learn that the menancing tree on 14 (right side fairway daring you on your drive to cut around it) has been removed making this par 5 a green light for those willing to "borrow a bit" and cut the dogleg. I easily was on in 2 and I am no that big a hitter but only had 187 in after my drive..missed the eagle putt but had tap in birdie.

pace of play was slow for us being the 3rd group out and behind a threesome - no rnagers pushing folks along I consider slow 4 hrs so we came in at 3.75, but as third group and a threesome.

Played both courses this weekend and both are in great condition. Look for online specials for Waterford--was able to play Sunday for $29!

If someone can tell me how to play the 18th hole at Charlotte National, I'd appreciate it. It's always a card-killer for me.

Made it to Waterford earlier in the week and was very impressed. Couldn't beat the $25 coupon considering the shape of the fairways and greens. The weather was not great when I played, but the course was in great shape.

Played Waterford yesterday and the greens are in great shape. Some of the fairways are a little soggy due to the past rain.Had a good time!!

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