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Description

This semi-private club is located within earshot of Charlotte Motor Speedway and you'll know it if you play during a race week. Designed by Dan Maples and managed by the Embassy Suites-Concord, the course offers stay and play packages similar to a resort course. The clubhouse offers nice views of the 18th green from the Stonehouse Grille. With several risk-reward holes and the amenities, this course is a great place for an outing. The greens were redone in bermuda grass during the summer of 2012.

Notes

Good selection of affordable, annual golf plans, including discounts for Concord residents.

B-Man's Take

I now play here regularly a few times a year. It's typically kept in very nice shape and the staff and amenities are top-notch. It's also fun to play when something's going on at the race track -- the Zmax Dragway stands now rise over the clubhouse and driving range. The course has many unique and memorable holes, including the 555yd par 5 3rd hole with a huge boulder smack in the middle of the fairway -- "Gragg's Rock" is named after Floyd Gragg who directed the opening of the course in 1997. With the conversion to bermuda grass on the greens in 2012, the course remains in great playing shape almost all year round. I enjoy the challenge and scoring opportunities at Rocky River -- I nearly aced the 10th hole (missed by inches) in July 2014.

Links

Most Recent Reviews

• 5/1/22 - Review by RT

  "Great course"

  Very solid experience at Rocky River. Bermuda is still waking up in the fairways, so they played hard and fast, but I played the ball down and had good lies all day. Aprons are well tended. Tee boxes are somewhat beat up, which is why the course gets a score of 8 instead of 9 or 10. Bunkers were raked and in good condition. Greens were exceptional -- really smooth, beautiful, consistent surfaces -- among the very best greens in the area, including those at high-end private clubs. Pace of play was excellent -- 4 hours on a Sunday morning. Driving range was closed due to race activities.

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• 2/11/22 - Review by B-Man

  "Great course"

  Rocky River was in great shape. The Bermuda greens were in near-perfect shape. Not crazy slick but quick and true. The grass is all still dormant for another couple of months, but plays well. We were cart-path only on a couple of holes (the golf cart GPS notifies you and restricts the cart) but 90 degrees on most after some rains the day before. So not too bad. They have cleared brush and trees on several holes. For example, on the par 4 7th hole, my approach landed short just in front of the green, which is normally an unplayable hazard. That has been cleared now and I was able to play from it. The layout here is still unique to Charlotte and fun to play. That giant American flag at the speedway is visible in the background of the closing holes and is a cool feature. Rocky River will remain in the Top 5 when my updated list comes out next month! This round I even got to meet Floyd Gragg, the namesake of that giant boulder in the middle of the 3rd fairway. He was ranger'ing the day we played and so I chatted with him and posted a photo (check my Instagram). Great guy and big name in Charlotte golf history.

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• 10/14/20 - Review by MGOBLUE

  "Great course"

  I cannot remember the last time I played Rocky River(15 years?) but it was always a must play course. The course was in great shape in spite of all the rain we had last weekend and it was cart path only. My neighbor and I were paired with a regular golfer at Rocky River and he gave us good advice the whole round , a great guy. I love the layout , I hit the boulder on #3 !, and the views of the surrounding holes and terrain from the tee boxes were awesome. Again why hadn't I played here in that many years?! My only complaint was the pace of play. We teed off a little early to get ahead of a large group of very young golfers and we were playing at a < 4 hour pace until #9 when we caught up with a twosome that were walking. From that point forward it was at least a 5 minute wait on every tee box. We saw the ranger quite a few time and on the back 9 he commented on the slow pace but based on our 12 noon tee time he stated that we were still going to finish within their recommended time frame. We finished at 4:15 so 4 1/2 hours to play. It's definitely walkable so I'll will be back with my push cart. Again a great layout in great shape.

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• 8/12/20 - Review by B-Man

  "Best of the best"

  Much like my review earlier this year, the conditions at Rocky River were pretty much perfect. The Bermuda grass greens are nearly flawless, rolling quick and true with no issues anywhere. Tees, fairways and rough (which is penalizing thick stuff) were all in good shape. The bunkers are fine if you play them as lift, smooth and place. The holes still have the foam inserts which don't affect the ball going in the cup. On this hot summer afternoon, they had a ranger making the rounds with free ice cold water bottles. I saw him at least 3 times on each side. He was Johnny-on-the-spot with the water! The carts have GPS and the pin positions were dialed in accurate -- something not all GPS systems do well. Only change since March I noticed is that they've removed the wooden stairs beside the 18th green and sodded with grass. You can't even tell the stairs ever existed and this is a good change. The stairs were not necessary and even though they weren't really in play, it's good to have a nice big bailout spot now that's all grass. Rocky River has had a great year as far as conditions go and it is now a top 5 course here in the Charlotte area. Go play it!

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• 7/25/20 - Review by Hunter

  "Great course"

  Could not beat the deal. Course was fine tee to green. Pace of play was solid for a Saturday. Didn't really wait or have anyone behind us either.

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Updates From the Forum

• 07/31/15 - Ryan Brickley replied to "Rocky River"

  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
  View this thread

• 07/14/15 - B-Man posted "Rocky River Fairways Being Repaired"

  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!
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• 04/01/13 - Ryan replied to "Aeration Dates"

  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
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• 08/16/12 - Wulfpack posted "Rocky River and Verdict Ridge Set To Open With New Greens"

  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
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• 06/04/12 - DrSchteeve posted "Verdict Ridge & Rocky River"

  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.
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