- "Best of the best"
 Got a fantastic rate on GolfNow for $19 - a fantastic value. It wasn't too busy and I got out as a single. The greens are still firm but are the nicest in Charlotte as far as I'm concerned. They are full, smooth, and fast. This was the highlight of the round for me. Tee boxes were very very hard. It was difficult to get the tee in the tee box on a couple of holes. Fairways were mowed and in great shape. Bunkers were raked with sand up on all the edges. I scooted around the golf course in 3 hours which made me very happy. I will be going back before the end of the season. This place was just great! Read The Review
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- "Below average"
 This is my first time back to Birkdale since the closure for back taxes. I got a great rate of $25 if that is any indication of how poorly they are doing.
The range balls are junk again the "NEW" ones are already beat up. Many people like myself get a large bucket and just set aside the crap balls. Which are most of them. The range grass was cut, which was nice.
The fairways are NOT greening up, maybe due to the rain, but they look like Muirfield. The greens are still in bad shape from punch marks. The greens on the front are actually pretty darn nice minus the softness and the ballmarks. No one out there cares. Its in such bad condition that no one thinks it would help to repair the punch marks. The course was surprisingly dry, balls were rolling out. EVERY person I spoke to said they haven't been getting paid. I spoke to 4 individuals.
I will not spend more than $25 to play here. I feel so bad for the workers there - because they are trying, there is just NO money being put back into the golf course. I MEAN ZERO!
Also- ZERO playable bunkers on the golf course. I hit the ball in there and had to rake and replace my ball. Read The Review
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- "Great course"
 This golf course is in fantastic shape. My first time playing it, an simple open layout. Not overly difficult with decent greens. Didn't get a chance to check out the putting green or the range, but I did see it was real grass.
Fairways probably their best asset. Nice to see an affordable daily public track that takes care of the golf course.
Highly recommend! Read The Review
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- "Great course"
Rocky River is really in great shape now as compared to my last review. I got a great rate on GolfNow, for $42. I was concerned about being over there on raceday since we were going ot the race, but, it was extremely quiet and convenient.
The greens are in fantastic shape. I know there are complaints about the greens being too firm and being unable to hold the ball, but with controlled trajectory the course is certainly playable. It was reminiscent of 2006 US Open at Winged Foot when those guys couldn't hold greens. It was VERY challenging, but VERY FUN if you are a golf fan and want to see what other surfaces offer.
The tee box on number 1 has been re-sodded. It is very ugly, but should take root soon and it will be fine. Course is still wet in areas and roll-out isn't a sure thing, but the ball wasn't plugging by any means.
I think these new greens are leaps and bounds better than the other offerings in the area. They roll true, smooth and fast. Ranger said they will be verti-cutting them in the upcoming week.
A great value for $42! Read The Review
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- "Great course"
 This was my first time playing Ballantyne and from the reviews, I went in with high expectations.
The facilities are top-notch, from the greeting to the putting greens- very nice. The range I thought was laughable due to its limited hitting slots, but that it nit picky. The putting greens were nice and rolled nicely as well. The tee boxes were very brown and crisp. The greens were rolling well, however the ranger said the course was under water Tuesday and Wednesday which would explain why they looked bad. Fairways were in nice shape, few dead spots.
The course is somewhat tights and the small greens make for a challenging test of golf, especially if you do not know the course. Overall the course was in good condition, I don't see myself playing much very often due to the steep weekend prices, but $59 weekday rate is certainly doable.
Certainly one of the nicest courses in the CLT area. Read The Review
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- "Average"
The amount of rain received lately has made the bunker maintenance difficult, so that didn't affect my rating.
The greens are coming back slowly, but that is expected. This is what has to be done to keep the greens rolling. So if they are junk for a couple of weeks, then so be it.
The course needs a solid couple of weeks of warm, dry weather to get itself back to into shape. It needs more time now than anything.
The worst part is the ball marks. Guys just aren't fixing them out there, and that is unfortunate.
I'll be back next week. Read The Review
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- "Worth playing"
First time playing Rocky River since 2004 so I don't remember much to compare it to. So this will be a pretty unbiased review.
The new greens are beautiful. Most of them are full, a few show what look to be old punch marks, but are what I have decided are just small bare spots. It does not affect the rolling of the ball on the putting surface, it's just a nit-picky thing. A few larger bare spots on high points on the outside of a few greens. Again they are a year old and will mature.
Fairways have a few dormant spots from the cooler weather. When we tee'd off it was 49* and about 15-20mph breezes, so obviously Bermuda isn't going to thrive. Tee boxes were okay and the bunkers seemed to be in good condition.
It was worth nowhere near $65/round, but a fun Saturday. Read The Review
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- "Worth playing"
I review Birkdale often due to its convenient location to my house. This is my third time playing the golf course in the last month and the course continues to wake up from this past winter. The tee boxes are greening up, fairways are looking good, and greens although hard - were rolling nicely. My issue here is the practice area at Birkdale and its poor condition.
They are still hitting of mats which are torn up- I mean they are just horrible. Holes, rips, tears, gashes...you name it these mats have it. The range a balls are tired- VERY TIRED. Very little paint left on them and they don't fly true. I hit a driver and thought I dented the club face, only to watch the ball shoot out weaving left and right about 10 feet off the ground. I had to make sure it wasn't my swing so I pulled out an old XL2000 and sure as can be, it flew like my normal ball flight. These things are bad. Really bad.
The chipping green is in good shape, but the bunker it just compacted sand. Like hitting off of dry dirt. It needs sand. Hell if you give me free golf I will spend a week there getting that practice area in better shape. The putting green is good though, just a few spots of poa.
After my 4/1/13 review I got an personal email from the CT Regional Superintendent describing what they were trying to do with the course and I can honestly say that it is working. The course is improving. Read The Review
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- "Worth playing"
Played Birkdale again after getting a good deal on the tee time website. In 1 week the course has really begun to green up and the greens were rolling even better than before. The tee boxes are still needing a little bit warmer weather, but the golf course in general is waking up quite nicely. I had a great round and really enjoyed the conditions of the greens.
Very pleased, will be back. Read The Review
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- "Worth playing"
Booked online for $23 for a 2pm start time. Upon check-in the kid in the pro shop tried upping the price to $39- I called bull and he changed his tune.
The course was cart path only which did slow down play. I ended up only going 9 holes and that was 3 hours! The putting green is almost half engulfed with crabgrass, so that is borderline unacceptable.
Course conditions were a little wet in spots with mostly dormant grass, but bunkers were raked and greens were certainly playable- they were rolling surprisingly fast and smooth for the season. So 4 stars on the greens. Tee boxes have new fresh grass starting to poke through, but look like crap. Huge GUR area short of 3rd green which isn't too pretty.
For $23 I think it was a good deal and would be worth it. Leaps and bounds better than Skybrook. Read The Review
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- "Average"
 This is my first review and I have gotten so much from this website that I have decided to pass the buck and try to help others as well.
I played Skybrook because they had open availability for $29. It was a good deal. I got there at 11:20 for and 11:53 tee time. The course was quiet and I got right out as a single. We started on the back and the course was obviously, due to the season, quite dormant. The greens had just been punched and there wasn't much sand filling in the holes, which was a little disappointing because, to me, this makes a golf course un-puttable. I'm from up Upstate NY and I am used to bent grass. I'm not sure if this grass down here on the putting surface also goes dormant, but there were tons of dead spots on these greens. It wasn't fungal, as far as I could tell, but the grass wasn't alive. The bunkers were raked which was a surprise and only a few holes had mud. It's clear that course Maintenance isn't a huge priority, but it didn't affect the playability of the golf course. Bottom line- I think I got the value for my money. With that said I would not pay a single dollar more. It's just not in the condition worth of more.
I have been keeping up with the Carolina Trail drama and have to agree with the guys here. They don't seem to keep the golf courses in good condition. Birkdale and Skybrook have so much potential - they just need some TLC and money. Read The Review
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