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Latest Review

Skybrook Golf Club


"Great course"

9/21/23: Review by cswan14

Love this course. Its a tough track with elevation changes, narrow fairways, and some tiered greens as well. Lots of bunkers protecting landing areas and some other hazards that make you really contemplate what to hit off the tee. It's a residential course so houses are...

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Biased?
    • #3261
      Karl Markham

      Just an observation and you do not have to post this if you feel as though it shouldn’t be, but it just seemes a bit biased that you joined Emerald Lake a few weeks ago and now they have been the “Featured Course” on your home page for weeks now. There are coupons posted all over your website now for this course. Also, going back over the message board, it seems as though you have defended Emerald Lake against bad reviews. How do we know that all reviews are being posted about your “home course?” I know that there has to be negative reviews out there because I played there last Friday and thought the place was a cow pasture. Just an observation.

      Tagged Course(s): Emerald Lake Golf Club
    • #7197

      Karl — thanks for the feedback, always welcomed. Let me first say that, sure, you can consider my reviews of Emerald Lake biased — just as you would anybody’s reviews of a course they play frequently and know well. Since I joined on 7/30, I have played there probably 8 or 10 times for at least 9 holes. I also know the staff pretty well.

      That said, let me clear up a few other things you mentioned. First, the Featured Course on this site’s home page is automatically selected based on the course with the most recent review. So with me having posted 3 reviews since 7/23, there’s a good chance when you’ve visited the site recently that Emerald Lake was the Featured Course — as it will remain until a more recent review for another course is posted. Please, by all means, if you’ve played another course recently, post a review and that course will become the featured one. Just note that the selection is based on the date you played not on the date you submit the review.

      Secondly, my defense of Emerald Lake over the last 12 months has more to do with me living so close to the course and knowing the staff. I can see for myself whether the reported conditions are as someone describes. I can also get the other side of the story directly from the staff — which I have posted in fairness and to provide my site visitors with more information so they can judge for themselves. I have never withheld replies from the original reviewer. In the previous cases here on the message board, the reviewers never posted another message or contacted me.

      Lastly, I would encourage you to post a full review if you had a bad experience at Emerald Lake. Other players can then comment. I, for one, as biased as I may be, don’t know what courses you are comparing Emerald Lake to that you would consider it a “cow pasture.” As I’ve noted, the only issues I have seen are ball marks on the greens from lots of recent play, a few greens with small bare spots requiring a top dressing of sand and a few tee boxes that are thin. The greens roll very true, the fairways are lush and weed-free and the bunkers have been kept in good shape. There are only a few courses in the Charlotte area I would consider a “cow pasture” — due to weeds in the fairways, greens not mowed, bare dirt spots around the course, grass in the bunkers, etc — and one of them closed a few years ago (Crystal Creek).

      I encourage other readers to weigh on and comment on my recent reviews.

      Thanks,

      B-Man

      Tagged Course(s): Emerald Lake Golf Club
    • #7199

      he must have had a bad round. i for one play emerald lake a few times a year and find the staff and course enjoyable. keep up the good work b-man.

      Tagged Course(s): Emerald Lake Golf Club
    • #7201

      A few things as a long time reader of these forums

      1. Emerald Lake is a good course with fantastic staff. I’ve been going there for years and I’ve never understood the negative reviews on these boards given my countless positive experiences there. The range is great and the course is always in good shape.

      2. BMan has not been biased about his reviews, just honest and objective. I don’t think that will change now that he has joined Emerald Lake. I agree with others….keep up the good work!

      Tagged Course(s): Emerald Lake Golf Club
    • #7203
      Karl

      i agree that bman has been fair and objective in his reviews. My only issue, and it is not really an issue because i really dont care, is that if someone has a very bad experience at emerald lake, and they post it on here, bman will go to emerald lake and get their side of the story, which of course will refute any negative comments. no other course has that opportunity. i am sure you can email the course gm and let them know about the feedback, but emerald lake now has a direct link to this website while no other course does. again, no big deal, i just thought it seemed sketchy. bman, if the course is in horrible shape and should be avoided at all times, will you post that for all to read, even though you know that the staff at emerald lake reads this site often? if you think that a shop guy is a jerk, will you write that for all of your readers to see even though you will see him the next time you check in to play at your “home course?” tough call.

      Tagged Course(s): Emerald Lake Golf Club
    • #7205

      Karl — actually, I have indeed given other course GM’s the opportunity to respond to negative feedback here on the site — the most recent example was Birkdale, but before that I’ve done the same for Charlotte Golf Links and Rocky River, to name a few. And I will always give course staff the opportunity to respond here on the site if they contact me.

      If you read one of my recent reviews of EL, I actually said I would not post a review every time I play (since it would be frequently). Most likely I’ll only post a new one if conditions change. So watch for my next update because it likely means something’s going on (perhaps when they aerate).

      As I said before, please post your own reviews of Emerald Lake and other local courses. This site is built on player feedback and opinions. If I post a review that you don’t agree with, post a comment. If you think my coverage of Emerald Lake is biased or not accurate, then don’t take my word for it.

      Let me know if you have a suggestion for how I should handle Emerald Lake reviews and feedback. I couldn’t tell from your post what you were expecting me to do differently. And if you want to handle it off the board, feel free to send me a direct email.

      B-Man

      Tagged Course(s): Emerald Lake Golf Club
    • #7207
      Jamie

      B-man your assessment about EL definitely matches what I have experienced, although I have had a few strange situations there. Back in the spring we played on heavily sanded and aerated greens, even though staff informed us when we booked on the phone the exact opposite – we were not pleased. Generally the greens are very good and consistent. I like the course, it’s just that EL is not usually a course that offers the discounts that Carolina Trail and several others offer. Nice layout, particularly #5 and #14. The only hole I hate is #9 (old #18) because of the green being constructed backwards, sloping from front to back and toward the water, making it a 3-shot hole for even the longest hitters. I was told several years ago the course had intended to reconstruct it but has not. All in all a very good course even with its quirks.

      Tagged Course(s): Emerald Lake Golf Club
    • #7209
      Dan

      I agree with Karl……In fact, I think all of the courses around the Charlotte area lie about their conditions on a regular basis. I refuse to ever golf again at Emerald Lake because of their staff and cocky attitude. I just recently played Renaissance a week ago and specifically asked the guy behind the counter the conditions of the greens. His response……”excellent, best in the area”. Well, the front nine was “okay” at best and the back nine had several greens that were in “sub-par” condition. I have heard all the excuses as to why the greens are suffering, but if you ask me, it is just plain ignorance. What else really upsets me is that the courses “play” dumb and make no effort to adjust their greens fees to make it a fair deal. I bet none of the course GM’s would buy a new car with just primer on it…! ….I feel ripped off everytime I golf.

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Latest Review

Skybrook Golf Club


"Great course"

9/21/23: Review by cswan14

Love this course. Its a tough track with elevation changes, narrow fairways, and some tiered greens as well. Lots of bunkers protecting landing areas and some other hazards that make you really contemplate what to hit off the tee. It's a residential course so houses are...

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