Played this course on a family vacation. Very challenging course, with a lot of slopes, blind shots, sloping greens, and hidden creeks. Also, I've got to see a ton of wildlife. Even with it being challenging, it was still a very enjoyable round of golf. Recommend if in the area to play.
2 years ago
After playing the Woodstone Meadows course 2 days earlier, I was hopeful that this course would be in better condition. I was greatly disappointed. The fairways were cut at a length you would normally find in the first cut of rough. At $75 for the round, they should at least tend to the fairways a bit better.
The only redeeming factors were the beautiful picturesque landscape and deer who enjoyed the course along with the golfers. The course should have received two stars but got three stars for the views.
Next time I come, I'll definitely pass on these two courses at Massanutten and look for some local courses nearby.
3 years ago
Context: I am a golf professional. This week was our family vacation (myself, wife, 2 kids) and we chose to come out to the mountains to hike, do outdoor activities, and play evening golf (my kids are 6 & 7 so we play in the evening to avoid getting in the way of other players). We/I like being last off and using the course as a practice facility (because it is if you aren’t playing in a tournament).
The Course: I only brought 7iron - putter, and I love playing with my wife from the forward tees - I played a few holes from the mens whites, so I am reviewing the course from that perspective. I’m amazed. I’ve played all of the private courses around DC, and I’d rather play here. Mountain golf is special, and Mountain Greens gets it right. The course presents some elevation change which could challenge players that don’t know their distances, but taking an extra club and sending it over the green a little never hurt anyone.
There are so many scenic shots on this course, you can easily find yourself distracted, taking in the views in your preshot routine; I can’t imagine it ever gets old.
The greens were on the slow side of normal, but they were pure as can possibly be, and with the 4+% slopes on many putting greens, you may find yourself quite happy they aren’t faster. The speed was perfectly appropriate for the course, in my opinion. The fairways were pure, and the rough was short, which I like in mountain golf, as it’s already tight and trees/woods can be punishing enough.
The Tee boxes were as lush as the fairways, and I’d love to review the bunkers, but only snobs review bunkers, as they are hazards, and no one reviews the quality of water hazards. Same with carts… they got us to our ball safely, therefore they are perfect.
I could play this front 9 for the rest of my life at 6:15pm and be very, very happy about it.
The staff: I didn’t tell them I was in the industry, point them to any coaching accolades, or anything.. no golf talk. I want to be anonymous. They couldn’t have been more kind, warm, and helpful. Remember I’m with my 40+ handicap wife, remarkably uncoordinated 6 year old, and future stud of a golfer 7 year old. All I care about is how they’re treated - my son is walking on sunshine after a compliment on his touch on the putting green from a professional. This evening, we tee’d off with no one in front of us for 3 holes, and then slammed into a 7some. You read that right. Sevensome. I made my usual advances with golf shots, making our presence known without confrontation, hoping to trigger the golf etiquette of letting us “play through.” It didn’t happen, so we skipped two holes. The complimentary professional somehow knew this happened, came to speak to my wife and I, and made sure we felt comfortable playing 2 extra holes after we finished. Perfect. What more could you ask for?
There is a LOT of poor customer service out there these days, and I didn’t find it here. I don’t know how many staff members there are, but we played Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. I think I met them all.
The wildlife: I fed a deer with my kids, found a baby deer feeding on it’s mother, we “rescued” a northern flicker with a broken wing, hawk-like birds scream and soar above you in the evening as you play, and the groundhogs are EVERYWHERE. The non-golfers among you that love nature should pay a cart fee, or whatever the pro shop offers you, and walk the course. Golf won’t spoil the walk.
I was told there was another course here. I drove past it. Said, “not interested,” to my wife. I was told it’s easier. If you’re that bad, play here anyway, and play from a more forward set of tees to make the course shorter and bring down the course rating.
Did I just spend all this time writing this because I can see the course if I turn on a flashlight and am fighting temptation to go hit a couple shots? Maybe.
Play here,
- a golf pro
3 years ago
I’ve visited and played this course twice over the past two years. Conditions and experience was pretty similar both times. Starting with the layout: While I love a good mountain course with lots of elevation changes, I wasn’t a fan of the exclusively tilted fairways on most holes. It punishes good tee shots for no reason and gets old pretty fast. The course conditions are okay at best. fairway grass is in decent shape, tee boxes are pretty beat up, and greens are varied from a few good ones to one or two with full on disease/rot/deadspots. (See photo) bunkers don’t drain well and don’t seem to get daily raking/attention from the grounds crew. In general the course seems to hold moisture and is pretty soft/wet. And to round out the bads….the gnats/bugs are annoying as hell and follow you around the entire time. The goods: the views aren’t bad, the wildlife is rad, they recently got new golf carts which are nice, the staff is always very friendly, and the price isn’t absurd.
It’s definitely worth coming out and giving it a play to experience it for yourself but I don’t think it’s a course I’d enjoy playing over and over again.
a year ago
Beautiful views. Nice challenging mountain style golf course. Great shape. Well manicured. Will get to see plenty of deer and groundhogs.
9 months ago
