[DARFAP]

Thanks for the positive review.

[markfrat]

Originally Posted by MidWestIA

Southern Oaks (no oaks but lots of turnpike)
It is a bland course they make harder by having ultra small fairways not close to the tees or greens with ultra tall shaggy rough the kind that if your ball falls under the grass you cannot see it 3 feet away.

You must have missed all the Oaks on the front nine.

[kkingston57]

Have not played it yet. Live in the Spanish Springs area and will need a full tank of gas(ha ha) to get there. Do not want to pay TV(preferred) rates yet and will want to wait till course is a little more mature and I doubt that this is going to happen anytime soom, especially since we are now in the cool/cold months

Rough sounds like all of the other champ courses. A little cool weather will make that change.

Harbor Hills is closer to me and much faster to get to and rates are less, especially since we will be having guests.

[M2inOR]

Originally Posted by Lottoguy

People who love golf should have thought twice living south of 44.

Au contraire...

As my sign shows, we are in Marsh Bend. In addition to the course down here, we've played north of 44, too, many times.

We've traveled by golf cart as far as Lopez, Glenview, and Tierra del Sol. All reachable by cart or car.

And as others have noted, many more courses are coming south of 44.

Only surprise for Southern Oaks, a $5 increase with no traditional championship amenities!

[Ken D.]

[QUOTE=Hape2Bhr;2031026]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

I don’t play in leagues, so I don’t bother to look at slope or rating since I don’t keep an official handicap. That being said, what you stated makes absolutely no sense, I would expect the slope and ratings at the Villages courses to be substantially lower than courses up north...]

Think about it; yes it does make sense.

I indicated my scores have been equal/similar here as up north. Shooting a 78 on a course with a 123 slope (up north or anywhere) will give you a single digit handicap or close to it. Shoot that same score on TV courses from the white tees, around 110 slope, and you get a considerably higher handicap. The ratings are out of kilter here.

Simple solution, play from the blues. Same slope rating as whites up north.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

An 18 hole course has been a long time coming south of 44. Happy that it's open for the people living there. Makes that area more if a golf car community. Hit 'em straight.

It looks like it will be even longer for an Executive course south of 44 and NORTH of the turnpike. If you live in Chitty Chatty, Hawkins, St. Catherine, Citrus Grove, or Cason Hammock, there are no executive courses nearby.

[pdp07]

I like the course, nice layout. Really good condition considering it's age. Greens were in really good condition, putted well and will probably hold better when they mature. Rough is the way a rough should be, a little bit of a penalty for missing the fairway. Only negative is the traffic noise from the Turnpike, it doesn't affect my game, just don't like it.

[dewilson58]

Yesterday.

Rough was not as bad as prior posters........posters are just use to NO rough.
No GPS for Golf Buddy.
No mirrors on flags for lasers.
Greens roll nice.
Most of the fairways are in good shape, good amount of grass.
Greens are the most undulating in TV.........fun.
Limited trash cans.............why???
Five holes for the first bathroom.............plan ahead.
Greatly disappointed in the traffic noise.
The layout is just an "out & back" course.

Same old designer, more or less the same old design.

Glad the Southerners have a course.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Yesterday.

Rough was not as bad as prior posters........posters are just use to NO rough.
No GPS for Golf Buddy.
No mirrors on flags for lasers.
Greens roll nice.
Most of the fairways are in good shape, good amount of grass.
Greens are the most undulating in TV.........fun.
Limited trash cans.............why???
Five holes for the first bathroom.............plan ahead.
Greatly disappointed in the traffic noise.
The layout is just an "out & back" course.

Same old designer, more or less the same old design.

Glad the Southerners have a course.

Sorry, but have to disagree about the rough. I've played from the 5" rough at Bethpage Black 200 times, I played PGA National 3 weeks after the Honda and they had not cut the rough since the tournament, and the rough at Southern Oaks was almost as punitive.

[RBGolfer]

Originally Posted by MidWestIA

Southern Oaks (no oaks but lots of turnpike)
It is a bland course they make harder by having ultra small fairways not close to the tees or greens with ultra tall shaggy rough the kind that if your ball falls under the grass you cannot see it 3 feet away.

Just got back in town after three weeks “on the road” visiting family in Seattle, WA and Tucson, AZ (we had a wonderful time, but boy it’s great to be home again!).

Now, regarding these critical comments regarding the new Southern Oaks golf course…here’s my take - I believe this entry was submitted on November 14th… 2 days after the course was opened to the public…really? Patience should be the order of the day. It’s still naturally immature, but will, I’m confident, grow into a new exceptional option for those wanting to play a regulation course. Yes, there are no oaks, but this land was ranch land and Southern Oaks is such a laudable use of this natural landscape…a great new addition to the St. Catherine area.

[Guychancey]

I played it last week and found it to be a very fun course and in great shape for as new as it is. Loved it

[donassaid]

I have heard nothing but negative comments from everyone who played it. No character, no trees, no water, deep rough, turnpike noise, etc. We watched the Pro shootout a couple of weeks ago and only got to see the front nine. To my complete surprise, there were beautiful trees, water on several holes, multi tiered greens and I didn't even notice the traffic noise. I thought it was beautiful and can't wait to play it. I read where they are averaging 275 rounds/day so it must not be too bad of a course.

[swooner]

Wow! And after Jan. 1 it's only gonna cost $52 for a priority member.

[MSchad]

Originally Posted by donassaid

I have heard nothing but negative comments from everyone who played it. No character, no trees, no water, deep rough, turnpike noise, etc. We watched the Pro shootout a couple of weeks ago and only got to see the front nine. To my complete surprise, there were beautiful trees, water on several holes, multi tiered greens and I didn't even notice the traffic noise. I thought it was beautiful and can't wait to play it. I read where they are averaging 275 rounds/day so it must not be too bad of a course.

Those who don’t like it were probably in the rough often. You need to be in the fairway. In most cases you can’t (shouldn’t) go for the green from the rough like the other courses. Play smart and play back into the fairway. You also need to play from the correct tees or you won’t reach the fairway.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

Yesterday.

Rough was not as bad as prior posters........posters are just use to NO rough.
No GPS for Golf Buddy.
No mirrors on flags for lasers.
Greens roll nice.
Most of the fairways are in good shape, good amount of grass.
Greens are the most undulating in TV.........fun.
Limited trash cans.............why???
Five holes for the first bathroom.............plan ahead.
Greatly disappointed in the traffic noise.
The layout is just an "out & back" course.

Same old designer, more or less the same old design.

Glad the Southerners have a course.

With pace of play in mind, why in the world would they not put reflectors for lasers on the flagsticks like the other 12 Championship courses? That one has me scratching my head?