[jarodrig]

Played Laurel Oak today which is a difficult course to get . We scored an open tee time for two …

We first played this course on the day it opened several months ago, again, an open tee time .

I was anxious to see the condition today vs then.

It was in pretty good shape but I was really disappointed in the weeds all over the place EXCEPT on the greens . The greens were in excellent shape.

Also disappointing was the fact that they are mowing the crap out of the course when there is no need to mow !

The result is that most of the course is that crappy “hard pan”

There is no way to have a decent chip to the green because of the tight lie conditions. There is no “collar” around the greens either . Everything is mowed right down to the dirt (or nearly so)

Just as disappointing is the couple we played with . They have been here for 4 years and play golf regularly and THEY DON’T HAVE A SAND BOTTLE ! 😱

Several times I handed him my sand bottle to repair his divots or his wife’s divots …. He also doesn’t know what a sand rake is used for …. 😳

Anyhow , the tee boxes were in good shape and because the greens were in such good shape I would give the course and overall “B” rating.

[GpaVader]

I've played it many times and found it challenging to play. It is a long course and the greens are very fast, a lot like Shallow Creek. Great site lines and a welcome addition to courses South of the Turnpike.

[jarodrig]

Originally Posted by GpaVader

I've played it many times and found it challenging to play. It is a long course and the greens are very fast, a lot like Shallow Creek. Great site lines and a welcome addition to courses South of the Turnpike.

I agree …. Great layout and a pretty challenging course (Level 4 +) specially with the 20 MPH winds with higher gusts that we had yesterday (Sunday)

Get all those unsightly weeds under control and let the grass grow a bit higher would really be a great improvement.

[FloridaGuy66]

My biggest annoyance about the course is that it's situated beside the similarly named "Live Oak" pitch and putt. I jokingly asked the guy in the starter shack how often people are confused about which is which and he said "about every 15 minutes".

It was a terrible idea to have two similarly named courses at the same location, especially with them being different types of courses. These lapses in attention to detail seem to be becoming more frequent.

[jarodrig]

Originally Posted by FloridaGuy66

My biggest annoyance about the course is that it's situated beside the similarly named "Live Oak" pitch and putt. I jokingly asked the guy in the starter shack how often people are confused about which is which and he said "about every 15 minutes".

It was a terrible idea to have two similarly named courses at the same location, especially with them being different types of courses. These lapses in attention to detail seem to be becoming more frequent.

Totally agree ! 👍

[thelegges]

Truly hope no one is confusing a P&P using 3 clubs, to the longest yardage for Executive to date, requiring woods and irons.

[jarodrig]

Originally Posted by thelegges

Truly hope no one is confusing a P&P using 3 clubs, to the longest yardage for Executive to date, requiring woods and irons.

They would soon find out when they show up to play ! 😝😝😝

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by jarodrig

They would soon find out when they show up to play ! 😝😝😝

Nope there are plenty who take a full bag to P&P, driver is well used.

[Mrmean58]

Originally Posted by jarodrig

Played Laurel Oak today which is a difficult course to get . We scored an open tee time for two …

We first played this course on the day it opened several months ago, again, an open tee time .

I was anxious to see the condition today vs then.

It was in pretty good shape but I was really disappointed in the weeds all over the place EXCEPT on the greens . The greens were in excellent shape.

Also disappointing was the fact that they are mowing the crap out of the course when there is no need to mow !

The result is that most of the course is that crappy “hard pan”

There is no way to have a decent chip to the green because of the tight lie conditions. There is no “collar” around the greens either . Everything is mowed right down to the dirt (or nearly so)

Just as disappointing is the couple we played with . They have been here for 4 years and play golf regularly and THEY DON’T HAVE A SAND BOTTLE ! 😱

Several times I handed him my sand bottle to repair his divots or his wife’s divots …. He also doesn’t know what a sand rake is used for …. 😳

Anyhow , the tee boxes were in good shape and because the greens were in such good shape I would give the course and overall “B” rating.

The other couple knows what rakes and sand bottles are for, they choose to give the rest of the Villagers the middle finger and intentionally not use them. Recently played at a couple of championship courses as an add on to an existing tee time and have been told "raking sand traps is the ambassador's job."
I was dumbfounded by the stupidity of that statement.

[srswans]

Originally Posted by FloridaGuy66

…
It was a terrible idea to have two similarly named courses …

Same crew that named Loblolly, Longleaf and Lowlands.

[zigzag]

My Championship group took a flyer and played it last week. One of the friendliest starters in TV (Ken) started us with a good vibe. Didn't rush us out like most of the Championship starters so we'd have to wait on the course (Villages golf in high season is about number of rounds so most starters rush groups out as early as possible). For a new course it was in relatively good shape. Tee boxes still firm, fairways hard with tight lies (typical at this time of year) but greens in nice shape for a new course. Agree that the course was over-cut and there is no real rough (this supports more rounds, i.e.- less time hunting balls in the rough equals more rounds. Typically changes in the summer months when course demand diminishes). ALL TV courses are desperate for water in our current drought and this likely contributes to the weeds. For a newly established course we gave it a solid B rating and will be back.

[Ptmcbriz]

Definitely a challenging course. I think it’s a little shy on the landscaping. It could have an increase of about 25% in landscaping.. Just seems sparse on the visual look of the course.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Nope there are plenty who take a full bag to P&P, driver is well used.

True. You find them listed in the paper weekly----"holes in one" from 58 yards with a skulled driver

[SHIBUMI]

Bunkers need to have a minimum of 2 rakes and possibly 3. Large bunkers with only 1 rake, and there are a lot, are partly to blame..........more police presence (rakes) will help this cause, however, you are right, your either a golfer, one who respects the golf course, or a tourist golfer, one who thinks the maid will take care of your mess.

Originally Posted by Mrmean58

The other couple knows what rakes and sand bottles are for, they choose to give the rest of the Villagers the middle finger and intentionally not use them. Recently played at a couple of championship courses as an add on to an existing tee time and have been told "raking sand traps is the ambassador's job."
I was dumbfounded by the stupidity of that statement.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

True. You find them listed in the paper weekly----"holes in one" from 58 yards with a skulled driver

Not always skulled!