Carroll Valley Golf Resort

Guest (cart included), played on Thursday, June 2012 at 10am

Played here 6-14-12, for FREE: got a certificate as part of their birthday club, and you sure can't beat that price.

Have reviewed the course design/layout before, and that hasn't changed. What is different is that this course is no longer allied with Mountain View (just up the road about two miles), not that it makes much of a difference.

Course conditions are currently outstanding: greens are pristine, quick and true. Fairways are excellent, and generally, the course shows that it's getting attention. Lots of work going on to put in new tee box signs, water station, and fairway distance markers. Very encouraging.

Pace was a little deliberate, as the course was full with folks on golf packages, but our foursome still finished in almost exactly four hours.

Pro shop staff very cordial, as was the starter. Saw the Ranger a few times, and the drink cart was in action. Nice bunch of people. Lots of nice stuff in the pro shop, too. Carroll Valley is getting better! I recommend.

$46 (cart included), played on Sunday, April 2009 at 10am

None

$31 (cart included), played on Tuesday, September 2008 at 10am

I play Carroll Valley about six times a year, most recently 9-16-08.

Course is laid out in the valley at the foot of the Liberty Mountain ski area, so the clubhouse is actually part of the ski resorts hotel complex. Course has some elevation change, and that helps break up what could be a simple back and forth parallel hole pattern in the valley. As it is, most of the holes do run parallel, but have sufficient room between to mask it, and give the designer some options. Nevertheless, there a couple of holes that closely resemble each other, but other than that, it is a nice layout.

Tee boxes are mostly crowned, which I see as a negative, but they were in pretty good shape for this late in the season. Fairways are generous, and were quite lush last week, The number of bunkers is not overwhelming, but they are well placed, and generally in decent shape. Greens are medium sized, with a few exceptions, and generally hold well, and putt somewhat slower than expected. There is water on about half of the holes, and it does come into play on four of those.

Pro shop is small and cozy with a very nice group of staffers. Starters are friendly and helpful. Snack bar is OK, but we usually go up the road a mile or so to Venturas in Fairfield, where the Yeungling is only $5/pitcher.

Carroll Valley runs a lot of golf promotions: three and four day packages, and they have another course under their corporate mantle, Mountain View, about two miles north, on the other side of Fairfield. Both courses are worth a visit.