Links At Challedon, The

$41 (cart included), played on Sunday, August 2013 at 8am

The greens were recently aerated, so we got a bargain at $45 including balls and cart. Otherwise course was in excellent shape and was suitably challenging.

$36 (cart included), played on Tuesday, July 2013 at 8am

Need to upgrade their driving range mats.

$36 (cart included), played on Thursday, August 2012 at 8am

This is another update on my previous reviews. Played here 8-9-12, for senior fee of $39. Overpriced considering the conditions.

Tee boxes were weedy, bunkers are hard and rocky, and many greens are on the verge of burnout, including two that were rebuilt only last year. Other greens were very thin. I was very disappointed, and spoke with a staff member after the round. Was informed that there is yet another management change in the works, and that maintenance money is short. Kinda sad, considering the checkered background of this course. Don't know what the magic crossover is between reducing green fees to increase play, while still generating enough revenue to cover expenses, but Challedon clearly isn't at that point. Maybe they could take a lesson from Clustered Spires in Frederick, which is always in great shape, gets lots of play, and is priced below this course.

Golfers, beware!

Do Not Recall (cart included), played on Tuesday, March 2012 at 10am

This is an update of my 2008 review of Challedon.

Course has shown steady improvement over the last several years, as management and maintenance have stabilized. Still not Augusta National, but it's a good value for the money.

BTW, I went back thru old records and found that the green fees here have not gone up since at least 2007: what else can you say that about? Conditions in March 2012 were pretty good for the season: bunkers were a little rough, and there are a few greens not quite up to snuff, but for March, it's not bad.

Recently, our group of seniors stayed here for our apres-golf libations, and were very well treated by the staff: got a military discount, which made the prices very competitive. It's very clear that the management team is working hard to improve the course and its receptivity at all levels. It's working!

$21 (cart included), played on Thursday, May 2011 at 2pm

Course is in great shape. No weeds. 80% of the greens were in good shape. Rough was odd...it was deep but not as punishing. It was bouncy (yes, the ball bounced off of the deep rough) but you had to be on top of the ball to find it if it settled.

$26 (cart included), played on Tuesday, August 2008 at 10am

I play Challedon three or four times a year, because it's fairly close, and something different from my usual. Nothing special about the course, except that it's getting better.

The course was built as part of a devleopment of large homes on 3-5 acre lots, with the idea that it would go private after sufficient homeowners joined up. That dream did not work out, so it's been a daily fee course since day one.

Initially, the course was not well-maintained (even had dandelions on the greens!), but after a number of management changes over the last six or so years, it is finally being managed and maintained well enough to make it worthwhile. The layout has quite a bit of elevation change, and is generally pretty interesting: no two holes look exactly the same, and there is enough challenge to keep one focused. There is considerable distance between some greens and tees, and with the hills (especially on the front nine), I don't find it to be a walkable course.

I last played it on 8-26-08, and conditions were OK then. Tee boxes were in decent shape, fairways, which are generous, were also OK, with a few bad spots (all marked as GUR). Bunkers were thin and hard. Greens are pretty large, most have some contour, with a few very heavily sloped. Greens generally putt medium fast.

Clubhouse is quite nice, and the staff congenial. Pricing is competitive for the quality of course and the area, and it does get quite a bit of group play and outings, so call ahead to make sure you can get on. Location is only a few miles off I-70 at Mt. Airy, but that last mile or so can be tricky, so make sure you have directions before setting out. Give it a try!