Cherokee Hills Golf Club

$41 (cart included), played on Saturday, April 2011 at 8am

I live in Maryland, but played Cherokee Hills Golf Club 4-23-11, while my wife attended a bridal shower at the facility's restaurant.

Cost $43 for a Saturday 18, which I thought to be a decent price for a decent course. Started at about 0945 and finished at 1310, and that was with cart-path only. Conditions were soggy, due the horrible spring weather in the area, but overall, the course was in pretty good shape, with very few puddles, albeit lots of spongy lies in the fairway. Having never seen the course before, I hooked up with two of the regulars, Larry and Mark, who were very gracious and helpful pointing out the desired line for drives, etc. (not that I was able to hit those lines, but that's on me). Thanks, guys, for your hospitality to a traveller.

The course is fairly compact, only 6250 from the tips, but gives plenty of challenge, and an interesting variety of looks. Modest elevation change, but well employed by the architect, as was use of the stream flowing through the property. I'd give the design a strong B+. Fairways were in excellent shape (probably due to all the rain!), but a little shaggy, as might be expected. Rough was thick and juicy for the most part. Bunkers were relatively few, and pretty firm, again due to the rainy spring. Greens which tend to be medium large, with some serious contour/slope, were a little rough. (BTW, some of the greens were substantially larger than others, suggesting that maybe they'd been "updated" in recent years. Not a knock, just an observation.) Several had bare/bumpy patches, especially along the edges, and there were a few that had low spots with some ponding. Tee boxes were generally pretty good, although a few were very thin. The layout is fair to the player, with only a few blind shots, and the par 5's, especially #9 and #15, are really terrific golf holes: par is a VERY good score on those two.

Overall, I was pleased with the course itself, and very impressed by the staff in the pro shop, two young guys with great customer-service attitudes and a sincere desire to help the player: I didn't get his name, but the red-headed young man with the mutton-chop sideburns is a real charger, and destined for great things. In an area with LOTS of golf courses, I think this one's a winner!

$21 (cart included), played on Monday, November 2009 at 10am

Cours plays better in warmer months.