It has been many years since I've been here - used to play it on a regular basis. After driving by on the freeway and seeing how green it was I decided to give it another chance. The regulars were o... Continue »

It has been many years since I've been here - used to play it on a regular basis. After driving by on the freeway and seeing how green it was I decided to give it another chance. The regulars were off before the sun came out with their walkers. It's nice to see that there are still courses that allow walkers on the weekend and that people actually do still walk a course. The tee boxes were in okay shape with a few being slightly thin and others somewhat sloped. The fairways were a mixture of grasses but had pretty good coverage. The rough was pretty thick and lush which was great for stopping wayward balls - finding a ball in the rough was fairly easy though. The traps were mostly hard, rocky and filled with what appeared to be river sand? The greens started out pretty quick and slowed as the round progressed? We finally realized the grounds crew was out watering the greens pretty heavily in front of us? Not good for the paying golfers today! I guess they were trying to soften them for their aeration that is scheduled to start tomorrow. The greens here are much smaller than most courses and today they were very FIRM - even with all the rain these greens did not hold shots at all (they definitely need aerated). The creeks that run through the course were still quite full and filled with brush and logs. The area surrounding the course provides nice views of the hills and homes. About half of the holes have an elevation change while the other half are flat. The first three holes on the back nine might be the most three frustrating holes in a row anywhere. The staff here is great! The facility is really showing its age - the place REALLY needs a face lift. I would give the the course at least a couple weeks before giving it a try if you enjoy smooth quick greens. They are offering some good rates this week after the aeration is done.

Have not played here since October 1985 - almost 31 years ago! Course was called Circle R Ranch then. I had almost zero recall of the holes, even as I played them. I read the most recent reviews, s... Continue »

Have not played here since October 1985 - almost 31 years ago! Course was called Circle R Ranch then. I had almost zero recall of the holes, even as I played them. I read the most recent reviews, so my expectations were not high. Plus I don't recall having any real fondness for this course. (Otherwise it wouldn't have been 30+ years since my last visit)

The fairways on the front nine were simply awful! There was no grass, none. Same with the rough. Now while the back nine was not good, it was miles better than the front. There were ar least areas where there was some grass. Rough, we won't even go there.

The greens were by far the best part of the course. A few of the greens on the front had some bad areas, but nothing too bad. They actually rolled fairly well. Greenside bunkers were hit or miss. Some good, some really poor.

The staff was perfect, and using a promotion groupon, the price was right. Second off, following a single, so pace not an issue. Truth is that I had a good time. It was like playing a new course for me, because I remembered almost nothing about the course. (Maybe 2-3 holes at most) I'd like to say that I will return again in 31 years, but I suspect by then, I'll be looking up at the divots rather than down at them.

Booked a 12:23 GN hot deal for just $14. It wasn't super busy, so I headed right out to the first tee. There was another single waiting for someone to play with, so the starter paired us together and ... Continue »

Booked a 12:23 GN hot deal for just $14. It wasn't super busy, so I headed right out to the first tee. There was another single waiting for someone to play with, so the starter paired us together and off we went around 11:45. We didn't catch anyone until the 7th hole and then it slowed down after that, but we still finished in just over 3 hours. I had low expectations for the conditions and things are pretty poor here. Everything about this place just feels run down. Most tee boxes were OK enough, but not always level stances. As the previous reviewer noted, the fairways are a hodge lodge of different grasses growing in sporadically. The ground underneath is super firm. As you stray off the fairways into the "rough" you find hardpan, twigs, leaves, some clumpy bits of grass, gopher holes, etc. I was in a handful of sand traps and all were different. One was reasonably soft (more like dirt than sand) and the others were quite terrible. The greens were okay, rolling at medium speeds. There were some damaged spots I noticed, but the pins were generally kept away from those areas. It's been a long time since my only other visit here. Obviously a lot has changed since then as this course has gone further and further downhill in recent years. It's sad because it's a pretty good layout and the setting is nice. The conditions just make it hard to enjoy, though I guess for $14 I can't complain too much. I almost crapped myself laughing when I looked at the big sign that's out by the main road (which happens to be right next to the 13th green) and saw the bold proclamation of "Ranked #4 Course in S.D. County." I wondered who would have ever ranked it that high, even its heyday. Then I looked closer and saw it was attributed to none other than Greenskeeper.org. That was obviously a long time ago and maybe in a galaxy far far away, but it is still proudly displayed. Hilarious!

I'd probably stay away from this place right now. The teeboxes were a joke for the most part, unlevel and hardly any grass. Fairways were also a joke, had to play lift clean and place, they are full... Continue »

I'd probably stay away from this place right now. The teeboxes were a joke for the most part, unlevel and hardly any grass. Fairways were also a joke, had to play lift clean and place, they are full of these little tufts of grass all over, just a sad sight because I've played here 20 years ago and they were arguably the best fairways in the county. Sand traps were also a joke, stay out at all cost, some heavy sand some thin, mix bag, good thing I only found two of them. Greens were about the only thing playable, they held shots well and putted ok, they were slow, but acceptable.

Like the layout, here, but right now don't even think about playing it. We only paid $30, but not really worth it.

Sunday 3/6/2016 NO signs they "punched" the greens 2/23 & 2/24, whatsoever. Hardly anyone braved the rain, that stopped around 12:30 and never game back...an excellent day and an excellent value. T... Continue »

Sunday 3/6/2016 NO signs they "punched" the greens 2/23 & 2/24, whatsoever. Hardly anyone braved the rain, that stopped around 12:30 and never game back...an excellent day and an excellent value. Teed off Noon and finished at 3:15 and we didn't hustle, per se. Greens good. Fairways are growing back and being tended to. A nice place with a good challenge.

Played here on 7/24 AM and agree 100% with rn4nz's review on 7/18. enough said!

Played here on 7/24 AM and agree 100% with rn4nz's review on 7/18. enough said!

Played Castle Creek for the first time off early at 6:23 for $42 Golf Now rate on 7/18. Right from the start I was disappointed to learn they have no practice range and the practice putting green was ... Continue »

Played Castle Creek for the first time off early at 6:23 for $42 Golf Now rate on 7/18. Right from the start I was disappointed to learn they have no practice range and the practice putting green was very small and poorly kept. What they did have was a small dilapidated net/cage of some sort, like I have personally never seen, with a criminally poor mat/rubber tee and about two dozen of the saddest balls i've ever seen. No practice facilities is a BIG no no for me and a guaranteed no return, so obvious fail on my part for not checking this before playing there. The facilities in general have that 50+ year old feel where pathways and buildings feel run down and on their last legs. The on course experience was definitely better than the initial appearance and facilities condition. This course in general is relatively straight forward with most holes offering a line of towering majestic trees and parallel fairway on one side and some kind of OB on the other, which I personally prefer as I love to bomb driver and hate courses that penalize you with OB and or lost ball on BOTH sides of a hole for a miss. The dogs don't really have many legs here as most holes are very straight but there are some creative holes that will force a carry or tempt you to drive a short par 4. If, like me, driver is your favorite club, you can pull it on every par 4/5 without any silly restrictions or target limitations. The tee boxes were firm and greenish/brown, as was a lot of the course, but very well placed and cut. The fairways were nicely outlined throughout and the greens were subtly undulated and for the most part lush looking and receptive and rolling beautifully on chips and putts. The rough was not much of a penalty and the sand traps were placed well around holes and fairly playable, though it was a rainy day which caused a thin layer of muddy dirt. I enjoyed the challenge of pumping the big stick out all day while trying to keep it in the relatively tight/straight fairways. It's not a 'creative' course design by any stretch and no where near worth the $42 I paid, but for a 'very cheap' green fee it's worth a round just to check it off the list IMO. The big turnoff for me was definitely the 'old run down' feel of the buildings/pathways themselves and the lack of a practice facility, which is absolutely a deal killer for me in the future. However, the conditions were definitely above average and the opportunity to miss fairways on one side is HUGE in my book, especially in this day of 'target' courses where you get no relief on either side for misses, just OB and lost balls.

Sure looked like it's been a tough summer. Fairways thin and rock hard. Traps were hard packed, some with no sand. Half the greens were in good shape while the other half were suffering from many bar... Continue »

Sure looked like it's been a tough summer. Fairways thin and rock hard. Traps were hard packed, some with no sand. Half the greens were in good shape while the other half were suffering from many bare spots. One par 3 even had a temporary green setup while work was being done to the actual, so at least they're trying. There'll be punching their greens in a couple weeks so maybe that's the remedy. All the water hazards were very, very low, which made an unattractive setting.
But if you like narrow tree lined fairways that roll forever, fairly flat greens, a fair amount of a variety from hole to hole, just keep your expectations on the low end and you should enjoy yourself.

Played Sat, 20 Sept. Pro shop was very nice to let me jump out in front of first tee time since I was a singleton; teed off at 0610. Course is in decent shape. Fairways are pretty dry due to recent... Continue »

Played Sat, 20 Sept. Pro shop was very nice to let me jump out in front of first tee time since I was a singleton; teed off at 0610. Course is in decent shape. Fairways are pretty dry due to recent heat wave and lack of rain. Greens however, were in great condition; staff has done a great job taking care of them. Bunkers were loose sand and well groomed as well. No one in front of me and finished 18 in just over three hours; threesome behind me was keeping up with that as well.