Back out to Talega GC on a breezy Tuesday afternoon, 5/18/21, to get some swings in before a GK Cup match this Saturday – originally booked on GN for 3:10 [GN $40 vs. Talega website $70 for the same s... Continue »

Back out to Talega GC on a breezy Tuesday afternoon, 5/18/21, to get some swings in before a GK Cup match this Saturday – originally booked on GN for 3:10 [GN $40 vs. Talega website $70 for the same slot!!!], but was moved up to 2:50pm to join a threesome of friends. These guys spent the entire round yakking and making side money bets on the holes, but were generally amiable and we mostly kept pace with the groups in front of us. I joined them as they were teeing off from the Blues (6,583/71.5/128) and I soon regretted the extra distance over my normal choice.

Recent reviews are still applicable. While not pristine, the course is in pretty good playing condition. Greens had generally good coverage – they were pretty soft and in need of mowing, barely reaching medium speed and were very bumpy and badly showing footprints and spike marks this late in the day. Nobody made any putts. Fairway lies were generally OK – fairly tight but the ball sat well. The course uses entry/exit gates to manage cart wear on fairways – I’m a fan. Rough varied from place to place – it could be dry and almost nonexistent, or in places lush and juicy. Tee boxes badly needed mowing but were level. Most of the sand traps had adequate material and showed evidence of machine grooming in the past, but otherwise were damp and compacted from irrigation. Lots of footprints and no rakes. Some traps were under construction, with drainage, shaping, and content being worked on.

Access in the COVID era is still challenging – the bag drop is closed, making for a long slog carrying the bag in and out. Shop locked except for the back door near the first tee, where you sign in at a table. No access to merchandise. No inside food service or bathroom – another long hike around the building. Simple carts with simple GPS (front/middle/back only). Mix bottles on the cart initially, but no refill rack. We started off in the clear but ran up against some groups ahead of us on the challenging par-3 hole #5, and generally waited after that, finishing in ~4.5 hr.

I like the layout here and hope the end of restrictions brings operations and conditions back to their earlier better levels.

I had read some recent Yelp reviews of this course, but didn't see anything recent on GK. Played 4.21.21. I was fearing horrible conditions based on some reviews, and was pleasantly surprised. The ... Continue »

I had read some recent Yelp reviews of this course, but didn't see anything recent on GK. Played 4.21.21. I was fearing horrible conditions based on some reviews, and was pleasantly surprised. The greens were still healing from aerification, but overall the course was in good shape. The green were VERY slow, somewhat inconsistent, soft, and bumpy. Some of the bunkers were in pretty bad shape, but others were great. Some of the fairways were tight, but that is kind of expected this time of the year. PoP was just under 4 hours.

Played with my monthly group this past weekend out at Talega for just the second time. My first round was a quite memorable and smooth one, however this weekend's adventure turned out to be just the o... Continue »

Played with my monthly group this past weekend out at Talega for just the second time. My first round was a quite memorable and smooth one, however this weekend's adventure turned out to be just the opposite, but not exclusively because of the course itself.

Talega is a pretty challenging layout with some decent and intimidating carries, tough water holes, a few blind tee shots (and I mean REALLY blind on one of them) and a few bombs-away opportunities. It's even got some elevation, so you're going to find some holes to your liking, and probably some you won't.

There is no driving range at Talega before 10am apparently, or at least that was the case for us on Saturday, which was not pleasant for all the guys who arrived early only to sit in the parking lot eating breakfast burritos ahead of our 9:10 tee time. Single or dual carts optional, and we played from the white tees as is customary for this group.

Talega is not in its best shape right now, but it's very playable. Fairways have a lot of green, a lot of burn, and a lot of mud - just like that box of chocolates. Some of the tee boxes are pretty beat up, but others are fine, while the rough is also inconsistent. Come to think of it, so are the bunkers ... so just get ready to kind of experience it all. Greens are in good shape though with medium-fast speeds and good shot reception.

I think it's a fun course and would like to play it again when it's back to its best. On those days, it's a real treat. I'm sure it will be back to that soon.

Out early on 9/25 at Talega.

The good.....the greens are in good shape, smooth, medium speed. The fairways are better than I have seen them here in a long time.

The bad.....the rough is very od... Continue »

Out early on 9/25 at Talega.

The good.....the greens are in good shape, smooth, medium speed. The fairways are better than I have seen them here in a long time.

The bad.....the rough is very odd. Super plush in spots, then 20 yards of bare dirt.

The ugly....the fringe is downright pathetic on several greens. But the green is fine? I don't know what can happen right on the green/fringe border, but something freaky is going on.

The beyond ugly....WTF is going on with the tee boxes? I hope they are in the "destroy them before the rebuild" phase, because 75% of the tee boxes are just awful. My playing partners said it was reseeding time, I sure hope so, but I didn't see any maintenance working on them.

One of my favorite layouts, but man I hope this is the storm before the calm. Still, they were pretty well packed with players. Glad I was using one of my player's card discount rounds because if I had paid the $105 rack rate, I would be furious.

I cannot recommend at this time, unless at a Muni rate.

Played here today and is not worth the money they charge for the conditions now. They started us on 10 today I don’t know why. Tee boxes were thin and some unlevel, fairways are showing signs of the s... Continue »

Played here today and is not worth the money they charge for the conditions now. They started us on 10 today I don’t know why. Tee boxes were thin and some unlevel, fairways are showing signs of the summer heat, greens were slow with a lot of ball marks. But the worst part was when we made the turn to hole 1 the green was flooded, when I talked to the pro shop after the round they said sorry but could tell he could careless. This is unacceptable for a almost $100 course. Don’t think I will be giving them my future business.

Tried to beat the heat by playing near the coast on Saturday but it was still near 100 at Tallega. Don’t know if it was the Covid situation or whether they have sold off the driving range but it was n... Continue »

Tried to beat the heat by playing near the coast on Saturday but it was still near 100 at Tallega. Don’t know if it was the Covid situation or whether they have sold off the driving range but it was not available unless you drove your car separately to the other parking lot. Single carts were available and they control the pace well by only giving you the key when it was your turn the tee off.

The course was in pretty good shape, with even coverage on the fairways and tea boxes. Some greens had fresh sod laid around the perimeter. Quite a few ball marks and scuffs on the Greens but otherwise they ruled nicely. There’s a few holes that get me every time here could I couldn’t see the target pole due to the trees being so tall on the blind tee shot on 14, My monster drive was rewarded with a lost ball penalty...

Had a fun day on this challenging course, but for me it’s only worth it if we get a hot deal.

Played at 3pm 8/18/20 on a humid, warm day with little wind in 4.5 hours. Similar conditions to my review posted 7/15/20. $60 still steep.

Played at 3pm 8/18/20 on a humid, warm day with little wind in 4.5 hours. Similar conditions to my review posted 7/15/20. $60 still steep.

Wanted to get some swings in before the GK Cup final this weekend, so I met a high-school classmate at Talega on Wednesday, 7/15/20, at 2:48pm on a sunny, warm breezy afternoon. Joined by a local twos... Continue »

Wanted to get some swings in before the GK Cup final this weekend, so I met a high-school classmate at Talega on Wednesday, 7/15/20, at 2:48pm on a sunny, warm breezy afternoon. Joined by a local twosome of buddies. Check-in was at arm’s length – masks worn, use the bag drop, putting green closed, pay at a table outside the pro shop, and get your cart 10 minutes before your time. But we went off on time, playing from the White tees (6,187/69.2/123). We cruised through the front nine with no one in front or behind, but backed up behind a slow foursome after #13, finishing in about 4.5 hr.

The course was in pretty good condition, although it looks scruffy around the edges. Greens had good coverage but were only medium speed and bumpy and grainy at the end of the day, really showing footprints. Most still showed aftereffects of recent verticutting. They were receptive to shots, and we saw many unfixed ballmarks. Fairway lies were generally good, some thinner than others. Rough was more variable, ranging from lush to dry, bare to clumpy, carpet to doormat. Sand was adequate but usually hard-packed with footprints – however, this was a vast improvement from some of the bunker horrors I’ve seen here over the past few years. Tees were OK with only a couple sloping. There are quite a few newly-sodded areas around the course, indicating that the course is working on improving conditions.

I like the layout here and we had a pleasant round. Recommended, although $60 on a weekday afternoon just before 3pm is a little steep. The single cart was appreciated, though.

Had the opportunity to play yesterday. Groups are space 12 minutes apart, and players are not allowed to check in until 12 minutes before their tee time. Range and practice greens are closed. Cours... Continue »

Had the opportunity to play yesterday. Groups are space 12 minutes apart, and players are not allowed to check in until 12 minutes before their tee time. Range and practice greens are closed. Course restrooms are closed except for the 9th hole.

Somewhat windy. Course was in good condition, especially the greens. They rolled true, some were medium some were slow. Some greenside bunkers are being repaired, and being refilled with sand. Some bunkers had grass growing. Water hazards are full. Some sections of fairways have been re-sodded.

Overall good experience. Staff as always is great.