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Rating Index Rating
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3.8
433 Reviews (433)
5 Stars
96
4 Stars
195
3 Stars
82
2 Stars
34
1 Stars
26
Conditions
3.5
Value
4.0
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.0
81.6%
Recommend this course
337 out of 433 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.9
32 Reviews (32)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
14
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
2
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.6
Value
3.9
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.4
78.1%
Recommend this course
25 out of 32 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
76 Reviews (76)
5 Stars
20
4 Stars
33
3 Stars
12
2 Stars
6
1 Stars
5
Conditions
3.4
Value
3.9
Layout
4.4
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.4
76.3%
Recommend this course
58 out of 76 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The staff at Lions Paw earns high praise for friendliness, and the wide-open fairways offer a well-designed layout that keeps golfers coming back. Solid pace of play and strong value for money make this Big Cat course a worthwhile booking.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 7003 yards
Slope 132
Rating 74.0

Lion's Paw Golf Links is an open, hilly course that treats the golfer to spectacular views of a beautiful creek valley and its adjoining wetlands. A wild and untamed layout, Lion's Paw features deep sugar white sand bunkers and MiniVerde greens.

A stunning 23,000 square foot clubhouse serves both Lion's Paw and Panther's Run golf courses and offers residents and visitors the perfect place to ready themselves for the upcoming challenge on the links. Designed with a safari theme, the clubhouse includes a full-service pro shop, a snack bar and Tamers Restaurant and Lounge, an elegant dining room serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Lion's Paw has been described as Willard Byrd's finest work. Part wild, part rustic and quiet, this magnificent course presents a lion's share of adventure and breathtaking scenery.

Book a Tee Time at
Lions Paw
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Course Details

Year Built 1990
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens MiniVerde Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Willard Byrd (1990) Nai Chung Chang (1990)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Discover Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill, Restaurant

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2021 #16)
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Reviews

3.8
433 Reviews (433)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/26/2024

Thank you for the wonderful Five Star review of Lion's Paw! We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. Be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well. Thanks again!

Played On
Reviews 3
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/26/2024

Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Lion's Paw. We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback and we hope to see you out chasing birdies with the Big Cats again very soon!

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/26/2024

Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Lion's Paw. We hope you will visit us again soon and be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well! Thanks again.

Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Fun Father’s Day Round

Fun course layout, not horribly challenging. Greens were punched a few weeks before we played so they were bumpy and did not run well despite being very receptive early in the day.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Very slow play greens where unplayable no water on the course. Never book again

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/11/2024

We deeply apologize for the conditions you described. Your round took place right after the aerification of the greens on Lion's Paw, which is a necessary practice for all golf courses in this region. The greens will typically be bumpy and slow for a few days after this process. Our staff is always instructed to make all of our guests aware of this procedure before playing to allow them the opportunity to choose one of the other three Big Cats courses instead. If this was not the case for your group, please contact me at blong@oceanridge.com and I would be happy to work with you to resolve this issue and to make sure our staff on duty that day have further training in this regard, if necessary. Thank you and we hope to see you again soon.

Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Course was unfortunately getting aerated, couldn't seem to find one that wasn't during my stay down here. Staff was friendly and gave me a discount which I appreciated, didn't get the same treatment elsewhere. Fairly fun course, got in early and it was a speedy round, the long par 3's will test you.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 06/04/2024

Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Lion's Paw. We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. We apologize that your round fell on our aerification date. Tis the season, as they say, but it is a necessary procedure to keep the greens looking good year round. But hopefully the discount helped! We hope you will visit us again soon.

Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens in good shape, rolled true. Bunkers were not good, more like hard pan. Pace of play 4 hrs. Friendly staff. Nice layout. Course conditions would score higher except for the bunker conditions.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/28/2024

Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Lion's Paw. We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. Just to follow up on the bunkers, we are currently in the process of a major bunker restoration project and we have restored/refreshed over 40 sand traps so far in 2024. This process will be continuing until all of the bunkers on all four Big cats courses have been rejuvenated. We hope you will visit us again soon and see our continued progress. Thanks again.

Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Sunday Golf PM

1st time on course. Tee's and Fairways not mowed in awhile. It has been very rainy so I'll give a pass on that. Greens were good. Played in 3 hrs 30 minutes!! Awesome

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/21/2024

Thank you for the awesome Four Star review. You are correct, it was VERY rainy in the days leading up to Sunday, but fortunately we have been able to catch up with the mowing since then and everything should be very nice as we move forward through the summer and the remainder of 2024. Thanks again and be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well.

Played On
Reviews 33
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/06/2024

Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Lion's Paw. We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. Be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well. Thanks again!

Played On
Reviews 20
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/22/2024

Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Lion’s Paw. We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. Be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well. Thanks again!

Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Experience

The staff was very friendly and helpful in the clubhouse and on the course. The greens rolled true and were quicker than expected. The course is a bit older, but is holding up well. Overall, we had a great time.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/22/2024

Thank you for the AWESOME Five Star review of Lion's Paw! We truly appreciate it and we hope you will visit us again soon. Be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well.

Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 33
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/22/2024

Thank you for the awesome Five Star review of Lion's Paw! We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. Be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well!

Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/22/2024

Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Lion’s Paw. We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. Be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well. Thanks again!

Played On
Reviews 122
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played

Sunset

Pace of play needs to be monitored and improved. Staff is outstanding!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/22/2024

Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Lion’s Paw. We truly appreciate your patronage and your feedback. I will pass this along to our golf staff and we will do everything in our power to make these improvements. Thanks again and be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well.

Played On
Reviews 20
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/22/2024

Thank you for the very nice Four Star review of Lion's Paw. We really appreciate it. Be sure to check out the other three Big Cats courses as well.

Played On
Reviews 33
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 33
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 33
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
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