Northwoods GC
A fall day view of a hole at Northwoods Golf Course
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Rating Index Rating
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4.0
606 Reviews (606)
5 Stars
128
4 Stars
255
3 Stars
132
2 Stars
55
1 Stars
36
Conditions
3.8
Value
4.2
Layout
4.3
Friendliness
4.0
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.5
87.3%
Recommend this course
483 out of 606 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
26 Reviews (26)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
7
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.8
Value
4.0
Layout
4.2
Pace
3.5
Amenities
3.2
StaffFriendliness
3.8
84.6%
Recommend this course
22 out of 26 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
50 Reviews (50)
5 Stars
21
4 Stars
13
3 Stars
11
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
2
Conditions
3.7
Value
4.1
Layout
4.3
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.0
84.0%
Recommend this course
42 out of 50 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6800 yards
Slope 122
Rating 71.9

Northwoods Golf Club is one of the Columbia area's premier public courses. P.B. Dye, son of renowned course architect Pete Dye, designed the layout, incorporating some of his father's signature features. The golf course is player friendly enough to appeal to any skill level but there are some challenges in store as well. Mature trees line most of the fairways and there are a few strategically placed bunkers that come into play. You won't come across much water on this golf course and it's not terribly long either. It's gentle enough for beginners to approach with confidence. The golf course's signature hole is the par-4 14th, which features the famous Dye railroad ties bordering a lake that hugs the bunkered green. Northwoods G.C. also offers a practice facility with a lighted driving range and putting green.

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Northwoods Golf Club - The Spur Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1990
Golf Season Year round
Architect Pete Dye P. B. Dye (1990)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes

Policies

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

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2015 #10)
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Reviews

4.0
606 Reviews (606)
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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

NIce new greeens

I was amazed and pleased how the new grass (Sunday Bermuda) on the greens have come in after the greens renovation. Awesome job! Will be back. Kudos to the owner (Mr. Rice) who has a sincere interest in making this course better and better. Keep it going, please! Kurt

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Slow greens crew and uncut greens still @11am!

The greens crew was very slow and the greens were not all cut even at 11am. The bunkers weren’t all raked, nor the approaches cut. I went to the fourth hole and they were still cutting the green of the 4th about to go to hole 5 at 8:45 in the morning. So a few of the greens rolled fast then the rest were slow and wet. Very detrimental to the score. Otherwise the course was in great shape just speed up the greens crew so the greens are cut for players go out in the morning.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Response from on 09/27/2018:
Hello, on behalf of Northwoods Golf Course staff we appreciate you taking the time to address your concerns as we are always looking to improve. We are disappointed to hear that you were not happy with the conditions of the course but still hope you enjoyed your round. Again, we appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon.
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fun course

Tees greens and bunkers all playable good mix of challenges happy to play it again

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart

Course is improving

You can tell the course has been improved in a lot of areas. The greens are now covered with grass and roll very well compared to this time last year. The staff has planted grass in many areas to make the course looked fuller and nicer around all the greens. The only things left now are to fix all the tee boxes. They are horrible and not even level. Several boxes you were hitting out of a depression. It was if they haven't moved the markers in a month or two??? I'm sure the boxes are next on the list.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Go Play The Spur @ Northwoods

The Spur @ Northwoods is the best that I have ever seen it look. The ownership took the time to close the course to get it healthy again and it is amazing.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 63
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

Improving

Improving course . Fairways and greens have greatly improved. Senior tees play longer that most courses making it a challenge. Several par fours are long and tough. Our foursome enjoys our hot deal golf tee times there.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Coming Back into Prime

I went to school here at USC way back when, 86 - 91, and lived at The Fairways, apartments on the back 9, for a time and played this course a bunch. Just moved back to Soda City and played it since they put in new greens. Amazing that the greens are as receptive as they are being so new. Lots of trees being removed to help keep green health in a good state. We have received a lot of rain lately so there are some soft spots out there, but not on the greens. Maintenance crew out today doing some good work. Just need to continue to invest in the course esthetics. Great layout with some risk/reward chances. Guy at counter this morning was more interested in ESPN than face time with a customer. The course has a great area for practice and warm up. Range a little scraggily but does the job. Putting chipping greens, 3 of them, are true and in good shape. For the money go play!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Soggy

Good conditions but course has poor drainage. Very soggy and sloshy shots.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Response from on 08/08/2018:
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. We are sorry to hear about your disappointment with the irrigation of the course. We will keep working to make improvements to the course, and we hope that you will be able to have a better experience the next time you golf with us here at Northwoods.
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Great value and great staff

The course conditions have really improved. Greens were in excellent shape. The weather turned a little poor and I got stuck behind some groups going off the back 9. Course gave me a 9-hole raincheck. Very kind and considerate. Definitely will play again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A Pete Dye Gem

I loved this layout tees greens and fairways in great condition was excellent value for money only negative was some of the bunkers need some work

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 24
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The Spur is BACK!!!

I have played this course many times from 2000 until now. The course lost their greens and the conditions needed much improvement which required a huge investment in dollars and hard work. The course did that by having their greens redone along with improvements in the rough, fairways, and areas around the club house. I can tell you that what the staff has done is unbelievable! This course is top notch now. If you have a problem of paying their normal green fees of $32 on the weekdays and $42 on the weekends then go play somewhere else that has crappy conditions. This place has improved so much that the increase in green fees is well justified. The course is still completing other minor improvements which will only make this the course to play in Columbia. Hats off to the guys that work maintenance and to Greg McBride who has put his sweat and tears into this course that means so much to him! I highly recommend this golf course once again. Give it a try! You won’t be disappointed.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 63
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

The Spur is back.

Enjoyed the Spur at Northwoods today. They just reopened after redoing their greens. It’s in best shape now that I have ever seen it. Great round for the Golf Now deal my foursome booked. Tough course for seniors .

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Good stuff!

First time playing this course. It had been closed for two months for renovations. Fairways were good greens were great. Refreshing for South Carolina.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 28
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Good Course and Good Value

Solid Public Course with a friendly staff that appreciates your business. Fun course to play with your kids.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Beginner
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

First time playing this course in a year and I could see improvements in the conditions

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

greens

There is no grass on greens and they need to tell people this. No excuse because they have water...good 6-8 months ago

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Response from on 05/03/2018:
Hello, thank you for taking the time to review our course, Northwoods Golf Course, in the South Carolina area. We are sorry to see that you may have had a poor customer experience with us and that the course may not have been in the best shape when you played. Any additional feedback is greatly appreciated so that we can improve your experience with us in the future. Thank you for choosing to golf with us and we hope to see you again soon.
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The Spur at Northwood

The course was in awful shape no grass at all on the greens just sand. The fairways don’t have much grass either like management don’t care so go somewhere else if you want to play Golf

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Response from on 04/27/2018:
Hello, thank you for taking the time to review us, Northwoods Golf Course, in the South Carolina area. We're very sorry to hear you may not have had the best recent customer experience with us due to the pace of play, and we greatly appreciate your feedback regarding the fairways so we may work towards any necessary improvements. We also appreciate your dedication to playing our course over the years and hope we can continue to provide you with a valuable golf experience. Thank you for golfing with us, and we hope to see you again soon.
Played On
Reviews 65
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

you get what you pay for

I drove from Maryland to SC to visit my son. We played as a twosome on a Friday afternoon tee time 2:20. there was a five some in front of us and it was not the only 5some on the course. On the 16th tee they let us play through... really. We did finish in 4 hours. The greens were the worst greens I have ever played on in 25 years of golf. they had no grass on them. It was like a spongey surface painted green. There is no rough , all the cart paths have roots growing under them. Overheard at check in.. How are the greens. Attendant says.. "Honestly I have no idea." Not a good response.

I did enjoy time with my son but I would never go back willingly.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Response from on 04/20/2018:
Hello, thank you for taking the time to review our course, Northwoods Golf Course, in the Columbia area. We're sorry to hear the course may not have been in the best shape on the day of your round, and we appreciate your feedback regarding the greens so may work on any necessary improvements. We hope you will notice some of these improvements during your next round with us. Thank you for choosing our course, and we hope to see you again soon.
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Accurate recent reviews

I've played this course ~10 times in the last two years, and it's obviously not know for award-winning conditions; other recent reviews reference the fact that the greens are currently spray painted mud, which is 100% accurate.

After making the turn, the ranger drives down to my group as we approached the green on 10, and yelled at us about the course being "cart path only" that day. Not a problem, but we were never told in the clubhouse or at the unmanned first tee, and there were no signs on the carts/club doors/tee boxes. Groups in front and behind us were driving all over. Interesting strategy by the ranger.

All things considered, it's 18 more holes than I would have played otherwise, and the price is fair for the conditions.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Response from on 04/11/2018:
We appreciate your dedication to playing our course over the years but are very sorry to hear your recent experience with us may have been poor due to the course conditions. We greatly value your feedback as we work towards any necessary improvements. Thank you for choosing our course, and we hope to see you again soon.
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Used cart

Reluctant Review

A question at the top of the page asked if I would recommend this course to a friend.. Had you asked me this question a year ago my answer would have been most definitely. Improvements were being made and the course was making a come back. But now I would have to say I would not recommend this course to a friend.. at least not at this time. I hoping what I saw was due to a harsh winter. The greens were in very poor condition and the fairways weren't much better. This is one of my favorite courses. The layout can be tough from the back tees, but the course also rewards good shots. It is my hope that as the weather begins to warm we will see conditions improve quickly

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Response from on 04/09/2018:
Hello, thank you for taking the time to review our course, The Spur at Northwoods. We are sorry to see that the course may not have been in the best shape when you played and and we greatly appreciate your feedback so we may work towards any necessary improvements. Thank you for choosing our course, and we hope to see you again soon.
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