Burke Lake Golf Center

We had a 7am tee time, out of respect to the staff and the rising sun we walked up about 6:40. We were abruptly greeted, and told we need to check in and wear a mask ("of course"). Several gentlemen were sitting around a table drinking coffee as I walked in. I stood in the pro shop for a moment and was met by a gentleman who seemed bothered I was there. All said, we felt like we were out of place and not welcomed to a municipal course. I've felt this cold shoulder at Country Clubs in the Rochester, NY area, but never at a Par 3, much less a municipal course. Outside the greeting, the course was nice and challenging for a beginner/novice

I give this course a 4 but staff a 2. If I wanted to be treated like an outsider, I'd book a tee time at National or another members only country club.

The folks at Burke Lake Golf have done a great job in their rebuild. The new driving range is a first class 2 level one. The new club house, practice putting gree and instruction area was a great face-lift. Being an 18 hole Par 3 is not a pitch put one. It is well laid out and challenging.

A small issue is that they flipped the course. The first tee was #10. The issue is in using a Sky Caddy watch. But that is easily corrected.

Go play, walk, of course and then take the steam engine train ride around the park.

Many years ago I used to play this course frequently - was anxious to try it again. but big disappointment. Maintenance for this course must be minimal to non-existent other than occasionally cutting some grass.

Grasses on the course have become a mixed bag, with more weeds than grass. The greens were in miserable shape. Apparently no one fixes ball marks there, perhaps an indication that the type of "players" that frequent the course have no idea that they are supposed to fix their ball marks or simply don't know how. They are the bumpiest greens that I've played on this year.

There are several holes with branches from tall trees overhanging the fairway that catch good hits and drop the balls off into rough that simply gobbles them up. Trim the trees!!

Goose poop! It was nearly impossible to walk any fairway without stepping in goose poop. Apparently the course manager isn't aware that a piece of strong string or rope placed at waters edge about 1' off the ground will make it impossible for the geese to come ashore to forage. The will go to other lakes and greener pastures. It's a fully humane way to stop goose intrusions.

Pace of play - forget about it. Plan to wait several minutes on every tee. This is another indication that the type of "golfer" playing this course is a beginner or just someone out for a day in the fresh air.

Bunkers - very few; none groomed or raked.

The course was in a very good shape some weeks ago, now I have seen slow greens and illness of the grass of parts of the greens. Hope the staff knows how to manage that problem.

Probably due to the recent rain, the biting flies were a nuisance more than any other time I’ve played here. It may help to spray for those, mosquitos and gnats are the summer humidity increases.

Practice short game on course then hit range with drivers

It was perfect for I was looking for, an easy round and short game practice. Very good place.