White Wing Golf Club

as usual any course at Sun City is slow as molasses - nobody on the course to move golfers along. No players at any Sun City course lets folks play through - ridiciulous

Let me start off by saying I intend this to be a scathing review of the culture of White Wing. The course is fine but the state of the course had little to do with my experience over Memorial Day.

As I have done at other golf courses in the Austin area, I booked a tee-time at White Wing and brought my son to ride along. Going with me is a good way for us to spend time together and for me to teach him about the game. I usually arrive an hour early to let him hit balls on the practice range and then we put his clubs back in our car. Sometimes we ride three deep in a golf cart, but we also have no problem getting our own cart. Ever since he started riding along, my son knows the rules are 1) stay in the cart, 2)remain quiet while other golfers are hitting, 3) tell me when you have to go pee, and 4) have a great time. If he does all those things, we usually end the round with a hotdog. I enjoy playing the sport but honestly, I can't and don't want to spend 5 hours away from my son just to play golf. For nearly two years, bringing him along has been a delight and---until we arrived at White Wing---a universally positive experience.

At White Wing though... As soon as I walked in the door an older man at the front desk sat up in his chair, looked over at my son carrying his golf bag, and rudely told me he couldn't play. He said our group already had 4 players and he would be a 5th. I think he saw my sons bag (we were going to the practice range as usual) and so I told him my son wouldn't be playing and would just be riding with me. He repeated - his face and body now visibly hostile - that it's not possible to have 5 players. I asked if it was about the carts (riding 3 deep can be an inconvenience to some I know) and he said no...we just couldn't have 5 players. I asked if I could rent my own cart, but they (now the boss was involved via phone) said no, the limit was 4. The fact that the other players - members of the retirements communities nearby - all had their own private carts and I would have had to have my own anyway just made their insistence more ridiculous.

This heated conversation is all happening by the way right in the middle of the pro shop, in front of other members, and most importantly, within the sight and sound of my son. We were told upfront, without any effort to accommodate nor empathy to our situation, that we couldn't play together and that no refund was possible. I was going to drive back 40 minutes to Austin for nothing. What kind of message does that send to a little kid who might want to play the sport someday? What message does that send to a dad who wants to invest in his family as much as the game?

After I had to defend myself and my son and the overall progress of modern society for 15 minutes, the staff at White Wing eventually let us go out --- under certain conditions. They said my son couldn't bring his clubs, couldn't play, we had to get our own cart, he couldn't get out of the cart, and we would have to stay on the cart path the whole time. Did I like the idea that I would need to leave my son on the cart path instead of pulling up near the ball and talking to him about the game? No. Did I think the condition was vindicative on their part? Yes. The whole reason for limiting the group to 4 is to keep the pace of play on schedule. How does making on golfer walk support that? It doesn't. It just a way for mean old people to be mean old people.

Golf has a reputation for being the snobby game of cranky old men. That reputation is changing in places all over Austin. Unfortunately, my son now wonders why the men at White Wing don't want him around.

Side Comments:

1. Not my experience but one guy I was golfing with happened to live on the course. He said his grandkids were out in the backyard throwing a football one morning. Golfers called the clubhouse and complained saying his children shouldn't be outside disturbing play. I bet you the club didn't tell the complainer to lighten up.

2. The cold old man at the front also made it clear that that White Wing didn't like it when people book tee times through GolfNow (read: they don't like anyone not living in the 55+ retirement community of Sun City).

3. They don't sell hotdogs. My son obeys his rules for 18 holes... and they don't even sell hotdogs. What's wrong with this place!?

4. No services carts for bringing you water, beer, or snack during the rounds. Bringing your own or be prepared to bum a bottle of Ensure from one of the members.

Sun City has 3 courses. Cowan Creek, Legacy Hills and White Wing. As a whole, white wing is my favorite. There are things i like about Cowan Creek, but the experience is always the best at White Wing. Legacy hills seems to have forgotten about their greens.

The golf course had a good layout and the greens were well kept. I also thought the fairway was exceptional. The wildlife was a great plus... the number of wild turkeys on back nine was cool

The course needs water, aerification , and top dressing.

The layout is great and a good value for the money.

Put water on the course and things will be even better.

The course has improved since the renovated. Greens were in good shape. The staff friendliness leaves something to be desired. There was a lady taking payments and she was great. Nice, helpful person. However, called in a few days before the round and talked to a gentleman that just seemed put out and angry. Why do you work at a golf course that interacts with people if you are going to be angry and put out for anything? He should retire or get into a line of work that doesn't require him to interact with customers.

Extremely slow play. The course needs a marshal to speed things along. So slow that I stopped after nine holes.

This course is always nice even after rain, it seems to have great Drainage. Challenging, but great for all levels.

Open fairways, can always take advantage of the downhill lies.

White wing is a nice course with doable challenges for a newbie Golfer Luke me. I wish the generally friendly staff would focus less on returning the carts and more on playing a nice round.

Greens will hold your shot. Running fast.

1st cut of rough gnarly, so accuracy important. Fairways are wide enough.

One negative, you have to warm up on non grass tee box.

This course is located in a community with an age restriction of 55 and up. When I showed up, I was given bad stares from everyone, the staff in the pro shop would not allow me to have a cart because the other members in the group brought there own. This would be fine except the fact that I had to walk the course while my playing partners rode in their personal carts. After the front 9 my playing partners went home, I was allowed then to have a cart but it was given to me reluctantly and they told me I had to have it back in an hour. I was not able to finish the back nine and by that time the driving range was closed. If I had payed full price I would have asked for a refund. In summary, if you are not retired and own your own golf cart, do not come here, as you will be treated unprofessionally and you will not be able to fully enjoy the afternoon of golf.

Late getting off because off a high school tournament. Then behind two couples playing and they would not let us play through so we had a very long day. I guess if your a member it's great.

The course had still wet patches, but because carts where on path only it was still nice to play. More walking made it a enjoyable experience