Arrowhead Pointe At Lake Richard B. Russell

Been playing Arrowhead for 15 years or so. There was a time that us “regulars” were concerned they’d close the place due to a lack of players. Too few people visiting the course, we thought. Well, no more! It seems a combination of advertising (the course is named in Golf Now TV ads) and the pandemic have brought more and more people to the course. So that’s good...to a point. Arrowhead’s tee times are all 9 minutes apart. Royal and Ancient recommends it take 13.3 minutes for a competent foursome to play a par four hole. Multiply that by 18 and you’ll come up with the four hours. Pretty standard time for a round. I play in a league at a nearby course and our three and foursomes get around in 3:30 to 3:45 every week. Anyway, do the math. What happens to the additional four or so minutes per hole reasonably required to to actually play the course? As golfers know, it gets folded into your wait time per hole. It gets really, really (yes, really!) sloooow out there and...wait for it... there aren’t any rangers to move people along. Even if there were, it would be disingenuous to send groups out at nine minute intervals, then send a ranger out to harangue them when they need to take their reasonable 12 or 13 minutes per hole. Factor that in along with the newfound popularity of the course. and it gets slow out there, even during the week. Forget the weekends unless you’re interested in making new friends visiting with groups in front of and behind you as you wait. Which is wall way too bad. It’s such a challenging, beautiful layout. They’ve also had some lapses in service over the past several months. It’s my understanding those were management issues that are being addressed. The current remaining staff are friendly, courteous, and helpful. They just need some help.. They’re also experiencing a Poa Annua problem in the greens. Many/most greens are pretty bumpy with it. it will burn out as late spring and summer temperatures rise. If you plan on going, make it middle of the week at off times. I’m hoping they make a few changes and get their service and. course conditioners back where they used to be.

I've played this course a number of times, and I love the layout and the seclusion. It's great golf course in a beautiful setting with nary a house or condo in sight.

However, the last time I played there on 5/16/21, there was obviously a problem with staffing. When we arrived to check in, there was only one person working in the clubhouse, and she was having to run back and forth between the grill/snack bar and the cash register to check in golfers. She was pleasant enough but obviously overworked.

It was a beautiful May Sunday afternoon, and the course was obviously busy, but there were still plenty of spaces in the parking lot. We had a tee time at 3:03, and our group regularly plays 18 holes in 4 hours (and we're high handicappers), but because the course was crowded and there were no marshals, we only made it through 15 holes by 7 p.m. At that point, a state park ranger rode up and informed us that all carts had to be returned by 7:30 p.m. Since we were still waiting on the 16 tee and there were two groups on that hole ahead of us, we decided to head on in.

It was disappointing to say the least that we paid for 18 and only got 15. It wasn't the fault of the group in front of us - it was obvious that the course had high demand that day and they just didn't have the staff to help move slower groups along.

I'll go again, but probably not on a weekend.

The four holes that run along the lake are scenic.o

Hidden gem on the southeast. Better scenic layout than any public or most private courses in the area. Holes 13-16 are world class scenic holes. Highly recommend this course to anyone of any skill level. Rough can be ROUGH! Just keep it in the short grass and you can score. Shot 91 with a triple on #8 and a 9 on #9.

Tremendous, picturesque course along beautiful Lake Russell. Greens need some work but otherwise excellent condition. Staff are top notch and make it enjoyable to return. Tabitha and Hope make you feel like family and provide excellent customer service. Highly recommend this facility.

Arrowhead Pointe is an enjoyable course to play. Challenging course but not overtly difficult. Greens were fast and undulating and will make you work for those birdies and pars. The views overlooking the lake on the back nine are beautiful. Staff are friendly and helpful. The state park offers stay packages with cottages in the park. Haven’t done that yet but it’s on my to do list!

Traveled from Sourh Carolina to play here. Love this course. Has a little poyanna issue on a couple of greens right now but still worth the trip

The perfect course to relax and enjoy. Good greens, challenging (but fair) course layout. Outstanding staff.

Really a great public layout. Liked the course alot, it was in decent shape aside from alot of fescue growing in the fairways. Greens were in nice shape, tough but fair. Couldn't ask for a nicer day, cool early on but playable. Slight wind and blue sky and sun!!! Gotta love it. Anyway, it was really a fun way to spend the morning!!!

Outstanding conditions always,have played course many times and we drive from Clemson to play.Great layout with very good greens,outside course workers great !

Tee boxes in fair shape. Fairways good in spots not so good in others. Sand and crab grass all over greens. Rolled very slow and bumpy. Played here multiple times love the layout. Just disappointed to see it in the condition it is in right now.

Overall the course is looking good and playing good for early Spring. The greens and fairways were very good. The tee boxes have not grown in yet. The holes along the water are spectacular!

Enjoyed another wonderful round at one of my favorite courses today. Was pleasantly surprised to see huge improvements throughout. Long overdue grooming and beautification has been taking place on the entire course. It was already one of the most scenic courses in the country but the new landscaping offers enhanced views of Lake Russell. Hats off to the workers and GA State parks for their efforts.