Raven at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

The course model expects a round of golf to be completed in four hours. Our round, played in the afternoon, took 5 hours and 10 minutes. Our big holdup was the foursome in front had two players who, from the looks and sounds, had never played before. That didn't stop them from swinging what appeared to be 10-12 each before giving up on the hole. This was two couples; the guys played from the mid-tees and the girls from the front. It was obviously a very social round for them, but they had absolutely no idea about course etiquette. A course marshal wasn't available during the entire round.

Awful first impression… I walked up with my bag and the bag dropped. Personnel, pointed at the cart, too busy on their phones and idle chatter to care saying that that cart was mine. So weird. Never experienced anything like that before. Inside the clubhouse things didn’t get much better. the woman who checked me in, seemed over stressed and uninterested in making any kind of customer experience. Moving to the driving range. Found the driving range roped off with limited space available. Had to wait in a line 3 deep in order to hit balls before my round. The range itself was cluttered with thousands of golf balls. It looked like the picker hadn’t been run since the prior morning. Moving to the starter this is where things changed for the better. The starter is a 20 year veteran of this course and was fantastic. Once we were on our way, the course itself is a fantastic layout with generous Fairways. Course conditions were excellent and pace. The play was fantastic. Could have been a five star review all the way around if only it were not for those horrible first impressions.

Review Part I:

Underwhelming first impressions. The bag drop folks didn’t offer to take my bag and cart me up. They were too busy playing on their phones and chatting amongst themselves. Instead pointed to a cart and said that one is yours. Unlike anything I’d ever encountered.

Inside the lady checking me in seemed overstressed and uninterested in making a customer experience.

The driving range was roped off to limit available space and had to wait in line to hit balls… plan ahead to arrive super early if you want a shot at warming up. The range itself was also littered with 1000s of balls.

Review Part II:

The starter was awesome. He is a 20 year veteran at this course and the course itself was fantastic. Conditions were great fairways were generous and sight lines all the way round are very nice!.

I aarived at the starter 10 minutes before my t time. The 3 others I was paired with were sent off much earlier. On a busy weekend day I was sent off as a single. There were multiple 4somes ahead and behind. After 5 holes I quit after 1 hour 45 min. I was told sorry but we are busy.. a lot of money for 5 holes

Love the Raven. Course in great shape and greens putted well.

This is our first time playing this course. My wife and I come down before spring break and usually play three rounds of golf. We are paired with two very nice gentlemen, retired military, very enjoyable round course was in good shape. Had a good time. Will definitely be back.

Was not a “cart path only” day but our cart GPS shut us down several times. Had to leave the cart to finish one hole because it was just crawling by itself. Key to on/off didn’t fix it, reverse wouldn’t work either…nothing worked. Plus I couldn’t push it either. GPS brakes I guess. After a few holes it started working like normal. Pace was just a little slow on the back but didn’t bother me as much as the others in our group. I’ve had much better rounds at the Raven.

Nice layout and smooth fast greens. Not cheap though, wish they offered a winter package/membership.

Really enjoyed the layout and conditions with the exception of the green’s speed.

The practice putting green was shockingly slow. The ones on the course were a bit better but still lacking.

I played on a Monday and perhaps the greens weren’t cut the morning after the weekend?

My group was guys in their 50’s, - 70’s and no one was happy with how they rolled.

I have to ask, Is it a turf/traffic thing?

The Raven is a challenge and a fair test. For a resort course, always worth playing. .

Ended up playing by myself between a threesome and a foursome. Pace of play was great, course conditions were excellent.

Real good greens, but not so fast today. Course is in good shape.