New Albany Links Golf Club

I’ve been playing this course since 2007, and without question, the current conditions are the worst I have ever experienced out there. I noticed a handful of traps had been worked on, but there were still more than a few that were unplayable. Nearly every green had either bare dead spots or fungus/disease issues, or both... Unrepaired ball marks were prevalent, though I’ll rarely blame that on the course. Crabgrass and weeds everywhere. When I asked the pro shop what was going on with conditions after our round, they said “Really? Nobody else has said anything.” I pointed out the weeds and they said “Clover? That grows this time of year.” It sure does. But not in my yard, and certainly not on tee boxes and greens of other reputable courses in the area.

It’s been wet, and hot. But I’ve played Blackhawk, Turnberry, Cumberland Trail, and Chapel Hill in the last 9 days and none of them have these issues. Clear lack of maintenance budget at NAL right now.

I love the layout, so I’ll give her another shot someday. But not until I hear that it’s back to where it should be. Spend your money elsewhere.

Fun course in good condition. Only problem was a lot of geese on a few holes that made a mess all over the green. Not sure there is anything you can do about that but it was the only issue. Other than that is was great.

Played last Friday, here are my thoughts/observances:

- Course was very trashy. There was an outing earlier that morning. No cleanup afterwards?

- I understand it's a links course, but when you hit the green on a couple greens and roll off the back, should you be in the high grass and lose your ball?

- Many holes you cannot hit your driver. This course rewards good drives with a lake or creek in the way.

- There was a 90 degree rule in the fairways that day. Why??? Fairways were not too dry or at all wet!

- 94 degree weather and not a service cart person or water jugs or fountains to be found on the course--at all!

- Greens were S L O W!

- I was able to find a soda vending machine after the 10th hole, only to get a very WARM Pepsi out of it.

- Overall the course was in decent shape, but for $47 per round, I would have expected greens to be a little faster and obviously a service cart in sight for refreshments, or at least a water stand on each nine holes. The high "links" are WAY too close to some of the fairways and greens. Too many other nicer courses to play for $47 per round.

Let me list my problems with this course...

Twosome ahead of us VERY SLOW, held our 3some up. $50+ to play, no sand in traps, when they did have sand it was less than an inch deep, so you would hit mud/clay out onto green. Greens were actually pretty nice except for the GOOSE S#+T and divots, some greens had over 20+ that had not even been touched by golfer or grounds crew. Needs some signage, hard to find your way around. This course could actually be very nice, decent layout, quick greens, maybe have H2O on the course (vending machines on both sides, neither worked) put some $$$ into it, could be pretty nice!

The conditions were rough. Water hazards are filled with sewage run-off and the bunkers are overgrown with weeds and have abandoned heavy machinery in them. I hope they are able to find the funds to complete the necessary repairs to the water hazards and the sand traps. It is a course that demands great shot-making and is always a wonderful challenge.

The course in terms of tee, fairways, rough and greens is just about perfect. The bunkers on the front are mostly in pretty solid shape. I cannot say the same for the back side bunkers. It appears that they are going to let them go and turn most of them into grass but they are clearly doing work on most of the holes. Some heavy machinery on 15 gave that indication. Once they get these bunkers all grass the course should be back.

I left my 4 iron on the range before our round. After noticing we drover back to the range and a guy said that someone had just taken it back to the clubhouse. We went to the clubhouse and nobody had turned it in. After the round I went back to the clubhouse and still nobody had turned in the club. I went and asked the starter just to check if someone had given it to him. He gave me a funny look and said they did and he would go get it for me. I watched the starter drive his cart into the parking lot and get my club out of the trunk of his car. When he brought it back he told me that "clubs that nice have a way of disappearing around here". My friend went in and let the pro shop know what had happened. They were not too concerned about it and said he must have had a mental lapse or something.

READ THIS : I left my 4 iron on the range before our round. After noticing we drover back to the range and a guy said that someone had just taken it back to the clubhouse. We went to the clubhouse and nobody had turned it in. After the round I went back to the clubhouse and still nobody had turned in the club. I went and asked the starter just to check if someone had given it to him. He gave me a funny look and said they did and he would go get it for me. I watched the starter drive his cart into the parking lot and get my club out of the trunk of his car. When he brought it back he told me that "clubs that nice have a way of disappearing around here". My friend went in and let the pro shop know what had happened. They were not too concerned about it and said he must have had a mental lapse or something.

I gave this course a tough review last year, but after playing it again yesterday it appears to be on the up and up. Although we had a bunch of rain, you can tell some of the bunkers received some TLC. Greens were rolling good and fairways/tee boxes are in pretty good shape. They also have some electric carts now which quiets down the course a bit and they also have USB ports in some of the carts to charge your phone. I thought that was neat. Overall, I would reccommend this to a friend as they are trying to make improvements and it's in good condition. Challenging course with all the bunkers in play.

Used to love playing this course even though they can be one of the more expensive options in the area. Played last weekend and it's in the worst shape I've seen it in 5 years... Greens were slower and chewed up, bunkers are a joke seems like they have given up on any TLC. All it seems they've done for the past month is cut the grass. Greens used to be fast and they were pretty slow. I'd be happy paying $25 for it, not $40. I won't be back until I hear the conditions improved.

Great round of golf in January! My buddy and I were able to get 18 holes finished in about 3.5 hours. The greens were in surprisingly decent shape for the winter. I will be going back once the weather gets nice.

The course is worth your money, but, the people are not very friendly, people were cursing on the putting green and it was very unpleasant. Also the pro shop is in this bar which was very dark and made it feel weird making a tee time to someone in the bar. Someone also hit are cart with a golf ball on the 15th hole. And people were innapropriate about it and we want are money back, thanks.

Staff employee was very rude and confrontational. I showed up early for my tee time and tee box was wide open with next tee time in 45 minutes. Staff employee stated he only had enough carts for the next few tee times and that I would have to wait until my booked time. 25 carts were available and ready for play. Once he realized his explanation did not make sense he became very upset with me and made it a point to tell me how he wasn't making any money on me since I booked the tee time on Golfnow. Worst experience I have ever had at golf course.

Played early on 11/22/15 - it was about 30 degrees.

It snowed for about 30 minutes just before the turn then turned clear and colder.

Beyond it being almost winter - we had a fun round!

Some bunkers are under construction - but this is to be expected. Otherwise the course was in great shape - especially for November

Ryan and his staff always make us feel at welcome and we always look forward to returning!

Course was in great shape for mid November. Staff is always super friendly and accommodating.

I had heard this was a top area course and was disappointed to find out they had aerated the whole course greens fairways all with no notations about it. Made play slow and putting a adventure. I would have went another time to try the course out. Over all I was disappointed.

Looking for a good test before my conference in Columbus. I found it with this course.

I told the attendant after my round that, "This must be a bear when they grow the rough up and speed up the greens."

I very thoroughly enjoyed my round of golf.

My only complaint/concern is that I would estimate that 1/2 of the bunkers are/have not been maintained recently. Could this be an issue with the financial state of the course?

I hope not. It was well worth my time and would play again if I'm in the Columbus area.

I have played this course twice this year (2015) and both rounds were disappointing due to course conditions. This course is advertised as a higher end course and it just doesn't measure up. Most of the traps are unplayable. The fairways are very hard and in need of water. The second time I played (Oct 20), the back nine was closed for maintenance and the front nine greens were almost unplayable. When I booked this round I had no idea the back nine was closed. This course has potential but needs some major improvements to return to the status of a must play. With all the choices for golf in the Columbus area I have no desire to play this course again.