Waterlefe Golf & River Club: #16
View of the 16th green at Waterlefe Golf & River Club
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Rating Index Rating
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4.7
2349 Reviews (2349)
5 Stars
1540
4 Stars
684
3 Stars
85
2 Stars
22
1 Stars
18
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.4
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.8
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.3
98.0%
Recommend this course
2257 out of 2349 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
54 Reviews (54)
5 Stars
44
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.3
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.8
98.1%
Recommend this course
53 out of 54 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
106 Reviews (106)
5 Stars
83
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.4
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.8
98.1%
Recommend this course
104 out of 106 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Waterlefe's stunning subtropical layout features water hazards on nearly every hole, consistently earning top marks for both design and well-maintained conditions. Friendly staff, smooth pace of play, and outstanding value make this a must-play course in the Tampa-Sarasota region.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6892 yards
Slope 146
Rating 73.9

Inspired by the backdrop of the Manatee River, Ted McAnlis has created the ultimate golf experience with the perfect combination of beauty and challenge. Waterlefe Golf & River Club is built along a particularly beautiful section of the Manatee River, complete with wide expanses of pristine marshes and pleasant coves. Don't be surprised if on the 15th tee you spot a family of manatees poking noses up for a breath of air. The golf course was designed with a great deal of time, effort and expense going toward protecting and resorting the natural environment that gives the course it unique character. The gently sloped greens with the newest Tifteagle Bermuda offer the ultimate in putting. From a lazy start on the par-5 first hole to the big finish on the 18th hole island green, golfers love Waterlefe Golf & River Club!

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Course Details

Year Built 2000
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Ted McAnlis (2000)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
GPS Yes
Pull-carts No
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker No
Golf School/Academy Yes
Golf Simulator No
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area No
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole No

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Major credit cards are accepted.
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Proper golf attire required

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill, Beverage Carts

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet Facilities, Spa

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Fitness, Tennis

Accolades

The Best Way To Book Is With GolfPass+ Annual
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Reviews

4.7
2349 Reviews (2349)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 56
Brunch 17
19th Hole Specials 15
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 159
Forced Carries 106
Bunkers 94
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 126
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 113
Locals 48
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 106
Convenient to the City 51
In the 'Burbs 43

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Great Course & Value

The course is one of the best around Bradenton / Lake wood Ranch area. The staff was great, friendly and helpful for a first time player. Will play again soon.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 56
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Waterlefe

Great golf course and in good condition, in spite the lack of rain. Mind you it’s a tough course, so bring your A game!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 145
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Picturesque and a Challenge

One of my favorite courses in the area, both for the challenge and the sights. Work on the clubhouse was the only negative, but was not an issue for me. Also, was worried about the greens being aerated about a week ago, but greens were actually in good shape and did not really affect the role of the ball too much. Would definitely play again when return to the area for another golf trip.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Wry Playable

Course is in great condition even though we’re in a drought. Greens still coming back from aeration but putted very nicely.

It was my first time playing this course and expected it to be very difficult given the slope rating and obvious water hazards but found it to be very playable.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

By far best in the area!

Tremendous shpe considering our lack of rain! Hole were wonderfly laid out. Even tough a lot of water pelenty of room onm the fairways! Magic

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Over top dress

They had alot of top dress on greens. But, besides that course was beautiful and challenging.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 26
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Greens just punched :(

First time I've played since they have redone the greens so I was excited to check them out. They had just punched with the large tines and sanded. Wish I would have known. No notification on golfnow unfortunately. Ball rolled all over the place on the greens so putting was rendered moot. Great course and everything else was nice. Clubhouse under construction so pro shop is a back room and a food truck for food. I'll be back when the greens heal up.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 48
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice loop

I really enjoy Waterlefe in the summer. Too bad I can’t enjoy it during the winter months.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Tricky course but worth it 100%. Firm greens

You’ll probably end up using every single club in your bag which isn’t the case with every course. Course knowledge is super beneficial but not necessary to shoot low. Each hole is unique and the greens are really firm so it can be hard to stick ur shots. Shank Shack has a great menu for food at the turn- highly recommend.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 21
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice course

As a tourist from the Netherlands I picked this course because it looked nice. Played it with pleasure, good layout, well maintained and in good condition. Maybe the greens because of a very dry period good have been a little faster and bite a bit more. Friendly staff, a pity that the clubhouse wasn’t open due to rebuilding. Little remark , maybe normal but for me strange that my wife, non playing, had to pay 25$ to join me in the buggy? Overall a nice round with luckily a pleasant English guy in the group .

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Course is Looking Great

I am an avid golfer around a 9 handicap. 2nd time coming to this course. It was in great shape in all spots. The greens are pretty firm and not rolling as fast the day I played but they were rolling true. Clubhouse is being redone and there is a truck handling food and beers but I play golf for the course. This track is challenging with water all around. Awesome course and I will be back. Highly recommend.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 32
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

One of My Favorites

A great course as usual. Difficult as usual, but a great challenge.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Still under construction

Course is in great shape. Still construction so not a very good 19th hole

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 38
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
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