Stone River Golf Club

The staff wasn’t friendly, the greens are getting re done, the fairways were like pastures. Cart path only when it was dry…..

The front 9 greens were being re done which we were told about ahead of booking, no big deal there. The back 9 greens also appeared as if they were under construction but were open to play, they were really bad, for the most part hitting the green was the easy part, putting on them was the real challenge. The pace was good for a Saturday because people don’t want to play a dying course.

If you’re looking to get out and play a round of 18 on an actual golf course it’s decent. The greens were horrible, dirt and mud patches everywhere, the ground was so hard on the teeboxes you could barely get a tee in place, the fairways weren’t green. It’s in rough shape for sure but you get a round of golf for a cheap price.

Unfortunately, the course was in the worse shape I have ever seen it. The greens were horrible.

Either charge less or fix the course, a warning should have been given

It's bad enough that the course looks bad but people out there with sleeveless shirts, crocs or no shoes is awful. The people out there and the drunks out there are bad too. Probably won't be back

Greens are horrible. Fairways are better but can still lost ball in fairway. Layout is weird. Pace of play is slow. Range is weird. Greens are dirt. Literally dirt. You will not improve putting at all. By far the worst greens around. Should not pay more than $25 for green fees. Horrible. Go somewhere else. Save your money.

The greens are dirt. The worst I’ve seen. I would not pay more than $25 green fees. Seriously go somewhere else. Save your money. Your out game will not improve. Fairways were better than last time. This course is bad. Wait time was bad. Overall bad.

3 greens were actually puttable. Rest were dead! Shouldn't be charging full price for greens in this condition

I’ve played here for 30 years. Never a great shape course. Usually hard as a rock. But the past few years things have gotten better. Now the past month the greens are pathetic. At least half have zero grass on the greens. Literally. Prices keep going up so the conditions need to vastly improve

Almost every green is under repair and full of sand and paint, shameful hosting qualifiers here and charging full price.

Sorry folks, this course has lost its greens. They are completely dead. Fairways are not much better, scraggly grass, mud, dirt, weeds.

I’ve played this course three times over the past 18 months, and somehow it’s managed to age faster than milk left in a patrol car in July.

Last summer, the greens were decent—slow, probably rolling around an 8. Totally fine. Not every course needs to pretend it’s hosting the U.S. Open. This winter? Honestly, pretty solid—rolling closer to a 10, smooth enough to actually reward a good putt.

Then came yesterday… and I’m not sure what happened, but something clearly did—and not in a good way.

Lower Your Expectations Immediately-The Practice Area

The setup alone should’ve been a warning sign.

The driving range is across the course near holes 12 and 13. That’s fine in theory—until you realize it’s basically a glorified wedge range. No driver, no woods, and long irons are more of a suggestion than a reality. It’s less “practice facility” and more “take a few swings and hope for the best.”

If you’re planning on setting up alignment sticks, dialing in numbers, or pretending you’re on the range at TPC Sawgrass—don’t. This is a “hit a few wedges and emotionally prepare yourself” situation.

The chipping green? Somehow worse. It slopes off from the center by what feels like 3–5 degrees—about a foot of drop—so instead of practicing chips, you’re studying gravity. It’s less “short game area” and more “putting on the side of a small hill.”

And the putting green? If you enjoy Plinko, chaos theory, or watching a golf ball make executive decisions mid-roll, you’ll love it. Otherwise, skip it entirely. Hit a few putts on the chipping green and head to the first tee before your confidence gets injured.

Tees (A Slip-and-Slide Experience)

The tee boxes are usually fine—but not yesterday.

They had just punched some of them using what looked like a half-inch aeration tine… and then just left it. No cleanup, no backfill—just a scattered minefield of plugs.

So instead of standing on a tee box, you’re basically trying to swing a driver on top of loose marbles made of Texas black clay. With a massive backup behind us, my buddy and I ended up doing emergency groundskeeping with our wedges just to create something resembling stable footing.

Nothing says “premium golf experience” like pre-shot landscaping.

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Fairways (Generously Defined)

Calling these fairways is… optimistic.

They’re mostly pasture, with occasional patches of grass that resemble what fairways are supposed to be. It’s like the course is playing a game of “Where’s Waldo?” but Waldo is actual turf.

Realistically, they need a full reset: aeration, nutrients, and an aggressive overseed. Right now, it’s survival golf—hope you find something green and swing away.

Greens (The Main Event… Unfortunately)

Now we get to the greens.

Mother of all that is pure and holy… these things should be illegal.

They somehow manage to be both firm enough to reject a well-struck approach *and* slow enough to make putting feel like you’re rolling through shag carpet. It’s a truly impressive contradiction.

From 100 yards out, landing on the green is basically a suggestion—you’re just as likely to bounce off the back like you hit a cart path. And once you’re on? Good luck. Between what appears to be poa annua, dallisgrass, ground ivy, and whatever else has claimed squatter’s rights, every putt is an adventure.

It’s not golf—it’s Plinko with a scorecard.

What’s especially concerning is that they’ve been aerating and top dressing… which, in theory, is great. In practice, it just looks like they’re feeding the weeds and telling the actual turf, “Good luck, you’re on your own.”

Come summer, this is heading straight toward scorched, unplayable surfaces unless something changes fast.

The Tragic Part (Because There’s Potential)

Here’s the frustrating part: the layout is actually really good.

This course *should* be a great, affordable option in the area—a place people choose instead of paying premium rates elsewhere. The clubhouse is nice, and the front desk staff are consistently excellent.

But the course itself? It needs serious help.

Not “call a landscaper” help—actual turf management. A real greenskeeper. A plan. Execution. And then, just as importantly, a maintenance routine to keep it from sliding right back to where it is now.

Yes, it’ll cost money. Probably a lot, given how long things seem to have been neglected. But without that investment, the trajectory is pretty clear.

Right now, it’s a golf course.

Give it a few more years like this, and it’s going to be a subdivision with a really confusing street layout.

Tee time for 2:20. No Marshall on the course. Tee times were 10 minutes apart so backed up already on the first tee! Guys with a 2 pm tee time showed up saying they were next even though they were late! No structure at all. Took three hours to get to the 12th tee. Twosome in front was hitting from the same bag! Cart path only so they would hit the ball 20 yards the. Go back over to there golf cart to grab another club. I told the guys that I was playing with I am not doing this. I turned and drove back to the clubhouse. I have been playing this course for years and it's far worse now then it was even a year ago. Greens are completely gone and the fairways are trashed. Not going back and I would recommend you going somewhere else.

Stone River Golf Club is really turning things around. The course is under new management and you can definitely see the improvements. The staff has been working on the course constantly and the conditions are much better than before. Fairways are in good shape, greens are improving, and overall the course is being maintained with a lot more attention to detail.

This course has the friendliest staff and in general the people and atmosphere is very pleasant to be a part of.

As for the course itself, the fairways are a bit rough and I'm still wishing for some sand traps to be built to make the course a bit challenging.

Overall, I still had a good time playing on a beautiful day!!