Palm Harbor Golf Club

Greens are starting to get bad. Hope there is a plan to bring them back.

We loved the staff and course. However, we stopped after the ninth hole to have a snack at the restaurant (as we do everywhere and every time we play) while waiting for our food a member of the cart staff came in and told us that we should not have paused to eat. We asked why and were only told that carts needed to be back no later than 5:30(the reason for low star rating on value for the money). It was only 3:20 at this time. We told the person we would have them in on time. Our food came(fantastic by the way), we ate and headed back out by 3:40. Well inn order to finish on time we went ahead and skipped three holes. Carts turned in on time! All have have to say is WOW, on their site it says you can start 9 holes as late as 6 PM. I am wondering if this was because we purchased on GOLF NOW? VERY DISAPPOINTED as we very seldom get to play mid week.

I had booked an 11:51 tee time primarily because there were two open time slots available on either side of it so I was pretty sure the pace of play would be relaxing. I booked this spur of the moment, about 2 hours prior to the actual tee time. I arrived about 35 minutes early so I could loosen up but upon my arrival the person in charge of the carts told me they were putting me with two other guys. I had not yet even checked in at the pro shop desk. I've played this course many times, know the procedures and this starter was no one I had ever seen before. The other cart guys and starter are always friendly and treat everyone with respect. Not this one. I told him I was looking forward to a relaxing round of golf, not to be rushed into playing with a couple of other guys before I even had a chance to check-in or anything. I went into the pro shop, checked in and ask the young lady behind the desk if those other slots and mine had filled up since I had booked. She told me I was still the only one in my slot and there were still the other slots before and after me, open. I went back out to ask the starter about why he was putting me out so quickly. He proceeded to lecture me on how they put players together so that it does not impede the pace of play. I let him know that there were two slots totally empty ahead of my slot and two after and that I was still the only one in the 11:51 slot and there was no way me waiting for my tee time would "impede" pace of play. He was rather agitated and told me that's how they do it there and to head to the 1st tee. The other two guys were already there waiting. I went up to use the bathroom. When I came out, he was looking for me telling me he wondered where I had gone. I told him. Again, he told me to head to the first tee. Keep in mind this is about 11:25-11:30. My tee time isn't until 11:51. I haven't had a chance to loosen up, get my ball, tees or glove out of my bag nothing. I reach the 1st tee and the two guys they've set me up with have already teed off, so while I getting my stuff out of my bag, I ask what time their tee time was. 11:30 they tell me. They told me they had heard part of the conversation with the starter and could understand why he was rushing me also. It took me the first four holes or so to calm down to the point where I could start enjoying the round and only then because of the two guys I was golfing with. They were awesome so that part of the round was good. Like I said, I've played this course many, many times and never ever had an experience like this here or any other course for that matter. When we finished the round, the starters had changed to the ones I'm most familiar with so I talked this situation over with one of them. He was very empathetic and apologized for the other guy. I described him and he said he knew exactly who I was referring to and would make sure that this kind of a thing would never happen again. He understood completely. His understanding and letting me "vent" calmed me down enough that I would return to this city owned course but prior to talking with this guy, one of the regular crew, I wasn't sure I would ever come back here. I live very close to another course here in Palm Coast and don't need to make this drive but I enjoy this course. Not on this day but normally! I hope someone from Palm Harbor Course Management sees this review and also takes steps to ensure this doesn't happen to me or anyone else here. It just blew what was supposed to be a relaxing day on the course!

Tee boxes were getting aerated so many tee locations were forward. Greens seemed to be choppy. Looked like weed killer had been used in many spots. Still in decent shape just not top notch.

Greens are bad and have been bad for many years. Superintendent only mows greens once a week. The day we played we heard course ranger cursing/using profanity and yelling at group ahead of us for being on the course when it was cart path only. I suspect they didn’t know because we weren’t informed at check-in or by cart staff before we went to first tee that it was cart path only. Superintendent should have been fired years ago, but I suspect he’s willing to work for smaller salary, maintenance staff, maintenance budget than other courses provide and that’s why City hasn’t fired him. Multiple different types of grasses on the greens just to give you an idea of conditions on greens.

A lot of rain the days before so range was closed and course was cart path only. Still didn't feel need to lift clean and place more than once or twice in the round but there were certainly a lot of squishy places in low areas. Tees and fairways look good. Most greens are fine if slightly slow, but the 2nd green looks (and plays) like the surface of the moon. Not sure what happened with that one.

You pull up, pop open the back of the car and the guys grab your clubs, put them on the rack and say good morning. Then they ask your tee time, check their tee sheet and load your stuff onto a cart.

Then they keep track of everybody waiting to go and get them out on time and in an orderly fashion.... Never a problem.

Yesterday one of our guys got caught in traffic and was 20 minutes or so late.. again, no problem. When he got there they just drove him out to the third hole and he jumped right in with us.

Besides the craters on a few greens (I wish I had taken photos) this track plays well with quite a few challenges to deal with. Some fairways are narrow and approach shots need thoughtful considerations. This course is a good muni with a good layout and value. The bridge on 18 has been down for a very long time. I wonder why it is taking so long to get it fixed other than County funds?

The course is well maintained by a friendly staff. Fairways were in nice shape and not too difficult to hit. The greens were quite rough though with lots of patches. Sand traps were also well maintained. All around one of the better courses in Palm Coast and worth the money.

Overall course is in good shape. The greens are starting to show problems, but to give credit they were “verti” cutting the greens.