Spencer T. Olin Learning Center 9-hole Course

Spencer T. Olin is in my Top 3 courses in the St. Louis metro area. Great design, low green fees and the people there are friendly.

For late November, I really couldn't complain about much. Course in good shape and a greens fee of $30. You can't beat that!

The course gets a B+, mindful it is a public track. Sole Staff member who we dealt with was extremely friendly and attentive. The driving range is so-so at best, and the balls beat up and fairly filthy. The course is long and challenging in my opinion from the White Tees (played 6,400 yards if I recall correctly). I am a left handed golfer and many of the holes set up quite nicely for LH’ers who draw the ball. Fairways in good shape. Several of the holes are blind shots - lack of course knowledge stung me a few times. Cannot comment on the bunkers - happily no visits to the beach. The greens are very large, wide and undulate greatly. Many of them slope quite severely as well. All in all I am glad we played it. Inexpensive, challenging round. 40 minute trip from STL.

H th is course if the only Arnold Palmer design in the area. It’s a challenge but fair.

C'mon man - letting a group of 5 out on Sunday? The conditions have worsened and this course is becoming much less appealing especially given the distance to drive to play it.

This is a good layout and an Arnold Palmer design so I do enjoy it although it is certainly slipping. The girls in the bar area area are nice and the dude behind the pro shop desk was fine.

Finally no slow play due to rain!! It was awesome!

Spencer T. Olin is one of my favorite 3 courses in the St. Louis metro area. Great price for an upscale golf course. Overall, the tees, fairways and greens were in good shape. However, there were a few areas that need attention, which I will list below:

Green #5 - oil leakage from a mower has created lines of dead grass. It really didn't affect your putts, just unsightly.

A couple of rough areas in fairways of holes 1, 6 & 10. Crabgrass in fairway 7.

Hole 11 - fringe is brown due to heat stress

Hole 12 - grass is brown in front of the green from heat stress

Holes 12, 13, 14. A weed is creeping onto the greens. I don't see the course doing anything to counteract this issue. Not affecting a significant part of the greens but could be an issue if unattended to.

Hole 14 – from the yellow tees, they have planted a small tree right in the sightline of the tee to the fairway. When the tree grows and gets larger, it will block the view of the hole. Why plant it there?

Pace of place was slow.

With the day being very hot, a beverage cart was needed on the course. They did have a few water coolers on the course.

Even with these comments, well worth the drive to Alton to play an upscale course, which has a great design and an incrediable great price.

Very friendly staff! Course was beautiful and very well maintained. Will be back again for sure!

Pace was crawling. Three hour front then left after seeing five groups waiting on ten.

Some portions under repair. Aside from that, generally great course condition with only exception the divot marks on greens. Impacted some puts. Fun, challenging and visually pleasing layout. View from tee boxes allow you swing freely on most par 4’s and 5’s - bunkers were in great playing shape.

Always a challenge ...beautiful course....greens putted very well......fairway zozsia always a pleasure....played it 100 times...love it