Tarandowah Golfers Club

Great experience, course is immaculate, staff is very friendly and helpful, and the layout is crazy. I would recommend it to anyone.

Although the course is interesting and in good condition, the amenities are basic, and the cart paths are horrible -- unpaved, rutty and muddy when it rains. The golf carts are rickety and dirty. Because of the difficulty of the bunkers (and there are many) and the extensive fescue, this is far too difficult a track for the 15+ handicapper. It is also dangerous on one hole, as the driving range abuts the hole at right angles, and the 5 foot high fence does not stop range balls from landing in the fairway. The pro shop also sends out twosomes, and the marshal expects them to be able to continually play through the foursomes. The course is also in the middle of nowhere, and so it is not worth the $40 or $50 to play it. What a letdown!

Too hard, too hot, no drink cart in 30 degree weather
There is no cover on this course and it was a very hot day
I did not enjoy myself at all.

When i checked in i mentioned i hadn't played the course before and was looking forward to it . Nothing was mentioned about buying the course guide .
I was told i could tee off anytime in the next 30 minutes but it was quite busy after that . I paid up , asked if the beverage cart was on and the direction to the first tee . Again , nothing was mentioned about buying the course guide .
I played as a single , saw no starter , marshall or sadly no beverage cart until i got to my final putt on # 9 . I shot 38 .
I found the 10th tee but wasn't sure i was in the right spot as another single player was there teeing off . He was driving a cart so i clearly didn't catch him as i walked. Apparently he was in a hurry as he just teed off and said have a good day . He might have been trying to catch the other single up on the green - but never did join up with him either . I have to assume the non existent starter / marshall / pro shop said it was okay to cut in and play as a onesome to boot - just like the single ahead of him .
The back nine was a disaster for three reasons . Following the two singles , having no idea how far the bunkers were off the tees and sadly , the condition of the bunkers .
Now maybe if someone had offered to sell me a guide .... or warned me that the course was not at all straight forward and quite tricky ... or perhaps that if you are playing for the first time you have absolutely no chance with out one ... i might have been okay with the rest .
Okay that's not true , they need a marshall . It's easy to blame golfers for not joining up but it's not their choice - it kills the pace of play and all golfers know they will be paired up .
If they don't want marshalls at least have a starter to go over the ground rules , pair people up , keep them from cutting in ... and to warn people to go back to the pro shop and buy the guide - they will be lost with out it .
As for the bunkers , if you are going to make them such a prominent feature and so plentiful , look after them . I know there will always be golfers who don't rake but since i know that and you know that , why doesn't the course know it and have someone constantly checking / raking ... and maybe they could also marshall a wee bit while they're out there ... and help guide people . And one more rant , the sand was very inconsistent , crusty is some spots like it hadn't been raked in days , very thin in others and deep in others . It's not rocket science , rake , replace sand as required , repeat ... daily at least , more if necessary .
Now for all those who will say ... but you shot 38 , it couldn't be that hard . Wait til you play ... with no guide ... and i am good ... okay , lucky . The back nine is much trickier with respect to bunkers off the tee and i feel as though i was robbed ... actually robbed , by having to play without the guide . It was criminal to play such a nice course ... yes , i think it is a nice course ... without the book . I lost 3 - 4 strokes by rolling into bunkers by playing one club too much or hitting driver into an area that looks clear . I shot 42 .
The worst part is that the guide book is just $ 3 ..... they charge $3 and i bet no one buys it til after they play the first time ... or maybe they just don't come back . Why not charge everyone a $1 more and give them out ... or better yet , why not just give them out anyway .... as it is required to play the first time ... maybe the first dozen times . It would speed up play - better for them on any day not to mention busy ones - and better - make that essential - for the players enjoyment .
This course could be a beauty but little things - like very few holes with benches at tees for walkers - will continue to hold it back and keep people from driving the extra miles to play it . I am not sure who to blame in particular but i know it starts at the top so lets go there .
I did mention to the proshop that it was criminal ... and yes i said criminal to them ... that anyone should be sent out to play for the first time with out the guide book ... and it is , i was robbed of two hours spent wandering the sand dunes of the back 9 .
Nice course that may someday be a nice golf club - not slagging the staff - just whoever trains them .
One last note for management , they never took my name - something that always should be registered on the tee sheet - and if you need to ask why .......

Try to play this course at least twice a year. With the heat this spring and some heavy rains the gorse is wicked. Waist high in spots and thick. Was in there on 3 holes and there was some savage slashing. It is tough but fair-emphasis on ball placement. Greens were running a little slower than I've experienced before...mainly due to a heavy rain about 2 hours before we played. Pot bunkers plentiful but fair. Always a challenge mentally and physically to make decisions on almost every shot about how you will play it. In other words very enjoyable. Risk/reward is always a choice. A pleasure to play.

Played this course about 5 years ago when it was not very old and it has grown in nicely since. Greens are kept short and rolled very nicely for a public course. Tee boxes in great shape.

Bunkers could use more sand. As nice as fescue has grown in could be thicker in places. With a bigger maintenance budget this place could be pure gold. For the price charged, a great deal and very enjoyable. A must play for anyone within driving distance.

The course conditions were dry which lead to some nice drives if you found the fairways. The greens were quick, with lines that were good if you correctly read the breaks. There's a lot of trouble on course, if you can avoid it you'll post a good score. Fairway bunkers are sure to spoil a nice drive if you mis-hit it. A fun, tough course that will test your shots. I will be playing it again.

Very demanding fields of dreams kind of place.

Not a sissy layout.

Greens okay but not great.

Place needs money

Very good course greens very good shape fast have to keep ball in play if not bring lots of balls :-))

Had a great time, wind was blowing and had the course all to ourselves on a Sunday afternoon, no waiting at all. One heck of a layout and can't wait to play again.

Played on a day calling for rain so they had quite a few cancellations thus, finished in about 31/2 hrs. Basically farm land turned into a links style course, fescue, but playable, fairways a little rough, greens were very good though. Straight up and down layout. On the website each hole has a name, but very poor tee off areas, no tee blocks, they could add a hole plaque, name of hole on it , description etc. For us, it was an hour drive, so probably wouldn't choose this as we would take two of three other courses instead if we're putting that time in to get to it. But, with the lack of trees and it's openness, would probably be good to play in the fall, no leaves. And yes, it is always windy which adds to the challenge of some non distinct holes.

Very good test for your golfing skills. Course is wide open and we played on a windy day so made playing conditions very difficult. More bunkers then you can imagine and this would be my only constructive critisim that if you have that many bunkers and is basically your claim to fame they should be in better shape i.e. enough sand in them to give the player a fare chance of getting out properly.

Very challening course, enjoyed every hole. Definte must play again

Playability is good right now (May). Fescue will be tougher later.
Good length and variety of holes.
Needs sand in the bunkers.
Excellent greens and good fairways.
Well worth trying as a Links course.
Very good value.

The best golf course I've ever played this year yet on a cloudy and windy day. First time to play links golf and Dr. Hawtree's brilliant British Open style layout did not disappoint. Long par 4's and the wicked placement of pot bunkers in the fairways and around the greens makes one think twice of going all the way. The greens were in perfect condition even at this time if the year. For a golf course this great green fee was way below than I expected. Will definitely play here again and bring my golf buddies with me.
btw thanks to Doug for playing twosome with me and for sharing his gameplan.

Great Course very Authentic links style! Feels like you are in Scotland! greens and fairways rolling fast and hard, tons of pot bunkers everywhere!

A great course, that is deceiving from the parking lot view. The bunkers make the course.

Loved the layout. The par 4s got tougher as the round went on. Excellent par 3s. Each hole had fescue and sand which was placed to force a decision off the tee. Course condition was just short of pristine but still very good. The hot deal made this the best value for money I've ever seen. Would gladly pay full price to pay this course. My only complaint would be that a few of the greens were overly sloped and difficult. Maybe I should have hit it closer. Lol.

plays tough...always windy and links stylell

good value at $40...but I wouldnt pay $70..

A few fairways were patchy and hard. Bunker quality has declined since I last played it 3 yrs ago. For a links course, the bunkers should be in exemplary shape. Greens were good and fast, and tee boxs are flat and tight. Club house and amenities are very low standard, and do not justify the prices they charge. I have played this track 3x since it opened, and I think that will be it for me.