Thundering Waters Golf Club

We played as a twosome and had a great experience. The course is located close to downtown Niagara Falls making it convenient if visiting and staying in the hotels downtown (less than a 5 min drive). The staff were very nice and the starter took 10 minutes to give us some tips on playing the course for the first time. He was friendly and welcoming. The course seemed to be undergoing some maintenance in certain areas, including aeration on the greens - but all courses do that at some point so nothing to complain about!

The course layout was interesting and each hole kept you focused on making a plan of attack to navigate the hazards, including the many DEEP bunkers. Playing with a very high handicapper, we found it helpful that although there are lots of hazards, you CAN play around them or avoid them if you don't mind an extra shot or two; this made the course challenging yet enjoyable for both of our skill levels.

You pass the food shelter at least 4 times (maybe more?) so there is no drink cart, but the shelter is fully stocked and the server was very friendly.

Despite the greens undergoing maintenance, the rest of the course maintenance was very good. The fairways are nicely kept, the rough is long but reasonable, and the tee decks were well kept as well.

We played mid-day Monday and did not run into any other groups in front, nor did we have any groups behind us. Pace was fantastic. A previous comment about new homes being too close to the course is exaggerated ... only two or three holes have homes nearby and they are well enough away to not be intimidating or distracting. I did not see any carts with radios during our round.

Overall a great course and experience, we would recommend and definitely will return in future years.

If you can't stick your approach shot on these greens, you'll never, because the greens at Thundering Waters were so soft and receptive, I almost needed a longer ball repair tool to fix my ball marks.

Pros:

> The staff was very friendly and made us feel welcome

> The course is so fun to play. It's designed to challenge all golfers...as long as you play from the right tees.

> The course appeared healthy and in good condition. The rough was lush, the fairways green and moist (not dry).

> The half-way house is perfectly placed in between holes.

Cons:

> There is only a putting green to warm up on. They have cages to make a few swings, but it is not like you can see your ball slicing, like on a real range.

> The population boom in Niagara is crowding this course. There are new houses popping up real close to the tee boxes and greens, and kinda makes it feel uncomfortable.

> The carts no longer have large tablets with yardages on every hazard you could think of.

> Offering carts with (loud) radios, only lead to annoying other golfers, and isn't my idea of golf. Maybe I am too old (40yrs), but radios have no place on a golf course.

Phenomenal course, always enjoy myself. I was paired with two members who shared the course does NOT have Marshalls on it. Too many golfers who are slow spend too much time looking for balls in hazards OB etc. Strongly recommend the course employing a course Marshall to maintain pace of play.

beautiful course lots of sand & water to deal with especially around the greens

Can't wait to play again

Been here most years and have never been treated really well by the staff. Lukewarm reception this time. Had to put our bags on the cart. Pro shop staff was not very attentive or friendly. Off right on time. Pace was good. Tee decks were not well maintained - hard to find a spot with grass for your tee and a place to stand. Some grass just off the fairways was 6-8 inches long. Drove over or past our balls a few times. Greens are in great condition! Wouldn't go without a deal on the price. Too many other great courses in the area, that are better maintained and more challenging, to make this one a destination. We'll skip this one.

Played as a Threesome. The pace of play was very enjoyable. The tee boxes were in excellent Condition, the fairways were in perfect condition and the greens ran very true making putting challenging which is what I expect from a challenging course. I will definitely be back to play again.

A course bearing John Daly's name that plays 6000 yards from the gold tees? OK, so length isn't what it's all about but this course takes target golf to a whole new level. If you are a 10 or better you can play this golf course quite easily (in fact probably more effectively) with nothing more than your irons and maybe a hybrid. It was like a never ending game of Bingo Bango Bongo.

Course itself was in pretty decent shape. The greens were quite a bit above average and the fairways superb. Tee boxes were a little rough but heck - you do get to put it on a peg at least!

The staff was helpful and friendly everywhere we encountered them from the pro shop to the starter to the halfway house. There is no cart service on the course but you crisscross past the halfway house about 37 times so grabbing a drink or a snack is not a problem.

There are a lot of good choices in the area and despite the good course conditions and staff this one certainly wouldn't make my top 5 in terms of a golf experience.

After playing numerous courses in the Niagara and Hamilton area during the current drought, this course was in immaculate condition and seems unaffected by the weather. The greens, fairways and the surrounding rough were well watered and were easy to hit from. The course played very positional making it challenging in every aspect of my game.

The staff were friendly and courteous which made it all the more enjoyable. I'm looking forward to going back and playing again! :)

Played the Blue tees, did not engage too much in the risk/reward, kept it in the fairway, and was rewarded with a solid round. My honest assessment is that from the Blues, the course is fairly easy - nearly all the par 5's reachable in two and the par 3's short. We avoided the golds because that pushes 4 of the par 3's over 200 yards and we had a non-regular golfer with us. I think a mix of Blue and Gold tees would make an excellent test. Was fun to have 6 each par 3,4,5, got to use some different clubs.

Greens and fairways were beautiful, rough was in good shape and thick, and a fair punishment for not keeping it in the fairway. Most tee boxes were in great shape, maybe 2 or so were pretty chewed up where the tee markers were placed for the day. Finally, some of the bunkers need some more sand, there are some spots the mesh pops through the sand - the only reason I deducted a star on condition - everything else was top notch. The pro show attendant and starter were both helpful and pleasant, the latter gave us a yardage book which came in handy all day. All that said, I enjoyed the day and course immensely and will definitely return and probably play this course a 2-3x a year coming from Buffalo. A great deal on GolfNow.

Golf course is beautifully laid out and nicely maintained but very challenging for the recreational golfer. Tricky tee shots, fairway shots at green approaches. Not for the beginner golfer or anyone that difficulty keeping the ball on the fairway. Lots of course management, skills required to play this course.

This is a great course to play...but they need to be a little more assertive with the slower players

to play 18 holes in 5-1/2 hrs seems a little slow to me

We had a very enjoyable day of golf at Thundering Waters golf. This is our second time playing this course , and we plan to add this course as a must play every year when we visit. The course is in excellent shape , and the layout is very interesting. It keeps you thinking v

Played this once before about 5 years ago...

I had forgotten how challenging and penal it is.

Great golf course. Fun to play.

The driver was not always the preferred club on the 4, 5's.

The green side bunkers needed sand but their maintenance crew was working on that on the day we played.

That said, stay out of the bunkers. They're deep!

course was in great condition- tied fair ways - driving is not always the best choice

Bunkers required a lot of work, in some instances mesh in bunkers showing above sand. it does not appear that any new sand has been added since last year resulting in hard pack bunkers with little sand.

The course is very dry for this time of the year, advantage roll but a negative when trying to hold greens.

Many of the greens are spotty resting in poor rolls..

The staff was very friendly and pace of play ok.

N two holes in same. The most traps I have ever seen and many of them hidden. Have to know the course course as ca not see many Hassards without a guide you are cooked

Staff was great and able to play in 4hrs

Course length from white Tees allows a high handicapper a chance to score

Course staff most accomodating

First time playing Thundering Waters on 5/1 and the course was in great shape (I can only imagine what it would look like in mid season). Friendly and accommodating staff.