Magnolia Green Golf Club

*This is an updated review. For more thoughts on this course, see my full review from 3/7/18*

It didn’t take long for me to re-visit Magnolia Green GC after playing my first round here a month ago. While I wasn’t having to rush myself to finish before dark this time, I still don’t feel like this course has shown me its best side. The dormant grasses and minimal maintenance definitely takes away a bit from the overall experience, though this remains one of the best layouts in the area.

While it’s fair to point out that many courses in the area are in equally sub-par condition, I do have higher expectations for this course based on the greens fees and the reputation it has built. The bunkers are messy, the greens are getting bumpy, and there are several large areas of the rough (and even fairways) that are GIR or should be marked as such.

The service here remains top-notch with a very helpful starter and my first sighting of the year of a beverage cart girl.

My hope is that with some April rains in the forecast and warming temps, the maintenance crew will have more to work with in getting the course back in shape. For now, it’s just ok.

If you talk to any local here that’s played Magnolia Green Golf Club, you’ll almost certainly be told a version of the story of how Jack Nicklaus designers were hired to construct the back nine to complete this course and then not invited back to renovate the front nine. But what this course lacks in total fairness and continuity, it gives up nothing to beauty and a unique challenge that will have you coming back.

On the day I played it was quite rainy and I was chasing daylight most of my round, so my views on pace-of-play and of the last few holes are only partially formed. Although it was just myself and one other single on the entire course, the course still had a starter on hand to give me a good overview of the course and what to expect. And while it rained off and on throughout my round, there were never any soggy areas; the course drains very, very well.

As for the layout itself, there is no question the front nine is easier on the nerves while the back nine is arguably easier on the eyes. Wide open and inviting fairways eventually give way to narrower ones with bunkers placed right where you don’t want them. It’s a bit of a mind game though as they are fairly easy to avoid if you focus on the task at hand.

The greens are the real story though. Yes, the back nine greens are smaller and more heavily tiered and contoured, but the front nine’s aren’t exactly Fazio-style either. You’ll be challenged throughout your round to get not only direction and shape correct with your approach shots but distance too. Shots that find the front of the green (and even occasionally the center) don’t hold. If you want to hone your chipping skills, this is the course to do it; you’ll get quite a bit of practice. In terms of conditioning (again, early March here), my only complaint is the clumpiness of the fringe around the greens, which really rears its ugly head when you’re forced to land so many chips and pitches short of the putting surface.

Strategy plays a heavy hand here as well. I found multiple holes where landing left of the green guaranteed me of bogey or worse. Other holes are really much more enjoyable if you leave the driver in the bag. While there are a few blind shots I never found myself tricked by the layout, even though I had nothing to guide me along the way.

The dormant rough and painted Bermuda fairways don’t give justice to this course’s beauty. A quick google search will show you this is perhaps the prettiest golf course in the area, and I eagerly await the arrival of spring to see it in all its glory.

This is only my initial thoughts of this course and now that I live just down the street from it, I’ll have plenty more opportunities to form a more complete opinion of Magnolia Green. It probably says something that I’m looking forward to my next round here.

Great course and great price for the round. Ran out of daylight due to the pace of play and couldn't finish the last 3 holes.

My buddy and I drove 2 hours to play MG and could not have been happier. Enjoyed southern hospitality from the staff the moment we got out of our car. Beautiful, challenging but fair course, excellent condition. Greens were in amazing shape for December. What a deal we got! We'll come back.

This course is one of the very best in the Richmond Virginia area. There are no cookie cutter holes on this course and every hole will challenge you to make a shot. There are four sets of tees so you should be able to find a tee box that will suit your game well. I play from the green tee box which is one up from the tips. This provides a fantastic challenge without being too severe. Fairways are wide and fair and greens are always quick to fast. the staff and new clubhouse are super nice and most will find the experience a rewarding excursion, regardless of where you are coming from. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to challenge themselves. I'll definitely be back again and again.

I played this course for the first time a week prior to this and will be playing it a third time next week, it's that good! Even dormant the fairways are great, the greens are as receptive as they possibly can be, and the bunkers are being kept well. Many of the greens are false front and shots to one far side or the other often roll off and down into one of those well kept bunkers. The course is pretty wide open off the tee boxes, good for confidence which you'll need when your short game is challenged. I can't say enough how impressed I am with this course and the staff, but the fact I drive 83 miles just to play it should I guess. I certainly hope they keep their great deals with GolfNow going next season so I can continue putting all those miles on my car hahaha. Great course!

Son and I played here on a long weekend trip. Played with two great members from Magnolia Greens. This was a typical Nicklaus influence with some difficult greens and bunkering, but very playable. Greens were not as fast as we liked but very smooth and puttable. Layout was very nice with different holes that were not overly tough. Had a problem with getting to the driving range which was a mile away. That will rectified when the clubhouse is finished in about 2 weeks. It looks absolutely great from the outside. Would definitely play again if in the area. Only problem I see is that in my honest opinion, the greens were a little more than I think the course should be. $55.00 would be a fair price. I understand why they charge what they do now. Thanks again for a wonderful day of golf!!

After reading all the rave reviews my friend and I went to check out Magnolia and we were not disappointed for the most part. The new clubhouse is almost finished which will elevate this course for sure. The staff was super friendly from bag drop, to check in, to the driving range attendant. The course conditions were awesome for late September with fairways that had some run and greens that putted true. We teed off at 740 so as the morning wore on the greens got faster as we have had no rain in the area lately. The course has 5 tee boxes to match your game. The bunkers were in great shape and the rough was fair. The value for the money leaves something to be desired though as it was 76.00 for the round with a small bag of range balls. I have played other courses in the Central Virginia area that were far cheaper and just as nice if not nicer than Magnolia. I will be back but only during the mid week when rates are a little more reasonable.

Magnolia Green is the best public course in Richmond. Yep, I said it. Challenging layout on a surprisingly good piece of land. Undulating greens and bunkers framed by long, native grasses are some of the highlights. Plus, the staff is friendly and accommodating. A place every golfer in the area needs to check out.

This has to be one of the hardest courses that I've ever played and also the most fun that I've ever had. If you think you have the chops to make it on the PGA you have to play this course I played from the blue tees which are the members tees, if you can't carry the ball 280 plus (and straight) don't even think about the green tees. The fairways are wide but slopes and sand make you choose every shot. The rolling fairways and undulations in the greens are ridiculous. Sand traps every where, uneven lies, false fronts, false rears, backstops, I believe the best PGA professionals​would have a hard time here.

Okay - so I've heard a lot of good things about this place, so i decided to take a Friday afternoon off and check it out. Disappointing to say the least. Yes, i understand they're building a new clubhouse, and yes, housing construction can make things somewhat chaotic, however these things shouldn't be used as an excuse to cover up course deficiencies. Lack of clear directions to range and 1st hole tee-off caused me to drive around aimlessly for a while in my cart... "check in with the starter" i was told, but that proved to be very difficult as it wasn't entirely clear where he could be found - he found me teeing off on No. 1 - "always check in with the starter" (if you can find him! LOL)...greens and fairways were sub-par... pre-Made sandwiches for sale at the clubhouse - lousy. Skip this course as there are much better courses in the area.

Magnolia has always been one of my go to courses and I was looking forward to today's round. I was shocked to see fairways that are hard, burned, bumpy and bare in spots. With the amount of rain we've had in the past 2 months it is unbelievable to find the fairways in such poor condition. Greens were ok, but slow...which is also shocking. Quite a few tee boxes were bare of any grass. I would have been furious if I had paid the $60 GN rack rate. I hope they can get these conditions corrected before the hot dry months get here.

Three of us have a hard time adjusting schedules to play , and we had penciled in the 6 th . Yes stormed all morning and lightning lit the sky till an hour before our tee time. But the golf gods were smiling and sunny, breezy and clear to play. Yes soggy in places but the winter has been good here . Greens, traps fairways in great shape and the staff is always friendly and helpful. Little slow being cart path only, but very understandable and love the fact course is in such good shape . Once the clubhouse and bar are open will be great on and off the course. Yes ride to first tee is a long ride and the carts are not the best, but finished clubhouse will be a very nice addition. Practice facilities are good but under used with welcome center so far away. Layout is always fun and yes the challenge is the greens . Once facilities complete will be one of the best venues in the area .

Although the greens had recently be aerofied, they were in very good shape.

We played the course on a beautiful, but chilly day (temps high-50's). The course looks fantastic this early in the season. Green fairways and putting surfaces with light brown rough areas and the bunkers had plenty of sand.

There's a ton of construction, both for the new golf clubhouse and surrounding homes, so there was no peace and quiet throughout the entire round. The current clubhouse is about a mile from the practice area and first tee. You need to show up 10-15 minutes earlier just for the ride to the starting area.

Despite no rain in the area for almost a week play was ruled as cart path only. Fairways were dry and fast, but you couldn't ride to your ball even at 90 degrees. Really? That made this hilly, unforgiving course to be even tougher than it needs to be. There was no one off in front of us so we got to establish our own pace, but by the 6-7th hole a couple of 4-somes had caught us because they were ignoring the cart path rule. So, to speed up, we decided to ignore it as well. Of course, by the 9th hole the Marshall caught us and reprimanded us but said nothing to the groups playing behind us. They rode all over the fairways through the entire round.

It's a very attractive course, very tough with some of the craziest greens and championship level pin placements I've ever seen. Tons of deep-lipped bunkers made it a rough round for our group (we shoot mid-to-high 80's).

Despite being somewhat local and getting a pretty reasonable rate from Golfnow I don't think we'll be back. Too tough and weird rules enforcement made for a less than enjoyable day.

Challenging, fun and yes greens are the challenge here. Very playable layout , mixture some short, couple long but have to learn the greens and pay close attention to pin position. Yes course still drying out from the 8 inches of snow but still great shape and slowed greens some , but for some these greens are normally too fast . People here are very friendly and definitely enjoy helping you have a great round. Don't expect to be alone here, always active but have found here the golfers know etiquette and how to keep pace. Wonder how active will be once clubhouse is finally done? One of my favorite courses in the area .