Bluewater Bay Resort - Lake Course

First, the positives: the staff was extremely friendly; plenty of sand in the bunkers and they were consistent through the course.

As we passed the Lake Course as we were arriving through the neighborhood to the clubhouse I was completely taken back at its poor condition. It was a great relief to learn from the clubhouse staff that the Lake Course has been closed about a year now, taking the same fate as the Magnolia Course several years ago. Now only the Bay and Marsh courses remain at this once pristine development. I say once pristine, because Bluewater Bay is now an almost unrecognizable and heartbreaking shadow of its previous self. This is first noticed when one looks to the practice green and across the driving range. I can not do justice to just how much this course has fallen apart since my previous visit a little over a year earlier. The fairways are just as narrow as I remember, making accuracy a premium. However, the once lush fairways are now predominantly dead Bermuda grass or bare dirt pan. The rough areas have mostly turned to bare sand. The tee boxes are also overwhelmingly sand and in poor condition. Along the edges of the greens, the fringes, and across every single green are bare dead areas. This course is the best example I have seen in the area of what happens when poor management drains the funds from a course and choose not to reinvest. The only thing likely to save this course will be a major cash infusion, but I don't see that being a likely choice. There are far too many courses in the area for the same price range but in far better condition. It hurts me to say this because Bluewater Bay was once well worth my 1.5 hour drive, but now it isn't worth a 10 minute hop. I will not be returning and I recommend any readers to this post should stay away from this course. Heart wrenching at how disappointing this course has become.

Challenging course with narrow driving areas that requires accuracy. Greens have been punched but I was warned and they putted better than expected. Great value for the money and the pace was fantastic.

The staff is friendly, pleasant and accommodating. The course is in fairly good shape and enjoyable to play. A couple on the bay holes are very scenic. It is a great value and worth the visit!

Course was in good shape and really enjoyed the layout. Staff was very friendly and made us feel like we were members.

This course was in awful shape. The greens were half dirt, fairways were dead, and the tee boxes were not well kept.. It looked like the course was about to close.

Great bang for your buck. Great views!! Good course that doesn’t require a long drive competitor. Greens in solid shape. Staff very friendly and helpful. Would play again for sure.

Fun and challenging course layout and the staff is very friendly and helpful. The golf pro, Fritz, even gave us a free lesson before our tee time.

First 9 slow 3 hours 2nd 9 much better 2 hours. Course recovering well from previous high winds/rain a couple of days before. Greens slow. Overall good conditions and great weather today. Fun round.

C purse was good shape and everyone very friendly and helpful except cafe employees they acted as if I was a pain for being in there on that day

Course was wet from heavy rains the day before. A reality in Florida. Cart paths only, no problem , but greens were terrible, filled in several places on multiple holes with divot sand. No cart services, no mention of that at registration. Saw a marshal twice. Friendly but uncomfortable about the course.

I think this course has great structure and beauty BUT has not been maintained. Only one nine opened of three, and then found the third nine has been closed by developer for more housing.

Very disappointing for our group.

The course was much better than last year, but their was a lack of grass on the fairways and we got rained on,drenched. The staff was excellent and still had a good time.

Course layout requires cart almost mile between 9 and 10 holes due to closure of Lakes Course today. Played Marsh and Bay both good condition for season. Much improved from last year especially greens. Only snafu ordered hot dogs in restaurant at the turn took 20 minutes to get order. One group played through while twosome of our group that did not order hot dogs waited. They were great hot dogs but wait much too long at turn.

We selected a cool but sunny day to play Bluewater. Had a great time. A bit of frost was on the course at 8am so we were an hour late playing but had a great time. Fritz was extremely friendly.

The course was in pretty fair shape for the time of year. It was significantly better than the last time I played. It was cart path only; although, I don't think that was necessary. I do understand that some people don't pay attention to low spots, but to cross 90 degrees and return would have made it less time consuming.