Gateway National Golf Links

The course is in excellent condition greens were near perfect fairways near perfect lots of rough a lot of loss balls but awesome Golf Course

One of the more interesting courses in the STL Metro Area. Plays very fair, and if you keep the ball in play, you are good to go. Some of the best fairways around!

First, the course is in great shape. Just a couple of items to point out. For some reason the #4 green has been recently aerated (the only green) and when I was in the #5 greenside bunker, it didn't hardly have any sand in it. The only thing you could do is skull it across the green.

From the last time I played, there were some issues they needed to change. Especially, having water available to purchase on hot days. This time they had the bar area open to purchase water, the beverage cart was out with water and drinks and they had a lady at the 10th tee snack shop.

The rough was cut shorter and it has dried out a bit. Meaning it was much easier to find your ball in the rough.

With all these much needed changes, they still have this issue - pace of play. We waited on every tee box. The pace of play is never good at Gateway. They still have not decided to use a course ranger to help improve this.

Playing Gateway today was great. Course is hands down one of the best public courses around. Hard to find anything wrong with this course. Play it if u have the chance.

Gateway National continues to be one of the top 2, most expensive courses in the St. Louis Metro area. You would expect big things from them, but they always let you down. Let us start with what they are doing right, followed by their many areas that need improvement. One of them I feel is critical for them to address.

Course Conditions:

The best I’ve ever seen. The greens were absolutely perfect. Smooth was glass. Their rough is very thick and this is causing slow play issues highlighted below. The fairways were the firmest I’ve ever seen them for their bent grass fairways. Some of my drives were the longest ever on this course.

Drinking Water Issues (CRITICAL):

Due to COVID-19 issues, courses do not have water jugs/paper cups on the course anymore. Therefore, one would expect a course to be prepared to address this new situation. Especially the day we played – high temps in the 90’s and high humidity. Gateway National has not figured this out yet.

When you arrive, there is a new cooler in the pro shop. However, only alcoholic beverages and no water. We asked how we will get any water. We were told a cart will be coming around on the course to purchase water. We did not see the cart until the 8th tee. Then, would you believe the cart was out of water. They only had Powerade. One of our players was feeling lightheaded and left the course.

When we finished the 9th hole, Gateway National has a beverage/food snack bar at the 10th tee. However, on this warm and humid day, no one was there. I had to drive my cart to the clubhouse (1-2 minute drive in a cart). When I arrived at the clubhouse, no one could be found behind the bar to sell me some water. I had to go to the pro shop to ask if anyone is working there. There was someone in the back but there in no bell to ring to let him know you are there.

I head back to the 10th tee after this 10-minute delay. Another playing partner feels lightheaded and calls it a day. Just 2 of us finish the round and the beverage cart did finally have water on the back nine.

Pace of Play Issues:

In my previous reviews of Gateway National, I have mentioned they have a pace of play issue. Nothing has been done to improve this. Still no course ranger on the course to monitor this. Another reason why the pace of play is so slow, is the rough is too high for the thickness of their rough. On every hole, you cannot find your ball until you are standing on top of the ball. We lost numerous balls in the rough, we simply could not find.

COVID-19:

It appeared Gateway National is taking the COVID-19 issues seriously. They have a glass screen between you and the person in the pro shop and they are only taking payment by credit card. However, I asked the starter, should we get individual carts. He said we would prefer you ride together unless you have a medical reason to do so. We rode in individual carts but this statement from the starter made no sense if they are committed to the COVID-19 concerns.

Summary:

I cannot recommend this course until they fix the drinking water issue, slow play, cut the rough lower and be totally committed to the COVID-19 concerns. It is so disappointing to do this because the course is in phenomenal shape.

Played this course on January 9. It was cloudy and windy, temps in the low 50's. Basically had the course to myself, which surprised me. The course was in good shape for the time of the year. It was a great day of golf.

great course play it several times a year always in good to great condition

Best course in the STL. And in December the fairways are still green.

Gateway National is perhaps the best all-season course in St. Louis. The bent grass fairways remain green through December and the greens are always A+. On Nov. 20th, the greens were the fastest I had played in some time and we were off the path. The course is long and challenging and the par 3s require a degree of target golf. While great year-round, you will especially enjoy this course Oct. through March when other courses are still getting up-to-speed.

We played this course on one of only a few nice days this month. Even though we had snow a week earlier, the course was in great shape. We were even able to take carts out on the course.

Greens were in outstanding shape. Tee boxes were a little soft, but pretty good for this time of year.

Watch for email special deals. We were able to get a great price with lunch online.

Gateway is one of the top public courses in St. Louis ! Greens are in great shape as is almost everywhere on the course . I love the bent grass fairways which means it's the only course around that will be green all year. The course also drains faster than anywhere else around, which means it's not cart path only when most others are!

Very much fun to play while challenging with great views of the arch

The course is in great shape. It took on a lot of rain the day before but it drains extremely well.

Pace of play continues to be an issue. Waited on every shot on the back nine. Again, no course ranger on course. Not only do they need a course ranger to speed up play but to protect their golf course. With all the rain and cart path only rules, numerous carts riding around the fairways putting tire tracks in their fairways.

The green fees of 59.99 is too high for late October too.

Caught a wonderful afternoon at Gateway on Columbus Day. Course looked great and played fair. Only a once a year treat for me so was happy with the experience. Running out of weekends to play!

Great course. Can be a little pricey at peak times but always in good shape, challenging but fair. Gateway far oaks and stone wolf when kept in good shape are the places to go in the metro east.

Was not aware the greens had just been aerated and covered in sand. Made the putting game impossible.