Acorns Golf Links

With above 50 weather in January, it was nice getting out and playing. Was not expecting much at the last minute, but was pleased with the course. Not really long, but plenty of elevation changes and sharp bends to keep your interest. Being it was January I will not grade the geens/fairway conditions, I assume it's better in season.

I always enjoy playing this course. It’s always in good shape and the people are nice! Pace of play can be slow at times depending on time of day, but nothing that deters you from enjoying the course. I drive 50 miles round trip to play here and never think twice about it!

Love Acorns, always in good shape save the ball marks that plague this area, hoping Santa brings all the bumpkins a divot tool for Christmas. Only bummer is the addtn'l charge for a solo cart. Playing with a work buddy, we are not allowed to sit within 6 ft of each other at work, but expected to share a cart, or pay another 10 bucks so we could remain separated seems a little arbitrary especially in December. I completely get it in the spring/summer but December at 1030 9n the morning thinking you may run out of carts when the parking lot by the time we left was 1/8 full is silly.

Rainy, cold and windy. No one else on the course but we had a great time and will be back!

The acorns is one of the better courses in the area dollar for dollar is top 5 in the Saint Louis area.

Always love the Acorns. They are always working on the course. Greens in good shape. Need a Marshall once in awhile to move the pace of play.

I had not played the Acorns in a long time. It has a 4.5 rating and almost 97% of the golfer's recommend this course. So I gave it another try.

Just 7 miles north of the Acorns is a course called Annbriar. Rated the #1 golf course in Illinois last year by Golf Advisor. It receives a 4.8 rating and about the same percentage of golfers recommend it.

Folks, the Acorns is no Annbriar. It is so overrated on Golf Advisor. It is not a 4 star course and defenitely not near a 5 star course.

Let's first talk about the good things the Acorns offers.
The price is outstanding. $25 for a senior on a weekday. They had the maintance crew blowing leaves and pine needles off the greens, The staff is very friendly. I thought 3 holes were very picturesque: 6, 17 & 18. I thought the conditioning of the course was decent. The rough at times was not the best with a lot of erosion in places..

Now, let's look at the things that were not so great about the Acorns:

First, they did not have any carts sitting out for you to take. You had to go into the basement of the clubhouse to get your cart. I have never experienced this in my 40+ golfing career. That is not being customer friendly.

The course is poorly marked as far as distances. I only saw faded red, white and blue stripes on the cart path.
This only slows down play.

You really need some course knowledge to play this course. A range finder would be very helpful tool. Holes that are tough to play the first time are: 2, 7, 8, 10, 11 & 18. Many times you stand on the tee and have no idea where to hit it and what club to use.

Same holes are extremely difficult. Which only slows down the pace of play. We waited on every shot during our round. Hole 7. Very tight and OB left. Hole 8. Actually a pretty hole but not sure where to hit your tee shot. Hole 10, OB left, water right and water if you hit your drive too long.
Hole 11. OB left, water right, the landing area gets squeezed down to about 10 yards.

Last thing, too many holes look the same. Flat and boring. These are holes 3, 4, 5, 13, 14 & 16.

If in Waterloo, IL - if you're looking for an average course with an excellent price, the Acorns is for you.
If you want to pay for more for an upscale, wonderful design, immaculate conditioned course, then Annbriar is for you.