Pound Ridge Golf Club

Played here with a 11:30 tee time on a Sunday at the discounted rate of $100/player (usually $210). I figured the course would be packed but it was totally empty, except for the two-some behind us who we saw from time to time. The tee box's were in poor condition and some of the landscaping was a bit below what you'd expect at a $200 per round course. We finished 18 (as a two-some) in just under 3 1/2 hours. Everyone that works at the course is extremely nice, food/drinks were great but I wish the course was in better shape.

If you expect even fairway lies and flat greens go somewhere else! It's everything people say about a Pete Dye course. Course was in great shape and the greens were very fast. It is a bit tight in spots and it always make you think about what club to use off the tee but all in all a treat to play.

It was a nice layout, not as challenging as some of the other reviews led me to believe. I found the fairways generous on most holes, with fair landing areas and aiming points. The green at the par-3 15th proved to be very narrow and difficult to hit as some other reviews warned. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The food in the restaurant was awful and overpriced, but there are no other options in the immediate area. Overall, a very nice, scenic course that I would play over and over again if it was $80-95. But at $175+ I will probably only play on special occasions.

Over-designed course, over-undulated greens, really bad bounces off rocks and mounds, can't even tell which tee markers to use because colors are not distinct enough; very poor turkey club sandwich for $14 and $7 beers; poor beverage cart; greens in poor condition with some kind of black fungus or something; sand traps very inconsistent;

5 rounds @ PRGC this season officially makes me a glutton for punishment. The first round I was filled with excitement and awe. The after 2pm special of $120 was the right number for a better-than-most, pay to play golf course. It's about 20 min from my house, and I can skip the highway. It was designed and built by Pete Dye and his wife. Yep, So far, so good.
There are 5 sets of tees, each being progressively and aggressively more gut wrenching. I use the term gut wrenching for the following reasons: Even your best drive can be penalized. The only even lies on the golf course are on the tee boxes. There are skiing mogul styled humps and bumps, there are fairway laying boulders that could hide a transformer, rock walls that belong in the X games, fully blind tee shots, multi tiered putting surfaces and run offs that don't stop running off. The par 5 13th has all of what I just mentioned, along with the narrowest fairway, firmest, smallest, most undulating green on the course, is tree lined, and it's the first green I've ever known where you if you're above the hole, it's entirely possible you can putt it off the green, down the side, across the path, and into the hazard. (I know this because my eagle putt from 8 feet lipped out, and disappeared into the wilderness) 3 in, 4 out, 5 on, 6. Wow. Nice bogie save.
A few positives to explain why I keep going back. The carts are outfitted with GPS, two ice cold water bottles, a towel, and a yardage book. The pace of play averages under 4 hours for me, once in 2:20 playing solo. There is a beverage cart on the course, and it's adequate, not great, but good enough. The condition of the grass is better than most, but the greens need help. Like, new grass, and a new greens keeper. They are firm, and roll true, but are wearing thin, and there are spots where a fungus is overtaking and killing the grass.
Somewhat exciting is that the USGA just re rated the course, and surprise surprise, it's harder than once thought.
The back two tees are now 74.2/147, and 76/150. I personally played both, the tips now 3 times. A score of 78 posts as a 1.5 from the tips in case you're a handicap keeping gentlemen.
More about the back tees, if you don't carry it 300 on trackman, don't even bother. The second hole is the number one handicap hole on the course. It's 485 uphill, and 4/5 rounds it's been into the wind. Making it play easily over 500 yards. In fact, 4/5 rounds it's had a back pin, so really it's been playing closer to 500 without the wind or uphill.
While I'm at it, the word relentless comes to mind as well. As do the words arduous, cruel, punishing, heartless, & emotionally sacrificial.
Pro-con-pro, it's a pretty piece of property, that's perched high the back country. Bring your friends, bring lots of golf balls, all of your patience, and more golf balls. In fact, they should sell them on the beverage cart. I don't see a 10 handicap or higher losing less than 2 sleeves.
Oh, one more thing, the range, with its "reduced distance golf balls" serves no purpose. Roll some putts and practice your chipping, you're going to use every club in your bag, every profane word ever written and every muscle fiber in your body to save bogie.

This is the second time I have played here. Tee boxes, fairways and greens are in excellent shape. Fairways have quite a few divots that are not replaced or sand filled. Fairways are narrow and many tee shots you can not see the green or landing areas. Staff is friendly and helpful. Pace of play is excellent. I played Granite markers which is about 6,200 yards. Expensive to play but I found a discount to play at $120.

We were very much excited to play this course. As is the risk in having high expectations, we found ours mostly disappointed. A wiser man than me once said It's better to have low expectations; if you choose to play here you would do well to heed this axiom.

Some of our disappointment came from things the course should just be doing better. Maintenance felt behind with teeboxes and fairways looking decidedly worn out still relatively early in the season. The greens were in the same shape; more bumpy than they should have been and not without the occasional burned out patch of worn grass. To its credit, the staff did keep the traps well maintained and the fairway, rough, and first cut grasses are well managed.

The staff were attentive and generally not a source of disappointment. Their main sin and is not doing more to alleviate the pace of play. When you check in you sign something promising to play in under 5 hours (which I liked) but there's no enforcement of that after the pro shop. Although the design of the course does make me think that even a squadron of rangers might not do much to expedite play.

Basically the chief disappointment with this course is that its too difficult for what it should be. Put simply, the course is over-engineered in the way that only modern designs - with access to the miracles of terraforming - are formed. Someone should have taken away Pete Dye's copy of AutoCad. Nearly every fairway is uneven turning a good drive in the middle into a lie where the ball will probably still be below or above your feet. Too many holes play long and narrow demanding you follow a very precise approach - not a bad thing but it just happens too often.
There's good use of visual tricks and some of the chicanery is masterful. But he just does TOO MUCH of it such that it begins to feel unfair. Doubtless the course owners felt the need to really manipulate the terrain but they would have a stronger design if Pete kept things just a tad more subtle.

Minor disappointments: you can only walk to the range and they use something called limited flight golfballs. The restrooms don't have any running water - they're basically port-a-potties with a very beautiful house erected around them. The bar cart has only pedestrian beers stocked and getting snacks on the course is limited to dry and packaged goods. The restaurant is unmemorable and they should have golf course staples, like unsweetened ice tea.

Positives: The course is nicely appointed with some beautiful stone walls, wooden bridges, and man-made ponds which do contribute to a feel of luxury. The land is not naturally stunning, and so credit is due on how the designers were able to manufacture a picture-esque scene.

Mostly the flaw in Pound Ridge is that it sets the expectation of a premium round but doesn't deliver. The search for an exceptional golf experience in the $150+ price point in the area will have to continue without the 'Ridge.

A true Pete Dye signature. Blind tee shots to fairways that are actually more generous than they appear. However this a course for straight hitters and good course managers. Length is not a necessity but accuracy absolute must.

Visually stunning with mounds and pot bunkers in creative places and built seamlessly into the surrounding foliage.

Great challenge for mid to low handicappers. Looking forward to a re-challenge!

Tricked up golf course would have to play it again to give a fair review

and fun to play, but overpriced. At $210, you would expect the fairways, traps, and greens to be in pristine condition; however, they were far from pristine.

I was really excited to play this course on saturday but I was a little disappointed. For $210 or $120 twilight i expect pristine conditions and a fair test of golf. The conditions were just good and the course layout was just too hard. The fairways at pound ridge look like moguls at a ski resort. You have to get extremely lucky to get a flat lie and you will most likely hit a few shots where you have the ball a few feet above or below your feet. The greens for the most part are tough but there were a few that were dye-abolical. They roll true though and you can definitely make putts. Be prepared for a lot of blind shots and some mind boggling holes. Par 3 15th is a green 10 yards wide and 40 yards long has a hazard in the front and a huge boulder behind it. There is NO where to bail. Either hit this tiny sliver of a green or be prepared to watch your ball ricochet off the boulder into the hazard. From the tips there is 216 yard par 3 downhill to a tiny green with a 10 feet drop off at three sides. Calling the tee shot scary is an understatement. The last hole from the tips has a 100 foot tree placed directly in front of you blocking the path to the fairway. You either have to go around it or over it. Let me tell you it is not easy. This place will test both your physical skills and your mental fortitude. One positive : The practice facilities were great. Awesome short game area with a bunker with perfect sand and a grass range with low compression ball. Unfortunately i will probably not come back out here. Bethpage Black is a much better test of a mans golf game

Course feels cramped and condition was not the best. Mowers were going all day. For 165 I would expect them to at least stop while I'm hitting. Far better bang for your buck elsewhere. Try great river better layout and condition.

Great course if you can afford it. 250 a round is too much and the limited range is a disappointment. The course makes up for it but tough to make it my regular spot.

Great course conditions were impeccable . There is not a flat lie here, makes for challenging approaches . The greens run true and fast. Very fair if you keep it in play.
Use the gps it doesn't lie. Third time here gets better and better.

We had a great time. The couse was in very good shape and a real challenge. Enjoyed every minute of it and will be back. Tough greens and really need to think. Shot in the eighties but had at least five three putt greens.

Overpriced, snooty and tricked up. The old nine holer that used to be here was a better place to play!

Excellent, challenging but fair course. Overall in excellent shape but greens were recently punched so a bit slow and bumpy. Would play again at after 2pm rate in a heartbeat. Full fare is a bit much though.

I have always been a member at a private club and playing on these conditions and with the intensity of the course was amazing .
The course is not for Beginners. It's challenging but fun and interesting!!

For the GolfNow discount it is great. Course played great even after horrible rain the day before.

Pound Ridge is overall, an excellent golfing experience. With a slope from the tips in the mid 140's, this is definitely the best public golf course in Westchester, in terms of difficulty. Other than Bethpage Black, it is probably the best in the metro area for public courses. The layout is difficult, but not that it is unplayable. In addition, the course is in great condition, just like at a top notch private club, and many of the holes are so extremely well-designed, and beautiful that you forget NYC is only 40 or so minutes to the south. It is a must play, and is worthy of at least consideration for a professional tournament at some level.