Fall 2026 Golf

Just thought I'd post some comments about course conditions at various venues played recently, hope it aids Forum participants in their decision making.  The following is a brief look at courses played during October and November.  River Hills - The word here is consistent; each time the course is presented with good overall conditions as fairways & greens are above the mean.  Always enjoy the elevation changes on several holes, there's some tight fairways but generally it's very playable.  Sea Trail Jones - We played it when it was quite wet, so no bounce in the fairway or approaches to greens.  The overseed is down so there's a lot of irrigation going on. The greens were really good.  There's a lot of construction close to the golf course and it definitely affects play on certain holes.  Sea Trail is an active development where considerable portions of previously forested land is now open with earth moving equipment at work.  The work product spills into the course.  Arcadian Shores - Always one of my favorite layouts, as Rees Jones presents perched greens that are well bunkered.  The roughs can be a bit thin here.  You'll find that the greens are some of the best on the Strand, all protected with several bunkers that are challenging.  Sandpiper Bay - A popular course, lots of traffic with 27 holes with an active membership.  Generous off the tee so there's plenty of room for a wayward drive.  Greens are consistent, not real speedy.  The knock on this course is the cart paths... not good.  Brunswick Plantation - This course has definitely improved with better drainage, a bunker re-do (some eliminated, some reshaped), and the greens are some of the fastest you will play.  The greens are predominantly Pinehurst-like with convex shaping so the ball trickles quite a bit.  Leopard's Chase - Definitely the best of all the courses @ Ocean Ridge by far; fairways are full of grass, greens are really good, great concrete cart paths, there are deals out there to moderate the cost.  Meadowlands - Conditions have improved here over the past 2 yrs with nice fairways & greens, chipping areas can get a little skinny, plenty of room off the tee, great finishing holes on each of the nines. Crow Creek - Overseed is down, course is wet due to irrigation.  No changes here, greens seemed to have survived the summer heat but there are some spots where its thin due to bent grass survival challenges.  Arrowhead - Course is in very nice condition, interesting layout with many doglegs, holes with water, but length is not an issue.  Greens were really good and had some speed once the dew evaporated. Valley @ Eastport - Conditions can be a challenge here but I must say this was the best I have seen it.  Cart paths are not good, some construction/repair ongoing in a few spots which detracts from the experience.  Oyster Bay - Legends Group definitely struggles with this 43 yr old layout.  They don't own it so I think the budget and investment is always a big debate.  The greens were the best I have seen here in a long time.  Cart paths are marginally better but there's a long way to go.  #13 had caved into the bay a few months back so this hole is undergoing repair & renovation. Tradition - Hadn't played here in 20 yrs, a very comfortable layout, generous fairways, greens were quite slow as the staff's attention is the overseeding.  The carts were the worst I have ever seen along the Strand, ripped seats, rusted-off brackets for ice buckets & washers, lots of staining.  Rivers Edge - This course has rebounded since an earlier experience; the greens are good, fairways nice, tee boxes OK, overseed is down just not germinated.  The experience here is top shelf, driving range included in your deal and I think for the early morning slots you get coffee or juice.  Also, bottled water is provided.  The course is scheduled to close from May 17 2027 to mid October for a complete re-do of the greens along with other minor improvements.