I hope the weather improves though it's not looking good - predicting possible snow on the 13th and 14th
Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions so far, very helpful! Based on all of the great feedback, The plan was to target Prestwick and TPC but, as @undercover-golf-pro noted, the forecast for the week of 2/15 does not look great at the moment. Temps will likely not hit 50 until later in the week (low 40s early in the week) with lots of rain (snow?) in the forecast. Current forecast is for temps running 10-20 degrees below average for that time of year.
Unless the forecast improves by the middle of this week, I'd say we're leaning towards canceling the trip...not worth a 14+ hour drive if the weather isn't going to cooperate. Fingers crossed!
Thanks again for all of the suggestions. While the forecast has improved slightly, we decided to postpone the trip this time around. Sounds like there's been a stretch of wet weather to start the year and with the trend expected to continue next week, along with below average temps, it just doesn't make sense right now. We'll revisit for April vacation.
Hit 'em long and straight, not too often!
Once again, a big thanks to everyone for the recommendations.
We arrived on Sunday afternoon and I played TPC two days ago (8 AM tee time) and Caledonia today (8:24 AM). I had obviously heard great things about both courses on here a few months ago when we cancelled our Feb. trip and from other people in the interim.
Fast forward two months, and I heard from a few other people that TPC was in great shape and that was definitely the case - other than two greens with a little damage (hydraulic oil?), that course was in the finest shape of any I've played down here from tee to green. The rough is penalizing if you miss in the wrong spots as it should be, and a few pin placements were a little diabolical, but otherwise that was a great track in really good shape and we couldn't have asked for a nicer day with temps in the low 70s. We were the first group out and the starter asked us to slow us down on 7 (that was a first!) because they double stack the 1st/10th tees and they were worried we'd be waiting at the turn. It all worked out fine though as the pace of play was a little under 4.5 hours.
Today's round at Caledonia started out on the colder side with temps in the mid-40's at tee off. Thankfully it warmed as the day went on but those first few holes were a little brisk (and mind you, I left Boston five days ago and it was snowing). I liked the layout of Caledonia and some of the different shots you have to hit and it's definitely a scenic course. The people were great, there were nice facilities, and the chowder at the turn was phenomenal! That said, this is easily the most expensive course I've played in many trips down here and I'm not sure it's worth $220 compared to other options. Especially relative to TPC two days earlier which was 1/3 cheaper, or Tidewater (haven't seen its recent condition) for nearly half the price. Some of the tee boxes at Caledonia needed some work, there were multiple bunkers that were unraked and/or basically mud/hardpack, and other spots were just rough around the edges. I saw a beverage cart out on the course but it didn't make it to our group once in 18 holes. I'm glad I got to play the course - had I played 36 today and gotten the replay rate at True Blue it probably would have been more palatable. I guess I had higher expectations based on feedback here and from other people I talked to in the past few days, the good experience at TPC two days earlier, and the (much) higher cost.
