Sea Trail ranks and condition

ST Byrd was renovated last summer, so it's a good choice.    
 
ST Maples will be renovated this summer, after years of complaints.  
ST Jones does not get consistent condition reports.  
  
I have not played Sea Trail lately, but based on reports, Byrd is
possibly your only good ST option for good conditions.      
 
If you still want to get the ST 3 play, maybe play Maples + Jones  
first as warmups or save them until later. 

@artmbgolf I played ST Maples this winter and even though they are closing it down soon for renovations, it was in the best shape it has been in years. It was a good value.

ST Jones needs some TLC as with Byrd closed to rebuild it got the majority of play and it shows, some wear and tare. played it last week and greens had a lot of Poa anna in them.

Played Sea Trail Byrd on 02/27/2025, very windy, cool conditions.  New putting surfaces, quite a few trees removed to open up some canopy to the fairways, some better maintenance performed although it still feels very much like the course prior to renovations.  I sense that the renovations will take some time, especially the greens as speed was a bit slow (maybe protective mowing), some surrounds show evidence of renovation, and bunker sand needs to settle a bit more.  It's a good layout, #18 is a great finisher.  Renovations to the clubhouse are very impressive, lots of money & resources used here.

Playing Byrd this Thursday, 03/27. Will report back with current conditions. 

@dch1950 

@dci09620  It will be interesting to read your report.

Played Sea Trail Maples today, 03/25/2025, perfect weather with temps about 70, light breeze, and full Carolina blue sky.  Fairways are quite full, good lies abound and there is some bounce & roll.  Greens are very nice, also full of grass, speed about 8 or 8.5, they hold very well.  A few greens do have some poa annua which makes for a bumpy ride to the hole.  Tees are also nice.  The course will be closing this summer for extensive renovation with new greens, cart paths, etc.  The staff is currently working on tree removal, clearing some growth along several fairways, stump removal, etc.  The areas surrounding the greens, any areas off the fairway, and around tee boxes is very, very thin, virtually no grass or worn-out, dormant areas.  Chipping & pitching demands excellent touch and ball striking.  In addition, there are a few holes which have a mole issue near the greens so it looks a bit unkempt.  Personally, I've always liked this Dan Maples layout; interesting holes, some good elevation changes to add character & dimension.  The variable length of holes plays quite tough as a couple of par 4 holes are over 400 yds even from the senior tee.  And, there are a few which measure less than 300 yds to provide some balance.  Staff was excellent, pace of play was 4 hr 10 min.  The clubhouse is a bit spartan, no grille room, few snacks & drinks available.     

We played the Jones course recently,fairways were pretty good but the greens were bumpy. Great course to see some gators. I like the layout of this course. Byrd course is in the best condition right now according to some locals who were playing the same day we were.

The previous ownership had the courses in terrible shape, nothing but complaints from the last 2 years. So we stopped sending rounds there, then the ocurse was sold and the new owner rennovated Byrd Course and clubhouse. So we sent a couple of rounds there to see what the deal was. We received complaints about the courses and the atmosphere, "this place is like a construction zone". So I reached out to other packagers tosee if they are haivng simular experiences, which they confirmed. The new Owner (he developed the TSA Check Point Software) is trying hard and spending a ton of money buuuut I'm waiting until they update all three course. I need to be able to be able to send people there with confidence. This past Fall season, we sent them a few rounds to test them out and see what our clients thought. Reports were thatt they are not there yet. So we didn't sell them this Spring, we'll wait til they get all three courses right, not just 1 of the 3 courses, and the 2 clubhouses. They're trying .... bu tneed time to get it right. 

You guys go on your golf vacation once a year and I need to know the courses we schedule for you to be right. You waited all year to play them and I'm of the thought proceess to where - I had rather send you to a facility where I KNOW the courses are in good shape, than send you to a place that MAY OR MAY NOT be in good shape. Why do I think like this: I value my rounds of golf on my perosnal golf vacation and i'm sure you do too! 

I love hearing the feedback in this thread, it helps me do my job ... 

@bnlongdriver 
 
East Coast golf has managed courses and partner courses, where the partner courses 
are low end mid and some near top courses.  I don't know what they do with the partner
courses, but the managed courses often are a little below expectations, especially now
that the previous value courses are $100+ peak season.   The courses are ok/fine for 
local card rates, but I think package golfers are going to be expecting more at the 
$100+ courses, that were $70 a couple years ago.   
 
Then you have the customers who expect more for $100, when they see a course 
that is about equal to their $50 courses at home.         
  
When I look at tee sheets in peak season, the premium courses are filling in AM 
regardless of the dynamic rate, although I think many regular groups are booking 
early.    Some days this spring, Grande Dunes is over $300, higher than The Dunes.