Hey man, id just be happy to get out there an play some golf! Snow, wind and ice up here in my parts! Enjoy your round!

Simply going off of reviews is tough because everyone enjoys golf couses for different reasons and everyone enjoys golf at different skill levels. Hey, February golf si better than no golf!

Right now you are in the height of the season down here and the prices are at their highest of the year even at marginal courses.

I try to find multiple reviews and take a drive by - when not a course recommended by someone I know. Not perfect, on a trip to Martin County, I missed a TPC course that looked great and was reasonably priced. The one I did pick was an ok value. I probably should go to a public course 19th hole and ask the locals. More honest opinions and more fun than sitting on a hotel room on a pad.

They might of been old reviews and the course might of been in better condition when they made their review.

I think reviews on the whole are misleading because people's opinions are so different.

I don't put much stock in online reviews. If I can't find someone on a forum such as this, or someone I know, they are taken with a grain of salt.

One thing I have done in the past is look a satellite images for the course. While the data may not be completely up to date, it does help.

interesting I tend to find the exact opposite, majority of times I find the reviews on golfnow and other sites/apps rate courses way worse than I think they are. all in all I don't give too much consideration to them because I feel liek the majority of people leaving comments are on one extreme or the other and people who had a good to above good experience generally just don't leave comments. the worst is when you see a crap rating and their comments are "the course was in great condition but the line to get a hotdog was too long"

I've had decent luck with golf advisor in the past. i always try to look at the time stamp of when the review was posted to get an idea for course conditions for the season

Been there done that. Folks are telling me that many of these so called reviews, are actually written by staff, or people connected with the facility. Be it a golf course, restaurant, hotel, etc. Makes it hard to actually know the truth.

Had the same misfortune last fall in Myrtle Beach. One of my buddies from California had wanted to play Leopards Chase course, part of the Big Cats complex where Tigers Eye is. We'd played Tigers Eye a number of times, nice layout and always in good shape, and had played Leopards about 10 years ago when it first opened. We tried it again, and it was a dog patch. The greens were horrid, with giant weeds going through them all, the fairways weren't much better, the bunkers not maintained either. The water hazard near the 18th green that used to be this wonderful waterfall, hadn't been maintained since the first Bush Administration. Obviously not a dime had been put into this place since the 10 years previous when we were there last. We wrote out honest reviews and killed the place BUT did mention that the staff, who had the misfortune of working this dog track were the nicest and most polite we encountered all week.

Speedy , where were you and can you name the course? Between myself and 2 buds we can cover most of central Fl. for an honest review. Course conditions can change fast down here due to bugs ,sandhill cranes and dollar weed and numerous fungi . just sayin.

I go to Florida to visit family at least two weeks a year, sometimes three or four, usually over multiple visits. I know all the courses in the vicinity of the Sarasota-Bradenton area (I have many family members there), either by actual experience playing them, or by reading reviews on GolfNow. I have found many really nice courses on GolfNow, which have now become regulars on my go-to list, as well as some that I played only once and will likely never play again due to the disappointment I found when I played them the first time.

For me, I rely on GolfNow for honest assessments. And, I also make a habit of leaving detailed reviews on GolfNow after I play any course down there (or anywhere for that matter). When I check reviews, I take everything with a grain of salt. I realize one man's idea of what is good is not necessarily the same as another's. However, I look for recent reviews written by people who are of similar type to me (i.e. handicap, age, frequency of play, etc.) which is typically available for most reviewers on GolfNow. Most importantly, I look for detailed reviews. Not simple one liners which say "Nice course, had a great day, would go back again." I want good info/real substance. I try to leave a lot of detailed info when I give reviews, asking myself "What would I like to know about this course if I never played it before?". My reviews are typically long-winded (very much like many of my posts), but they are full of feedback that should be helpful to anyone interested in that course.

If you are in the Sarasota-Bradenton area and are still looking for some great places to play, I can offer some excellent suggestions. This time of year, though, it will be pricey.

I purchased a Suncoast Golf Trail card for 50 bucks which will pay for itself in discounts over my visits in 2019. As an example, one of the courses on the card is Lakewood National, in Bradenton, where they just held a Web.com Tour event a couple weeks ago. (The one where one of the players took a 17 on the 2nd hole!) The regular price for a morning tee time, in season, is around $140-150. However, I pay about 75 bucks! Out of season the prices drop a lot, but I still pay 1/2 of what the rack rate is. So if you will be there awhile, I would check out the Suncoast card. It covers a bunch of courses from Tampa down to the Port Charlotte area I think. Prices aren't all as good as the Lakewood National deal, but all offer some sort of helpful discount and/or benefit.

Oh, and just a thought, if you are in the Tampa-Sarasota area and money is no object, Streamsong isn't too far away. Jus' sayin'.

Hey Speedy, whereabouts are you in Fla.?? I'm somewhat familiar with the west coast, Tampa, Clearwater area. Played Dunedin CC. before. Cool course with lots of history. Enjoy your trip!
Play Well,
Steve S.

It is hard because reviews are subjective.
Subjective to the player and skill level, as well as their previous golf experiences.
Subjective to the golf course and weather conditions of the day that was played.
but living in Michigan and being 16 degrees F, or -8.8 C today.
I rather golf on a bad course than no golf.
When traveling, I try to hit sports stores and pro shops and try to get the scoop of the local hidden gems.
You know you spot someone else with a Titleist hat, and instantly make a connection.

I grew up on a scruffy city course in the 1970s and 80s - shaggy greens and dirt tee boxes. So I have learned to appreciate any place I play because every course is somebody's home course and their little bit of heaven.

Hi
I am playing a new course next week and it always gives that little extra buzz
It won’t be at its best as we are the end of winter but I am really looking forward to getting out there and hitting some shots
Just the thought of having a coffee with friends in a new environment followed by golf is enough to be happy!