I actually lived on Blackhawk, my old house is in the background when you take your sprinkler drop. I would like to point out that the grass you see on the mounds behind the house was planted by me, it was all dirt. I bought several pallets of sod because I was tired of the dust and ugly view. I've since moved on, but it looks like it hasn't changed much. When I moved there in 2008, they used to have the best greens in the area, fairways always looked like a bombing range.
@@k.i.s.s..this idea is foreign to me since you can’t bring any adult beverages on the course, which is state law. Of course, many of us allegedly put beers in our bag on ocassion. I’d gladly pay $5 for me to be able bring my own booze on the course, but I don’t know if that policy is law or just because they don’t have a liquor license. In Indiana, if the course serves booze, you can’t bring your own and there are signs everywhere reminding you.
I died laughing watching this video. You should win an academy award for your play and commentary. A must-see for all golfers. Thanks, Mr Short Game!!!
@@PiePyeThere is an "unhoused" fella living near the 1st hole water hazard, keeps an eye on the place....he is looking for a little, little something for the effort....and he dosn't care about total consciousness on his death bed either!
The problem is these foreigners buy up these golf courses so they have a stake in America then they let it go. It's possible CC might go into a receivership because it is a nuisance, it's vandalized, it's not maintained. The owner says, he'll never sell. The men's and women's membership don't exist anymore.
There’re some hidden gem courses in Golden State like your 3rd one in the video. I sometimes go there because there’s absolutely no one there. i have a know-how to make the best out of it. 1. pick a decent spot (although it’s hard, but you can certainly find one) 2. Drop a dozen ball 3. Put out your launch monitor 4. Practice your iron shots into the green. Or Practice tee shots if you find a hole with a wide fairway. It’s a rare opportunity to collect launch monitor data with real golf balls which is very difficult to do in a driving range. I think it’s $15 well spent. That’s how you get the best bang for your buck. 😂
It’s kind of amazing that the San Diego course actually keeps those greens in decent shape considering the fact that they have let the entire remainder of the course go to complete hell.
In the beginning of the video I was like, “he should play Castle Creek.” A few years ago I played with a friend who was in his 60s, played golf for over 30+ years and had never made a hole in one. He made one this course that day, blindsided par 3. He was so embarrassed, he told us never to mention what course it was on to anyone. ⛳️ Lmao Easy 8 iron, Go Jerry! 🎉
I've never golfed a day in my life & I loved this review! He delivered the review in a way that I understood most of the context, but overall just gave straight forward feedback on what he experienced as he actually played through each hole. He's funny & personable & made a non golfer want to watch a review about golf courses-to the end! I really like how doesn't just rip on the courses for every single obvious downfall, but instead plays through and just comments on what he's personally experiencing as he goes. Great video, thanks!
I used to play Castle Creek (25 years ago) when it was an OK course, but it has become something else for sure. Calling Castle Creek in its current state a dog track is an affront to America's dogs.
Matt, I mentioned Castle Creek in one of your more recent "worst courses" video, then found this earlier one where you played it, LOL! I live about 5 miles from this course. It used to be a great track -- short, but challenging. A new owner bought it, and it then couldn't pay people who worked there, and stopped keeping it up. I hope someday it comes back, it was fun to play once upon a time. 11 months after you did this video, it's in even worse shape than when you played it, sadly. Love the series. I'll keep watching!
So funny and I’ve only watched the first 3:22 so far…. The way you read the reviews as if in whisper as if they are listening….LOL. Keep the fun and insightful perspectives of your videos coming! ❤
I have always enjoyed the content you put into each of your videos. HOWEVER, This one is TOP SHELF!!! I never knew you had that sense of humor!! You are so respectful on such pitiful courses! GREAT VIDEO and I really enjoyed the commentary!!
I loved this video! You absolutely have earned my subscription. The humor you brought to playing these tracks was inspiring. It makes me trily appreciate the courses around me. Thank you.
Your sense of humor/delivery is perfectly paired to this type of video. The silent looks to camera, raking grass, and cheeky comments have me dying. 😂 I really hope you played an amazing course in each of these locations since, not only did you pay greens fees, but air and lodging! So funny
Oh man Matt😂 Good work my friend! I have what may be a brilliant idea to compliment this comedy & actually help educate golfers why we see courses all over the country fall on their face. It’s a combo of a former Superintendent like myself, you the golf pro and a “Bar Rescue” kind of approach. I tell people all the time if it wasn’t for cheap golf most of us wouldn’t be involved in the game today. So we need to start being proactive in helping retain what’s still left before more doors shut to be developed but more importantly educate golfers why & how courses finally reach this position of death & crap conditions Sadly 99% of the people replying to this video really have no idea and that is actually the problem & what continues to promote poor property results today. I have a plan just need someone like you to talk shop & share ideas for a minute & enjoy a good laugh😎
Ben, That is a frikin great idea...golf course rescue...I would watch that. In fact..please film the first show at my local course Baywood GC in NC As Matt was riding under the trees with the limbs scraping the top of the cart. I was fallin over laughing. this is a thing right now in several spots on our course. How hard is it to trim some low hanging branches?....WTF? We are in better shape right now but every year it takes all summer to get in decent shape for about 90 days going into fall.
It literally broke my heart to see what became of Castle Creek Golf Course. I lived in Escondido from 1972-1999, and played Castle Creek many times, when it was called Circle R. My mother and father in law had their 50th Wedding Anniversary dinner in the clubhouse. It really did have a beautiful view down the 1st and 18th (I think) fairways. I really enjoyed that course. My only complaint was the couple of holes that had in-course OB's. It looks like the course must be in receivership and looking for someone to buy it and renovate it. The greens look like the best part of the "course", which leads me to believe they are trying to hang on until someone buys it. Such a shame.
The owner, not American, said he'll never sell! He was warned of receivership and is putting money in a little at a time. The owner doesn't care about the course. The same owner has 2 gas stations in the same town- closed, vandalized constantly, a nuisance, but he'll never sell. America needs to stop selling our land to these ppl who truly dislike America and only want to see it fail.
@@pamelaouellette6682 The owner's name is Osama Alkasabi. While it's a "foreign" name, he's an American citizen. Technically a realtor, but he has a long history of lawsuits against him, shady deals, and problems with banks. The place is up for sale, but there don't seem to be any takers. The problem isn't him not being "American" (he is) or "disliking America," the problem is his business records shows he's a con artist.
I’m pretty sure I’ve never watched another golf TH-cam video and repeatedly laughed out loud and had orange juice come out my nose. Funniest video ever. Thanks for the laughs Matt
So glad you noted the Blackhawk greens (or plinko as we like to call it). One thing you failed to mention is how many golf cart path turns bank outward. I have never felt more at risk on a golf course than driving around Blackhawk.
Unfortunately, I've played courses like Castle Creek. Usually when new in an area and just looking for the closest course. Kept thinking it would get better as I played. Oh, he lost ball in the fairway is more common on a lot of muni courses in San Diego county though...
Your final scorecard is a 74, not a 72, I think. 38 and a 36, right? Great video! I'm sure there are tons of terrible courses out there. Would have loved to see that last course in its hay day!
My home course in Poolesville, MD is beautiful and fees are only $29 with a free lunch (hotdog, chips and drink) at the turn and free replays. Would be cool if you did a video on the best budget courses.
As for the Buffalo Tournement Club, welcome to the Upstate NY golf experience, most places I’ve played upstate are like that, extra wet and swampy, and slow pace of play, but the absurd rules thing is unique
Ponkapog GC, Canton, MA.....Sports Illustrated wrote an article about how poor the course was about 25 years ago, incredibly it's gotten even more miserable!
Back in 2007, I shot 66 once at Castle Creek while at PGCC golf academy in Temecula. I remember the 2nd hole had MS-13 graffiti tagged all over the green. Sad to see that place deteriorate, it had so much potential.
It sounds like many commenters were thinking the same thing. I also used to enjoy playing at "the Creek" 25 years ago with friends, clients and co-workers. It was a beautiful and somewhat challenging course back then. Players that had trouble hitting a straight drive off the tee would be back and forth under the trees much of the round. The water features on some of the holes were beautiful. I remember when you could actually buy lunch at that snack bar and it wasn't bad...when you were hungry. It is a tragedy that the course looks as though it may end up like Fallbrook CC. I still feel bad for a co-worker whose favorite course was Castle Creek during the late 90's. He actually bought a home on the Fallbrook course right before that one got sold to a supposed "golf course developer". The new owner turned it into a winery, because he claimed that it could never be profitable as a golf course. How about giving golfers a chance to purchase partnerships that would buy (and maintain) some of these iconic courses, which also serve as much needed green spaces and wildlife refuges? We certainly don't need any more desert dust bowls fueled by the concrete climate heaters and traffic multipliers known as condos, apartments, town homes, etc. Excellent content as always, Matt. Love your videos.
HAHA "good news and bad news, I found the fairway, I'll let you guys what the bad news is." Then he moves to allow camera to see the ball. Dang I laughed so hard at that!
I live in Buffalo and I’ve played the Buffalo tournament club a few times and I’m disappointed that the course has such potential and they don’t make improvements to make it better!! But compared to the other courses in your reviewed Buffalo tournament club is a decent course in comparison!!
Yeah that course definitely had its flaws but I wouldn’t say it’s one of the worst. Go look at some of the public courses in Southern California, WAY worse😂
I live about 5 minutes from BTC, and the sad part is you can go drive 5 minutes away, and play Arrowhead or Ivy Ridge for the same price, and they are both infinitely better courses
oh man back in the day at Castle Creek the carts didn't have speed governors and on the 10th and 13th holes you could get some dangerous speed going. Buddy almost died on 13 fairway
Never laughed so much (bermuda grass in bunker ) we have these courses in uk but they only charge £5 to £10 to play keep up the good work love you guys
Kokopelli Golf course in Gilbert, AZ could rival the worse course. You are lucky to find a “piece” of grass on the course. But don’t worry, they do have bunkers. Just can’t say they have “sand” in them…. :)
Arnold Palmers company bought Victoria many years ago, they tried to improve it, but it's built on an old landfill, the grass just WON'T grow on the fairways. They gave up. It's too bad someone doesn't come up with a solution, because the area has a million golfers, the other courses near there could get some relief from the sheer volume of play. Maybe have an artificial turf golf company do the fairways or get 1000 dump trucks full of non-contaminated dirt to grow some grass on the new fairways. There has to be a solution.
Dude, I can’t believe you played Blackhawk! When I saw this video title i said to myself “wouldn’t it be funny if he plays Blackhawk” 😂I live about 10 minutes away. The shame of it is that the course layout is actually pretty solid. The story behind the course is that a developer bought it out of bankruptcy with the goal of re-zoning it for residential housing. The town repeatedly said no, and now he can’t sell it given its condition and need for a complete reno. Unfortunately, no improvement is in sight.
23:40 Lost it at the driving range and 30:27 spongy bumpy hoppy mushy cushy greens are the way to go!! LMAO! Great video, reviews, and outstanding commentary, Matt!
Definitely recommend Whittle Springs in Knoxville TN. The fairways are basically dirt. There really isn’t a difference between the fairways and rough. The greens are maybe grass?
Man, you’ve got to check out Pebble Brook Golf Course just outside Nashville, TN. Bunkers are grass, half the greens are the actual bunkers, most tee boxes are ROUGH, basically accommodation (coolers, emptied trash cans, etc.), carts are ripped to shreds and have broken axles, the course terrain is super dangerous with the broken carts. In short, the course is wild and frustrating. In contrast, the course layout and design is super fun. I’d love to see you visit and review!
This is one of my favorite videos yet because of your positivity throughout! Out there all alone! I would not be able to handle myself putting on squishy carpets. Keep up the incredible TH-cam work. You are such a boss, MSG!
I’m convinced dry creek golf course in galt California is worse then all these with $50 green fees. The greens are always tore up, the fairways are missing grass everywhere, the rough looks like it hadn’t been mowed for days and the bunkers are never clean and full of leaves and fallen trees.
This reminds me of Tuscan Ridge near Chico/Paradise CA. Its not there anymore, but at one point it was a challenging loop. Then it went to a complete toilet. They just couldn't maintain it.
The fun part about Black Hawk is that if you're going during the height of the four seasons, you're playing an entirely different golf course each quarter.
As soon as you said “Austin, Texas” I knew you were going to Blackhawk. I’m gonna be honest, I play this course often. It’s inexpensive, the people are really friendly, and I’ve just found a soft spot in my heart for the place. That net in front of the house (that’s the #11 tee shot) they installed about 6 years ago…and I think it’s my fault…I’ve hit so many slices into that house it’s embarrassing. I’ve actually managed to slice one around the net and still hit the house! I swear I’m trying best out there. The course has definitely seen better days, but they just bought new carts, rebuilt most of the cart path bridges, and cleaned up the forested areas. This in spite of the major road construction along #10…they’ve had to cut down the row of 10-15 trees along the side of the road for expansion, and will have to relocate the green very soon. I see she’s in great hands with a new owner and loving staff, hopefully they can bring her back to her glory days
Castle Creek wasteland. I remember that was a beautiful course, once upon a time. Maybe the drought, minimum wage? rodent sanctuary restrictions? (Your scorecard says 38+36=72)? I do recall that driving range was always like that. Do they sell range cards? Let's see in 1948 there was Torrey Pines, Rancho Santa Fe, Coronado, and Castle Creek (Circle R)?????
Hey Matt I have a couple of “peaches “ for ya. Mohawk Park in Tulsa, Ok, Woodbine specifically. Also to make it worth your while, an hour and a half away by car is Fountainhead. It’s about halfway between Checotah and Eufaula. I’d love to see your review. Thanks for your content.
Dude, that was great!!! Deep grass on the number one handicap hole, to the rack in the old sand trap. Awesome video. Now I need to check my home course reviews.
Thank you for all the shots of your stroke. You have such a good hesitation at the top. I am starting to play again after a twenty year hiatus due to very serious back problems. Now, after surgery, rehab, stem cell injections and rehab, I have the back if a 60 year old. I’m patterning my swing after yours.
Loved the video. Check out Lakeside Golf Club in Canyon Lake Texas. I play there occasionally, it has horrible greens (some are just sand, some have patches of grass on them to go around), brown fairways with cracks, and several of the holes there isn’t a flag stick that will stay in the hole. But it’s cheap and a great way to improve your crappy lie game.
As someone who lived just outside of Buffalo in West Seneca, you picked a beautiful day to go play. A lot less gray and depressing in the sky than usual.
Great video - I definitely subscribed after watching this. Just wanted to comment about the lack of sand/divot repair at the first course. If that course only uses cool season grasses, the sand filler is pretty much useless and will just result in a bare spot anyways. At northern courses that use primarily fescue and bluegrass in the fairways (most courses in the north), the proper thing to do is to grab the divot that your club dug out and place it back in the bare spot. This is because those grass species do not spread with stolons (like bermuda or other warm season grasses). On the contrary, they are primarily bunch type, so the only way to fill the patch is with seed or to replace the divot itself. Some northern courses use bentgrass on the fairways and tee boxes, but this is rare as it's prone to disease and not very drought tolerant. But, if the course has bentgrass outside the greens, they will either have the repair sand on the cart or sometimes next to the tee box (if the tee box is the only area with bentgrass outside the greens).
I play Blackhawk about twice a month. It definitely needs some love, but they have some great deals that let you get on the course around $15-$25 pretty frequently, which is great for a new golfer practicing!
Dyker Beach GC is under a new contract. It has been taking care of the cart paths. There are no more pot holes on the cart paths. New carts are scheduled to arrive next year. I hope we will no longer be puttering around the course. I saw sprinklers on the 14th fairway. August of 2022 the 14th fairway, during a long drought had nothing but dirt to hit on. Tiger Woods father played at Dyker Beach GC.
I would suggest for your list...Pebble Brook golf course in Salt Lake City UT. I played there once years ago, and encountered a frog jumping out of the hole where the pin should be, a sock instead of a flag on a pin, trees overgrown on holes to the point where there was a 15 foot clear window to hit a shot at the green, no signage where the holes connected and a cart path made of sand that resembled the Baja 1000, and a 60 yard par 3 comprised of a blind vertical drop to a green about the size of a living room. The most bizarre golf course I have ever seen before or since.
Loved this video. Def do more of these. Had me cracking up. Not like ur normal more serious videos. I'm from Buffalo so loved the review on a course I know well
5 star video Matt - enjoyed your sarcastic humor a LOT ! Glad you survived your adventure and didn't get bit by anything else but the fire ants . Good call on not using the restroom , or making a purchase at the snack shack ! Come up to Coeur D'Alene Idaho one day - play the resort course ( worlds ONLY floating green ) - stay well my friend - keep up the great videos !
What a sense of humor you displayed. Calling those things golf courses is too kind. Had a great laugh when you raked the grass on ear the end. Thanks and please keep these videos coming!
Sure Castle Creek has wilderness for fairways, but are half the holes next to an open air sewage treatment plant? El Prado's Butterfield Stage course has that lovely ambiance among many other treasures also seen in these 3 courses.
I just found your channel on that Jurassic pitch and putt and can’t stop watching. Love this channel. Awesome content. Even recommended to a few friends. New subscriber for life!! 🤘🤘
The entire golf world, no exaggeration there, owes you a debt of gratitude Matt! Driving to the #10 tee box on course #3 looked like death highway in Afghanistan. I can't thank you enough for going through this for all of us!
If you do this again I HIGHLY recommend Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana, CA. Gopher holes everywhere on the fairways, massive coyote dens dug into the greenside bunkers, homeless people sleeping under trees next to tee boxes, people walking their dogs through a fairway you're teeing off on, and loads of golfers who double dip the back 9 so you'll have no one in front of you then a guy randomly tees off at the next hole you're going to. It's a lawless dog track and I love it to death.
come to big run golf club in illinois. it used to be one of the best tracks in the state, now the rough is 6” long, fairways are about an inch long and the bunkers are solid rock. I lost 5 balls that hit the fairway and kicked a few feet into the rough. found about 3 balls 2 feet off the fairway as well on a couple holes. really sad because u can tell it was amazing at one point
My son and I played Pine Forest Golf Club in Bastrop, TX about 6 months ago. It used to be one of the most scenic golf courses near Austin. The course ran parallel the Colorado River, which would provide some amazing veiws. Now, its as bad as the Pflugerville course you played, mostly due to bad management. Bad fairways, worse Greens and if you are lucky, the river floods hole 17 and it becomes and Island Green! 😂
For the next video on worst courses, check out Leo J. Martin in Weston, MA (2.1star rating). No maintenance, no irrigation, no weed control. Although, if it weren't for the weeds, the fairways would be completely dirt. The greens have a camo pattern. Oh, and there are no services like a snack shop, pro shop or on-course water. We refer to it playing golf in the rough.
Try red hawk in pinckneyville Illinois no bunkers anymore. 1/2 of the cart paths are gone. Staff really does not know what’s going on. We call it dead hawk. But it’s ours and it’s convenient
Lol, Buffalo tournament club is just down the road from where I used to work. We did a work tournament there one year. It was supposed to be shotgun start, they told us day of it wouldn't be. The last group was almost 2 hours behind the first group. They didn't start the food they had catered for us until the last group got in, and they ran out of the catered beer waiting for the food. Also, it did back up quite a bit like you found here. I was playing in a group of 5 for the tournament and we were getting backed up behind a random 2some playing in front of us (did I mention that in addition to no shotgun they put random groups in the middle of our tournament). Overall the course was ok (except for some construction on one of the holes, but they did warn us about that), but bad experience with the management. We went to a different course the next year.
26:40 I busted out laughing. I'm not much of a golfer, but I can see how beautiful that last course must have been 30 years ago. Probably a blast to play when it was in great shape.
Concord in Chattanooga, TN make these courses look premier… the practice “green” is also the 18th so watch your head. Also the “greens” are just the equivalent of setting your lawn mower on its lowest level and making a circle, don’t worry about fairway/rough it is all the same length. Don’t worry about a range finder, the broken golf clubs stabbed in the ground are your 100 marker. If your ball is wet it belongs to the snapping turtles so don’t bother looking. The one positive is that for $20 you can waste a great 3 hours and apparently if you are not wearing blue jeans and a nascar shirt you get to play through every group that is. P.S if it has rained within 4 days of golfing there bring tons of balls because it will be path only and you will get sick of hunting for them in the “fairways” and end up dropping in frustration. Love the channel and hopefully I see you there one day… I’ll be the one not wearing blue jeans and work boots.
I used to play courses in Bandera, TX, in the late 80’s. We used to call one “the cow pasture” based on its condition. I ruined many a club swinging and hitting random buried rocks. One of my buddies caused a spark with his 3-wood so big, I saw it from 50’ away.
That would be Lost Valley. If that was still open this would have been worst club for sure. Course was fun for college kids back when I played had alot of fun out there for cheap. Might have flipped a cart a time or two.
I used to own the third house on the 2nd hole of Castle Creek and played there all the time. Surprisingly, the greens look better than ever. However, the rest of the course has never looked worse. When the bunkers weren't overgrown, they were still hardpan awful. I guess it did help me learn how to play tight lies.The workers are good people, not well-treated by the owners. They continue to fight a losing battle. It's such a nice layout but I don't think it will ever come back and it's such a shame. Great video though!
I've actually played that course in Pflugerville and although it's comically bad it is still a paradise compared to some other courses in the area. Especially Lago Vista which has zero grass on the greens.
Also, you can find numerous courses around Austin/South Texas in about the same shape as Pflugerville. Drought has wrecked havoc the last several years.
These are decent compared to Cane Creek golf course in Anniston, AL. The greens look like some of the fairways in Texas. The staff is usually angry you’re there. The fairways go from what looks like cow pastures to dirt roads. The only plus the place has is an old lady who tends the bar that’s semi nice if you tip well. It’s surrounded by the remnants of a closed Army Post and if you go there, make sure you don’t stay long. They used to dispose of army chemicals in that town.
check out Southwyck Golf club in Pearland Texas. it's similar to Blackhawk, probably slightly better greens but worse fairways. also no water on the course. has a 2.8 star rating which is much better than is deserves. also it was $60. i play Crystal falls a lot which is a pretty great course for only $45
The first course, "Buffalo Tournament Club" is honestly very beautiful. Nice looking clubhouse. They just need to fix irrigation, cart paths, and maybe work on the landscaping a little bit, and that could be a very nice course.
I actually lived on Blackhawk, my old house is in the background when you take your sprinkler drop. I would like to point out that the grass you see on the mounds behind the house was planted by me, it was all dirt. I bought several pallets of sod because I was tired of the dust and ugly view. I've since moved on, but it looks like it hasn't changed much. When I moved there in 2008, they used to have the best greens in the area, fairways always looked like a bombing range.
When it first opened it had bent grass greens, only a few houses on hole 1 and was a true links course. Boy did they mess that place up.
So they got rid of the breathalyzer but they kept the $5 fee 😄
Breathalyzer probably broke so they don't want to spend money on another one.
That's what happens when people when people complain.
That was actually a good policy imo.
@@k.i.s.s.. nah that policy is communism
@@k.i.s.s..this idea is foreign to me since you can’t bring any adult beverages on the course, which is state law. Of course, many of us allegedly put beers in our bag on ocassion. I’d gladly pay $5 for me to be able bring my own booze on the course, but I don’t know if that policy is law or just because they don’t have a liquor license. In Indiana, if the course serves booze, you can’t bring your own and there are signs everywhere reminding you.
The “driving range” at course 3 has to be one of the best things I have ever seen on a course
That's actually pretty common at many of the great courses in Scotland.
That's how it is at Collin Morikawa's home course in Cali too. There's a video of it on here that's pretty good
I died laughing watching this video. You should win an academy award for your play and commentary.
A must-see for all golfers.
Thanks, Mr Short Game!!!
Yes 😂
Funniest golfer on TH-cam
It would be fun, like sneaking onto an abandoned golf course, but there's a guy at the beginning who takes your money.
Huh how would he take ur money if it’s abandoned?
There’s an abandoned one in Fremont, Ca!!!
@@PiePyeThere is an "unhoused" fella living near the 1st hole water hazard, keeps an eye on the place....he is looking for a little, little something for the effort....and he dosn't care about total consciousness on his death bed either!
@@PiePye He's being sarcastic.
@@meazlesgolf3455 how is that sarcastic
It would be sick if a youtube channel/creator could buy a course and show an entire restoration of one of these once great now lost courses
Check out Bryan Bros Golf, they bought a course near the end of last year and have been posting about their restoration, pretty cool stuff
it would be a money pit and would soon return to its roots
Bryan Bros are doing it.
The problem is these foreigners buy up these golf courses so they have a stake in America then they let it go. It's possible CC might go into a receivership because it is a nuisance, it's vandalized, it's not maintained. The owner says, he'll never sell. The men's and women's membership don't exist anymore.
If it werent cost prohibitive to do such, they wouldnt be lost courses.
There’re some hidden gem courses in Golden State like your 3rd one in the video. I sometimes go there because there’s absolutely no one there. i have a know-how to make the best out of it.
1. pick a decent spot (although it’s hard, but you can certainly find one)
2. Drop a dozen ball
3. Put out your launch monitor
4. Practice your iron shots into the green. Or Practice tee shots if you find a hole with a wide fairway.
It’s a rare opportunity to collect launch monitor data with real golf balls which is very difficult to do in a driving range.
I think it’s $15 well spent. That’s how you get the best bang for your buck. 😂
It’s kind of amazing that the San Diego course actually keeps those greens in decent shape considering the fact that they have let the entire remainder of the course go to complete hell.
In the beginning of the video I was like, “he should play Castle Creek.”
A few years ago I played with a friend who was in his 60s, played golf for over 30+ years and had never made a hole in one. He made one this course that day, blindsided par 3. He was so embarrassed, he told us never to mention what course it was on to anyone. ⛳️ Lmao
Easy 8 iron, Go Jerry! 🎉
Awesome!
Wow awesome. Hole in one and great backstory. 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻
Was it a gopher hole? 😂 I wonder how many balls they've collected.
No matter the course it’s what you do off the tee🏌🏽♂️ that’s why you made the hole in one ⛳️
I feel like an ace on the worst course in the country is an achievement in of itself.
Absolutely hysterical. I loved when you raked the grass on the last hole. So great. Thanks for the laughs. 😂
Matt, You've outdone yourself. I laughed all the way through this video. Great work, great video, and great fun!
I've never golfed a day in my life & I loved this review! He delivered the review in a way that I understood most of the context, but overall just gave straight forward feedback on what he experienced as he actually played through each hole. He's funny & personable & made a non golfer want to watch a review about golf courses-to the end! I really like how doesn't just rip on the courses for every single obvious downfall, but instead plays through and just comments on what he's personally experiencing as he goes. Great video, thanks!
I used to play Castle Creek (25 years ago) when it was an OK course, but it has become something else for sure. Calling Castle Creek in its current state a dog track is an affront to America's dogs.
😂
Dogs won’t even take a dump on the fairways 😂
I'm with you. I last played it in the late 90's. I didn't even like it then.
Matt, I mentioned Castle Creek in one of your more recent "worst courses" video, then found this earlier one where you played it, LOL! I live about 5 miles from this course. It used to be a great track -- short, but challenging. A new owner bought it, and it then couldn't pay people who worked there, and stopped keeping it up. I hope someday it comes back, it was fun to play once upon a time. 11 months after you did this video, it's in even worse shape than when you played it, sadly.
Love the series. I'll keep watching!
So funny and I’ve only watched the first 3:22 so far…. The way you read the reviews as if in whisper as if they are listening….LOL. Keep the fun and insightful perspectives of your videos coming! ❤
I have to admit, forcing you to hit driver from the rough for your tee shot is some of the most innovative shit I've seen.
Such a shame that once decent courses have gone bad. It would have been interesting to have a comment from the management of each. Nice video Matt.
sharp park deserves an entire video on that. Such an elite design with poor maintenance
I have always enjoyed the content you put into each of your videos. HOWEVER, This one is TOP SHELF!!! I never knew you had that sense of humor!! You are so respectful on such pitiful courses! GREAT VIDEO and I really enjoyed the commentary!!
Love the videos. The instructional content is great but these fun ones are hilarious. Keep it up Matt.
These are so good. 😂🤘🏻😎🤘🏻
Thanks!
I loved this video! You absolutely have earned my subscription. The humor you brought to playing these tracks was inspiring. It makes me trily appreciate the courses around me. Thank you.
Your sense of humor/delivery is perfectly paired to this type of video. The silent looks to camera, raking grass, and cheeky comments have me dying. 😂 I really hope you played an amazing course in each of these locations since, not only did you pay greens fees, but air and lodging! So funny
Oh man Matt😂
Good work my friend!
I have what may be a brilliant idea to compliment this comedy & actually help educate golfers why we see courses all over the country fall on their face. It’s a combo of a former Superintendent like myself, you the golf pro and a “Bar Rescue” kind of approach. I tell people all the time if it wasn’t for cheap golf most of us wouldn’t be involved in the game today. So we need to start being proactive in helping retain what’s still left before more doors shut to be developed but more importantly educate golfers why & how courses finally reach this position of death & crap conditions
Sadly 99% of the people replying to this video really have no idea and that is actually the problem & what continues to promote poor property results today. I have a plan just need someone like you to talk shop & share ideas for a minute & enjoy a good laugh😎
Ben, That is a frikin great idea...golf course rescue...I would watch that. In fact..please film the first show at my local course Baywood GC in NC As Matt was riding under the trees with the limbs scraping the top of the cart. I was fallin over laughing. this is a thing right now in several spots on our course. How hard is it to trim some low hanging branches?....WTF? We are in better shape right now but every year it takes all summer to get in decent shape for about 90 days going into fall.
It literally broke my heart to see what became of Castle Creek Golf Course. I lived in Escondido from 1972-1999, and played Castle Creek many times, when it was called Circle R. My mother and father in law had their 50th Wedding Anniversary dinner in the clubhouse. It really did have a beautiful view down the 1st and 18th (I think) fairways. I really enjoyed that course. My only complaint was the couple of holes that had in-course OB's. It looks like the course must be in receivership and looking for someone to buy it and renovate it. The greens look like the best part of the "course", which leads me to believe they are trying to hang on until someone buys it. Such a shame.
The owner, not American, said he'll never sell! He was warned of receivership and is putting money in a little at a time. The owner doesn't care about the course. The same owner has 2 gas stations in the same town- closed, vandalized constantly, a nuisance, but he'll never sell. America needs to stop selling our land to these ppl who truly dislike America and only want to see it fail.
@@pamelaouellette6682 The owner's name is Osama Alkasabi. While it's a "foreign" name, he's an American citizen. Technically a realtor, but he has a long history of lawsuits against him, shady deals, and problems with banks. The place is up for sale, but there don't seem to be any takers. The problem isn't him not being "American" (he is) or "disliking America," the problem is his business records shows he's a con artist.
I’m pretty sure I’ve never watched another golf TH-cam video and repeatedly laughed out loud and had orange juice come out my nose. Funniest video ever. Thanks for the laughs Matt
So glad you noted the Blackhawk greens (or plinko as we like to call it). One thing you failed to mention is how many golf cart path turns bank outward. I have never felt more at risk on a golf course than driving around Blackhawk.
You have to say, each course gave you a chance for you to show how good you are. You adapted to each condition of the shot and save par. Great video.
Unfortunately, I've played courses like Castle Creek. Usually when new in an area and just looking for the closest course. Kept thinking it would get better as I played. Oh, he lost ball in the fairway is more common on a lot of muni courses in San Diego county though...
Your final scorecard is a 74, not a 72, I think. 38 and a 36, right? Great video! I'm sure there are tons of terrible courses out there. Would have loved to see that last course in its hay day!
He had 2 birdies and 2 bogeys on the front for a 36. I think he wrote it down wrong on the card.
My home course in Poolesville, MD is beautiful and fees are only $29 with a free lunch (hotdog, chips and drink) at the turn and free replays. Would be cool if you did a video on the best budget courses.
Loving the "fallen tree review" - this series is more common to what most of us play compared to the private club series and I'm down for it!
Hey they could sell some of that for firewood possibly if it is not to rotten. Then use the funds, if any, to fix that mess they got going on
As for the Buffalo Tournement Club, welcome to the Upstate NY golf experience, most places I’ve played upstate are like that, extra wet and swampy, and slow pace of play, but the absurd rules thing is unique
Ponkapog GC, Canton, MA.....Sports Illustrated wrote an article about how poor the course was about 25 years ago, incredibly it's gotten even more miserable!
Thanks for the info I've been seeing ponkapoag on 18 birdies and have been curious about how bad it actually is
Back in 2007, I shot 66 once at Castle Creek while at PGCC golf academy in Temecula. I remember the 2nd hole had MS-13 graffiti tagged all over the green. Sad to see that place deteriorate, it had so much potential.
It sounds like many commenters were thinking the same thing. I also used to enjoy playing at "the Creek" 25 years ago with friends, clients and co-workers. It was a beautiful and somewhat challenging course back then. Players that had trouble hitting a straight drive off the tee would be back and forth under the trees much of the round. The water features on some of the holes were beautiful. I remember when you could actually buy lunch at that snack bar and it wasn't bad...when you were hungry. It is a tragedy that the course looks as though it may end up like Fallbrook CC. I still feel bad for a co-worker whose favorite course was Castle Creek during the late 90's. He actually bought a home on the Fallbrook course right before that one got sold to a supposed "golf course developer". The new owner turned it into a winery, because he claimed that it could never be profitable as a golf course. How about giving golfers a chance to purchase partnerships that would buy (and maintain) some of these iconic courses, which also serve as much needed green spaces and wildlife refuges? We certainly don't need any more desert dust bowls fueled by the concrete climate heaters and traffic multipliers known as condos, apartments, town homes, etc. Excellent content as always, Matt. Love your videos.
@-MrShortGameGolf What's up?
HAHA "good news and bad news, I found the fairway, I'll let you guys what the bad news is." Then he moves to allow camera to see the ball. Dang I laughed so hard at that!
I live in Buffalo and I’ve played the Buffalo tournament club a few times and I’m disappointed that the course has such potential and they don’t make improvements to make it better!! But compared to the other courses in your reviewed Buffalo tournament club is a decent course in comparison!!
Yeah that course definitely had its flaws but I wouldn’t say it’s one of the worst. Go look at some of the public courses in Southern California, WAY worse😂
I live about 5 minutes from BTC, and the sad part is you can go drive 5 minutes away, and play Arrowhead or Ivy Ridge for the same price, and they are both infinitely better courses
3:05 Arthur Blank. Ha ha. He owns the Atlanta Falcons, founded of Home Depot, and graduated Babson College.
Crazy to think that those courses have groundskeepers that early in the morning said "yep, we're ready to go"
oh man back in the day at Castle Creek the carts didn't have speed governors and on the 10th and 13th holes you could get some dangerous speed going. Buddy almost died on 13 fairway
Never laughed so much (bermuda grass in bunker ) we have these courses in uk but they only charge £5 to £10 to play keep up the good work love you guys
Kokopelli Golf course in Gilbert, AZ could rival the worse course. You are lucky to find a “piece” of grass on the course. But don’t worry, they do have bunkers. Just can’t say they have “sand” in them…. :)
Links at Victoria was the first course that came to mind 😂
Arnold Palmers company bought Victoria many years ago, they tried to improve it, but it's built on an old landfill, the grass just WON'T grow on the fairways. They gave up.
It's too bad someone doesn't come up with a solution, because the area has a million golfers, the other courses near there could get some relief from the sheer volume of play.
Maybe have an artificial turf golf company do the fairways or get 1000 dump trucks full of non-contaminated dirt to grow some grass on the new fairways.
There has to be a solution.
Dude, I can’t believe you played Blackhawk! When I saw this video title i said to myself “wouldn’t it be funny if he plays Blackhawk” 😂I live about 10 minutes away. The shame of it is that the course layout is actually pretty solid.
The story behind the course is that a developer bought it out of bankruptcy with the goal of re-zoning it for residential housing. The town repeatedly said no, and now he can’t sell it given its condition and need for a complete reno. Unfortunately, no improvement is in sight.
Great video! I've lived in SoCal my whole life. Play Colton Golf Course in the Inland Empire. See how you like that one. Lol
23:40 Lost it at the driving range and 30:27 spongy bumpy hoppy mushy cushy greens are the way to go!! LMAO! Great video, reviews, and outstanding commentary, Matt!
Definitely recommend Whittle Springs in Knoxville TN. The fairways are basically dirt. There really isn’t a difference between the fairways and rough. The greens are maybe grass?
Man, you’ve got to check out Pebble Brook Golf Course just outside Nashville, TN. Bunkers are grass, half the greens are the actual bunkers, most tee boxes are ROUGH, basically accommodation (coolers, emptied trash cans, etc.), carts are ripped to shreds and have broken axles, the course terrain is super dangerous with the broken carts. In short, the course is wild and frustrating. In contrast, the course layout and design is super fun. I’d love to see you visit and review!
This is one of my favorite videos yet because of your positivity throughout! Out there all alone! I would not be able to handle myself putting on squishy carpets. Keep up the incredible TH-cam work. You are such a boss, MSG!
I’m convinced dry creek golf course in galt California is worse then all these with $50 green fees. The greens are always tore up, the fairways are missing grass everywhere, the rough looks like it hadn’t been mowed for days and the bunkers are never clean and full of leaves and fallen trees.
This reminds me of Tuscan Ridge near Chico/Paradise CA. Its not there anymore, but at one point it was a challenging loop. Then it went to a complete toilet. They just couldn't maintain it.
The fun part about Black Hawk is that if you're going during the height of the four seasons, you're playing an entirely different golf course each quarter.
I use to play Castle Creek when it was a great course and yes they've let it go a lot.
As soon as you said “Austin, Texas” I knew you were going to Blackhawk. I’m gonna be honest, I play this course often. It’s inexpensive, the people are really friendly, and I’ve just found a soft spot in my heart for the place. That net in front of the house (that’s the #11 tee shot) they installed about 6 years ago…and I think it’s my fault…I’ve hit so many slices into that house it’s embarrassing. I’ve actually managed to slice one around the net and still hit the house! I swear I’m trying best out there. The course has definitely seen better days, but they just bought new carts, rebuilt most of the cart path bridges, and cleaned up the forested areas. This in spite of the major road construction along #10…they’ve had to cut down the row of 10-15 trees along the side of the road for expansion, and will have to relocate the green very soon. I see she’s in great hands with a new owner and loving staff, hopefully they can bring her back to her glory days
There's a 9 holer in Sopchoppy, FL that probably should be on your bucket list. Its quite charming up there in the panhandle.
Castle Creek wasteland. I remember that was a beautiful course, once upon a time. Maybe the drought, minimum wage? rodent sanctuary restrictions? (Your scorecard says 38+36=72)? I do recall that driving range was always like that. Do they sell range cards? Let's see in 1948 there was Torrey Pines, Rancho Santa Fe, Coronado, and Castle Creek (Circle R)?????
Hey Matt I have a couple of “peaches “ for ya. Mohawk Park in Tulsa, Ok, Woodbine specifically. Also to make it worth your while, an hour and a half away by car is Fountainhead. It’s about halfway between Checotah and Eufaula. I’d love to see your review. Thanks for your content.
Dude, that was great!!! Deep grass on the number one handicap hole, to the rack in the old sand trap. Awesome video. Now I need to check my home course reviews.
Thank you for all the shots of your stroke. You have such a good hesitation at the top. I am starting to play again after a twenty year hiatus due to very serious back problems. Now, after surgery, rehab, stem cell injections and rehab, I have the back if a 60 year old. I’m patterning my swing after yours.
Loved the video. Check out Lakeside Golf Club in Canyon Lake Texas. I play there occasionally, it has horrible greens (some are just sand, some have patches of grass on them to go around), brown fairways with cracks, and several of the holes there isn’t a flag stick that will stay in the hole. But it’s cheap and a great way to improve your crappy lie game.
As someone who lived just outside of Buffalo in West Seneca, you picked a beautiful day to go play. A lot less gray and depressing in the sky than usual.
I love the cheerfully sarcastic manner in which you look for the silver lining of your rounds in weedy dirt patches from Gehenna.
Great fun. Makes me really appreciate my local muni that is like Augusta compared to these tracks and we can play for $34 during the week.
Great video - I definitely subscribed after watching this. Just wanted to comment about the lack of sand/divot repair at the first course. If that course only uses cool season grasses, the sand filler is pretty much useless and will just result in a bare spot anyways. At northern courses that use primarily fescue and bluegrass in the fairways (most courses in the north), the proper thing to do is to grab the divot that your club dug out and place it back in the bare spot. This is because those grass species do not spread with stolons (like bermuda or other warm season grasses). On the contrary, they are primarily bunch type, so the only way to fill the patch is with seed or to replace the divot itself. Some northern courses use bentgrass on the fairways and tee boxes, but this is rare as it's prone to disease and not very drought tolerant. But, if the course has bentgrass outside the greens, they will either have the repair sand on the cart or sometimes next to the tee box (if the tee box is the only area with bentgrass outside the greens).
I play Blackhawk about twice a month. It definitely needs some love, but they have some great deals that let you get on the course around $15-$25 pretty frequently, which is great for a new golfer practicing!
Dyker Beach GC is under a new contract. It has been taking care of the cart paths. There are no more pot holes on the cart paths. New carts are scheduled to arrive next year. I hope we will no longer be puttering around the course. I saw sprinklers on the 14th fairway. August of 2022 the 14th fairway, during a long drought had nothing but dirt to hit on. Tiger Woods father played at Dyker Beach GC.
I would suggest for your list...Pebble Brook golf course in Salt Lake City UT. I played there once years ago, and encountered a frog jumping out of the hole where the pin should be, a sock instead of a flag on a pin, trees overgrown on holes to the point where there was a 15 foot clear window to hit a shot at the green, no signage where the holes connected and a cart path made of sand that resembled the Baja 1000, and a 60 yard par 3 comprised of a blind vertical drop to a green about the size of a living room. The most bizarre golf course I have ever seen before or since.
Loved this video. Def do more of these. Had me cracking up. Not like ur normal more serious videos. I'm from Buffalo so loved the review on a course I know well
5 star video Matt - enjoyed your sarcastic humor a LOT ! Glad you survived your adventure and didn't get bit by anything else but the fire ants . Good call on not using the restroom , or making a purchase at the snack shack ! Come up to Coeur D'Alene Idaho one day - play the resort course ( worlds ONLY floating green ) - stay well my friend - keep up the great videos !
What a sense of humor you displayed. Calling those things golf courses is too kind. Had a great laugh when you raked the grass on ear the end. Thanks and please keep these videos coming!
Sure Castle Creek has wilderness for fairways, but are half the holes next to an open air sewage treatment plant? El Prado's Butterfield Stage course has that lovely ambiance among many other treasures also seen in these 3 courses.
I just found your channel on that Jurassic pitch and putt and can’t stop watching. Love this channel. Awesome content. Even recommended to a few friends. New subscriber for life!! 🤘🤘
The entire golf world, no exaggeration there, owes you a debt of gratitude Matt! Driving to the #10 tee box on course #3 looked like death highway in Afghanistan. I can't thank you enough for going through this for all of us!
If you do this again I HIGHLY recommend Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana, CA. Gopher holes everywhere on the fairways, massive coyote dens dug into the greenside bunkers, homeless people sleeping under trees next to tee boxes, people walking their dogs through a fairway you're teeing off on, and loads of golfers who double dip the back 9 so you'll have no one in front of you then a guy randomly tees off at the next hole you're going to. It's a lawless dog track and I love it to death.
Can you play Francis A Byrn golf course in West Orange, New Jersey. I work there as land scraping and I’m sure you will love it !
Castle Creek was pretty nice back in the '90s. Played there twice and loved it...
come to big run golf club in illinois. it used to be one of the best tracks in the state, now the rough is 6” long, fairways are about an inch long and the bunkers are solid rock. I lost 5 balls that hit the fairway and kicked a few feet into the rough. found about 3 balls 2 feet off the fairway as well on a couple holes. really sad because u can tell it was amazing at one point
My son and I played Pine Forest Golf Club in Bastrop, TX about 6 months ago. It used to be one of the most scenic golf courses near Austin. The course ran parallel the Colorado River, which would provide some amazing veiws. Now, its as bad as the Pflugerville course you played, mostly due to bad management. Bad fairways, worse Greens and if you are lucky, the river floods hole 17 and it becomes and Island Green! 😂
You should go up north on the 15 freeway and play the links at Summerly in Lake Elsinore, it makes castle creek look like a pga course.
For the next video on worst courses, check out Leo J. Martin in Weston, MA (2.1star rating). No maintenance, no irrigation, no weed control. Although, if it weren't for the weeds, the fairways would be completely dirt. The greens have a camo pattern. Oh, and there are no services like a snack shop, pro shop or on-course water. We refer to it playing golf in the rough.
I just started golf in France
I’m glad that where I played didn’t look like this
There is a course in my city (Calgary) that has power lines going over practically every hole. It sucks cause the holes are mostly Par 3.
Try red hawk in pinckneyville Illinois no bunkers anymore. 1/2 of the cart paths are gone. Staff really does not know what’s going on. We call it dead hawk. But it’s ours and it’s convenient
Lol, Buffalo tournament club is just down the road from where I used to work. We did a work tournament there one year. It was supposed to be shotgun start, they told us day of it wouldn't be. The last group was almost 2 hours behind the first group. They didn't start the food they had catered for us until the last group got in, and they ran out of the catered beer waiting for the food.
Also, it did back up quite a bit like you found here. I was playing in a group of 5 for the tournament and we were getting backed up behind a random 2some playing in front of us (did I mention that in addition to no shotgun they put random groups in the middle of our tournament).
Overall the course was ok (except for some construction on one of the holes, but they did warn us about that), but bad experience with the management. We went to a different course the next year.
26:40 I busted out laughing. I'm not much of a golfer, but I can see how beautiful that last course must have been 30 years ago. Probably a blast to play when it was in great shape.
Concord in Chattanooga, TN make these courses look premier… the practice “green” is also the 18th so watch your head. Also the “greens” are just the equivalent of setting your lawn mower on its lowest level and making a circle, don’t worry about fairway/rough it is all the same length. Don’t worry about a range finder, the broken golf clubs stabbed in the ground are your 100 marker. If your ball is wet it belongs to the snapping turtles so don’t bother looking. The one positive is that for $20 you can waste a great 3 hours and apparently if you are not wearing blue jeans and a nascar shirt you get to play through every group that is. P.S if it has rained within 4 days of golfing there bring tons of balls because it will be path only and you will get sick of hunting for them in the “fairways” and end up dropping in frustration. Love the channel and hopefully I see you there one day… I’ll be the one not wearing blue jeans and work boots.
I used to play courses in Bandera, TX, in the late 80’s. We used to call one “the cow pasture” based on its condition. I ruined many a club swinging and hitting random buried rocks. One of my buddies caused a spark with his 3-wood so big, I saw it from 50’ away.
That would be Lost Valley. If that was still open this would have been worst club for sure. Course was fun for college kids back when I played had alot of fun out there for cheap. Might have flipped a cart a time or two.
I used to own the third house on the 2nd hole of Castle Creek and played there all the time. Surprisingly, the greens look better than ever. However, the rest of the course has never looked worse. When the bunkers weren't overgrown, they were still hardpan awful. I guess it did help me learn how to play tight lies.The workers are good people, not well-treated by the owners. They continue to fight a losing battle. It's such a nice layout but I don't think it will ever come back and it's such a shame. Great video though!
I've actually played that course in Pflugerville and although it's comically bad it is still a paradise compared to some other courses in the area. Especially Lago Vista which has zero grass on the greens.
Check out Wild Wings Golf Club in Woodland, CA. It used to be amazing but a lot of the course management changed and now it sucks.
I’ve been wearing the true links Lux Tour for a bit myself, did you have a little bit of a break in period for yours?
Also, you can find numerous courses around Austin/South Texas in about the same shape as Pflugerville. Drought has wrecked havoc the last several years.
These are decent compared to Cane Creek golf course in Anniston, AL. The greens look like some of the fairways in Texas. The staff is usually angry you’re there. The fairways go from what looks like cow pastures to dirt roads. The only plus the place has is an old lady who tends the bar that’s semi nice if you tip well. It’s surrounded by the remnants of a closed Army Post and if you go there, make sure you don’t stay long. They used to dispose of army chemicals in that town.
Great video and we’ll done for giving guys the heads up on these bad courses . Keep them coming buddy. 😊
When I was a kid, I played Castle Creek with my folks when it was the Circle R Golf Ranch. It's a shame to see it go into such disrepair.
check out Southwyck Golf club in Pearland Texas. it's similar to Blackhawk, probably slightly better greens but worse fairways. also no water on the course. has a 2.8 star rating which is much better than is deserves. also it was $60. i play Crystal falls a lot which is a pretty great course for only $45
Take a look at the Links at Summerly in Murrieta, CA. Played there years ago and will never go back!! Great reviews and loved the video!!
Enjoyed this video. There's a few in AZ you should play that would be on par for the lack of quality! Keep up the channel!
You should try Antler Creek in Peyton, CO. Similarly as bad as course 2 but plays 8058 yards from the tips.
The first course, "Buffalo Tournament Club" is honestly very beautiful. Nice looking clubhouse. They just need to fix irrigation, cart paths, and maybe work on the landscaping a little bit, and that could be a very nice course.