Hoping to play this Saturday, having submitted a lottery request earlier today. It'll be me and my son, and I suppose they group twosomes with others. Just wondering what to expect with pace of play etc. I believe the course is kept full, especially on Saturdays, so wondering how long to expect a round to take? I played the course maybe 40+ years ago, and except for the tall pine trees, I can't remember much about it. TIA

My FIL and I play when I go visit, but we always play in those first few tee times you can sign up for at 3 or 4 in the morning. So we're usually one of the first groups out, so my pace of play experience will probably not be very helpful (we always make it around in under four hours).

Difficulty of the course depends almost entirely on the rough, IMO. With the rough short and dormant, I feel like it's pretty tame. When they let the rough grow out, prepare to possibly lose any ball that is hit off the fairway (even if it's off the fairway by just a couple of paces). I don't think they let it get that severe until a little later on in the year, so missing the fairway will probably punish you but it won't result in losing your ball or necessarily take the green out of play.

It's a fun track with some cool, memorable holes.

Thanks, bagger.

3-4 am the morning OF? Damn, don't wanna hafta get up that early (I'll be in Sugar Land, with a short drive)

My FIL doesn't really ever sleep… he and some of his buddies rotate who shows up early and gets on the schedule.

I think it's the same thing they do at Bethpage.

If you don't win the lottery just head out there, put your name on the walk up list (the starter sitting in a cart near the practice green is the keeper), then go hit balls, grab some food and putt. Even on a Saturday morning if there is only 2 of you it shouldn't take more than an hour to get on. And yes, you will most definitely get paired with 2 more people. But I've always had pretty good luck and rarely play with d-bags.

As far a space of play, it'll be a 4.5 hour round. Very, very rarely have I had a round out there that takes any longer. On the flip side you won't play any quicker than 4 hours on a weekend. Period.

Good luck! I love that tract.

Your lottery odds go up if you put in four. You can always dummy two more. I rarely hit the lottery two or four. When taking a flyer made it a point to get there 5:30-5:45 put my name on a walk up list, it was on a table just through the arch. This was before the starter showed up. Westie is right about the starter location around seven and pace of play, I was always off before eight and sitting at Beck's Prime by noon. The dew sweepers generally move well and "Memo" was always good about getting three or four groups off before the tee times start.

If you don't get hit lottery and don't want to take chance at Memo go to El Dorado Quail Valley. Liked that renovation and a damn sight closer to Sugarland

Am going to take a shot an tell you the Gator Reunion is 10/11.

Thanks for the insight and encouragement. Hope it works out.
4 1/2 is not that bad. I hate to give up on lost balls too!

I walked up last Sunday as a single. I got there at seven and teed off at 7:45. I was paired with two women and one of their brothers. It felt painfully slow at times due to my playing partners, but we finished in just over 4 hours. The course was in great shape but the rough was brutal. You can lose a ball after you've already found it.

Great golf course- you will enjoy it for sure.

[This message has been edited by AggieT (edited 7/30/2014 8:32a).]

I play out there almost every Sunday morning.

Course is in great shape right now. Greens are rolling nice. Beware though that the rough is LONG. Like if your a foot off the fairway your ball will be sitting down and you'll be hacking. Think there's a city championship out there in Sept they're growing it out for.

Pace of play is always 4.5 hours with no one in front or behind. They do a good job of getting tee times off on time, making all groups foursomes, and moving people along out on the course.

Don't play the tips as it it makes the course really long and hard. Make sure you play the par fives well. Anything more than birdies on No. 1, No. 8 and No. 12 will be a let down. Make sure you take enough club on the par three No. 7. The sand had been on the wet side so stay out of it.

I agree with you that 8 and 13 (not 12, think you're mistaken) are birdie holes, especially 8.

I'll also add that #15 almost always plays a club longer than the yardage. And on #9 aim right as you are absolutely dead left.

Correct on all accounts there Westicles.

And it is #13, and not #12.

Overall a very fun traditional course that punishes bad shots and rewards you with good ones. Just gotta take advantage of some of the holes mentioned above that are gimme birdies and pars at the worst.

#8 drives me crazy. I just can never fade the tee shot. Always an easy par though.

Good call on #15. The wind is almost always in your face even if you can't feel it.

Thanks for all the advice. I got an 11:40 tee time, but suppose we might walk up earlier and try to get off. It should be a sauna! Reminds me of my younger days when I played "alone"; it was routine and a good way to meet people. It should be a good time. I'll be sure to take plenty of balls!