Golf Course Comments

This last Saturday I had the opportunity to play a golf course unknown to me though it is 25 minutes from my golf shop. It was introduced to me by my good friend and PGA teaching professional, Jim Pearce. He had recently played the course in one of the PGA Sectional competitions. The course is Timber Greens Golf Course in New Port Richey. It is between SR 54 and Ridge Road just east of Little Road. The course is in a retirement community and is considered a semi-private golf course. From the green tips the course is 6100 yards. There is more detailed info on the course at http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/course.aspx?course=1662756
My purpose in discussing Timber Greens is that I really enjoyed the course and wanted to pass that along. For me the fun started when I pulled into the parking lot and exited the car. There were a few carts driving through the parking lot. All of the cart passengers uninitiated by me or my playing partner kindly, verbally greeted us. A kind "hi" or "how are you" to us was quite unexpected but very welcome and inviting as in "we hope you enjoy your day at Timber Greens." That friendliness continued as we entered the club, each paid our $40 cart and greens fee, and then had a bowl of soup in the bar. We were joined by a fourth who from the and throughout the round demonstrated a congeniality that we had first been exposed too in the parking lot.
Off to the first tee (actually we started on the backside first) and our first closeup of the course. I won't be a bore and walk through every hole, but I will provide my overall impressions of the course.
Tees are comfortable in size, level and well kept. Fairways are defined and fairly tight which I like. It's easier to pinch the ball. Rough is not strenuous. Definitely easy to find your ball after an errant shot. Houses surround the course but are not right next to the fairway. Most of the time there is a protective cushin of trees and pinneedle covered ground to protect the houses. Fairways will have fairway bunkers or water or protected sanctuary. Keep the ball in the fairway and you will have your best chance to the green. Greens are small, undulating, and fast (we think we had 10.5 to 11). Greens are great!! Pitching and chipping provides a good challenge. If you are weak in your short game these greens will not be your friend. If you are working on your short game these greens are great to work on and hone you skills. Cups are sharpley cut so you better get most of the ball in the hole at the right speed or you miss. Cups are great!!!
The course does not have a driving range or pitching area. I don't think it is necessary. The course will give you lots of practice on all parts of your game. That's what I thought was so much fun about the Timber Greens because I hit every club in my bag. I tried to manage my way around the course. If you don't keep your ball in play, you will pay for it. I recommend Timber Greens strongly for the single digit handicap to the double digit. You will be challenged. If you aren't you might want to try the tour. I had a lot of fun. That cold beer after the round and the friendliness in the bar was the perfect end to a perfect day. Thank you Timber Greens.