Thundering Waters Golf Club — Attraction in Niagara Falls

First off, I will say that I don't do a lot of Google Reviews on anything and normally it is for a positive experience. This is not one of those scenarios. Lesson learned. Look at Google reviews before playing a course that we have to travel 3 hours to get to. We were so disappointed in the condition of this course. All bunkers were unplayable and not in play. They say they are working on them, which they are . However, you can see the complete lack of care taken over a number of years. A far cry from the beautiful white bunker pics they have on the walls in the club house. Next issue is the tee decks. Grass is long, if you can find grass. Again, something that has been neglected for quite some time. Fairways have crabgrass everywhere with a lot of bare spots. I guess we can blame it on the hot summer we have had, but many other courses I have played this summer are in good condition due to an effort being put into maintenance and care. I will say on a positive note that the greens were very good and rolled very well. My only issue is ball marks which unfortunately we are in a new era where many people will not repair on their own. Upon completion of a round, we will often stay to have a drink afterwards. Not this time, as we just wanted to get out and forget it. Besides, the patio looks more like a small patio in a strip mall without great views. A truly forgetful experience. Its a shame, course management does not seem to understand that people are spending a lot of money to play their course the way it is supposed...

Thundering Laughter - aka WHAT. A. JOKE.

This golf course, sadly, is perfectly analogous to John Daly's career - from a distance it looks illustrious, refined, and worthy of the highest praise...but when you take a closer look, you're disappointed to see that it's rife with serious neglect, riddled with poor decisions, and littered with beer cans (Literally...no joke...there are beer cans & bottles ALL over the course, just a few feet off the cart paths on most holes).

Anyone who works on the grounds crew at this course should be utterly ashamed of themselves. Mangled teeboxes, dry, sandy greens, and the bunkers...MY GOD, THE BUNKERS!. Just see my attached photos for a few examples of what this place considers passable for sand traps. On one hole we saw two kids raking a trap, which we thought might be a promising sign. But they did half of the one trap and left...completely ignoring the other 4 traps around the green.

How it is that a John Daly course can only be 6700 yards from the tips is beyond me. Oh, and those "Daly Tees"? Some of them are barely bigger than a yoga mat.

I was a little surprised to see that they didn't sell any logoed gear in the pro shop, but after playing there, I know why. I sure as heck wouldn't want to pay money to advertise this course...especially considering I'm mad enough that we paid...

Great Value, Memorable Day — but Course Needs Attention

We recently played Thundering Waters using an amazing UnderPar deal that included 18 holes with cart, a can of beer, and a delicious Mexican flatbread — all for just $72 including tax. Incredible value!

We teed off at 9:50 AM with a group of 12 (3 foursomes) and finished the round around 2:30 PM. To our surprise, the starter informed us that we could play as many holes as possible — so we booked again for 4:30 PM and managed to play a total of 34 holes before the course closed at 8:00 PM. What an unforgettable golf marathon!

This course holds a special place in my heart, as I visited it many years ago during its prime. Designed by John Daly in 2005, it was once beautifully maintained. Sadly, it’s clear that course maintenance has declined over the years.

The bunkers are in rough shape, and the fairways and tee boxes need serious care. The water features also appear neglected. It’s a real shame because the layout and location are fantastic.

I sincerely hope the management will invest in better maintenance — this course has so much potential.

Still, for the price and the experience we had, it was a fun and valuable day of golf. I’d recommend the UnderPar deal to anyone looking for a great golfing outing...