Glen Abbey Golf Club — Local services in Oakville

3.5/5 or 7/10 overall

For the most part, the course was in great shape when I visited earlier this week, which after what is more of a player's front 9, the back 9 gives you some great scenery inside the valley of the 16 mile creek.

Of the around 10 courses that I have played so far this year, this course currently has the best conditioned greens and the management there know what they are doing with said greens. And the design of most of those greens provides a decent challenge for all golfers. On top of matters, The bunkers were in solid condition and I remember my previous visit there (6 weeks after the flooding) they did a great job restoring the condition of the bunkers. Fairways as well were in great shape this week.

However, there are three points of criticism from me which is why this is a 4 star review and not a 5 star one:

Least critically - the Rough - on the upper holes, the rough is in fantastic shape. However, there are spots within the valley holes where the rough could be better and I ended up in two of those spots. One of which is understandable because I was way off the green, but on Hole 15, missing the green by 3 yards upper left left me with more dirt than grass on the surface. I could have taken my putter out in that situation and almost rolled it to the pin (which on the day was on the left)

More critically - The Tee Boxes - The Grass for the most part was in solid shape, but not the slope of the tee boxes. The majority of holes on the course, the slope of the tee boxes was noticeable in that the desired tee height had to be adjusted. I can understand this on a cheap course that doesn't have a great renovation budget. However, for Glen Abbey where the prime green fees are $240 and even week-of and last minute pricing still being between $95-150, I do feel this is an area Glen Abbey can be better with - as in a tee box renovation project shouldn't be out of the cards.

Most critically - pace of play - This was the slowest round I have played all season long, and there were a few other slow rounds in there. For what people are paying to play at Glen Abbey, I hate to say it but a 5 hour round is simply a poor pace of play. And what was telling was that the first 3 holes we played actually seemed like it was smooth sailing and we got through 9 in what might have been 4h35 pace (not good, but okay). Far too many holes, particularly on the back 9, we arrived at the following tee box only for the group ahead of us to just be teeing off because they too were waiting groups ahead of them to clear. It also didn't seem like there was great enforcement about the overall pace of play on the day - and it was a Monday at that.

If they could simply level the tee boxes and get some work done with the rough in the valley holes (particularly greenside), the course can end up being in top condition from tee to green. As for the pace of play, hopefully they can find a way to work on at least ensuring the expectation would be a...

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Course was in great shape, bunkers were well kept and greens were consistent from 1-18.

The starters and marshals on the other hand are lacking awareness. Was 1 of 8 guys playing Thursday the 23rd of June. Arrived at the parking lot and greeted by a kid in a cart. I informed him of my tee time and he indicated I was the first of the group to show up. Made no mention which 9 we were to start on.

After sitting at the first for 15 mins waiting for the other groups to tee off we were not so politely informed that we were at the incorrect tee. After seeing at the 10th tee and being chastised for being late we tee’d off and we’re told to catch up to the next group. Which as it turned out wasn’t so difficult. They were nowhere to be seen on hole 10 but were sitting waiting in their carts on 11 tee blocks. After waiting like this for the next five holes things finally opened up on the 17th hole.

Of note; not a beer cart to be seen for miles.

Stop at the turn for a dog and cold one. Maybe a 7-9 min stop. Was quite surprised to see only one person working the halfway house. Thankfully arrived when we did as six carts rolled in right after we did.

Arrive at hole number 1 and the starter to our surprise asks what’s the hold up and to hurry up. After waiting on 7 of 9 holes he had the nerve to tell us to hurry up.

No beer cart, played almost a 3 hour front nine, 1 person working the halfway house and we’re the holdup???

Come on Clublink. You can do better than this. At least have the marshals ask a simple question before speaking rudely to high paying guests. Hey, how the front???

Or we know there was a holdup but we’ve got a tourney starting and your the last group, if you can try and play the back in 2 hrs that’d be great.

Instead of blaming us, the last two groups...