The River Golf Club — Local services in Aiken County

Absolute disappointment for anyone that has ever played any golf course with any amount of class. Having been an employee of a very prestigious golf course I feel this course from the beginning of my experience to the end fell way below even an average standard for any golf course. The golf course itself is green and this is the only positive thing. The course itself is in very very bad shape even for it being January in North Augusta SC. Before even arriving to the golf course the disappointment and lack of professionality started. The director of golf for this course Chris Verdery was very aggressive on the phone and went beyond the scope of trying to "sell me" the tee time like a salesman, and assured me that this is the only course in the area that "overseeds" and has nice grass. I informed him that I still needed to consult with my colleagues regarding the rates to see if they were comfortable paying the rates for this course. After expressing this to Chris he still pushed very aggressively for me to still make a tee time and said that "you can always call back and cancel it", the phone conversation was weird and unprofessional to me, having worked at two different golf courses I have never seen something like this. I called back and eventually wanted to make a tee time but informed the other gentlemen that I spoke with this time that I am just a single since my colleagues did not want to pay $59 to play golf with a chance it would rain. The gentleman instructed me to just head out to the course and they would squeeze me in where it made sense. I arrived to the course and upon speaking to the gentlemen at the counter after saying that I would like to play with a group if possible it became awkward. At first it seemed like it was going to be an issue to squeeze me in and then it actually came to be that there was no one else to pair me up with, so they sent me off by myself, and I was okay with that for the most part. I spent 15 minutes on the green loosening up as instructed by the gentlemen who took my payment in the shop. The first disappointment I ran into was on Hole #2, the tee boxes are deceiving and the cart scorecard and the physical scorecard tells you it is par 5 but they currently have it set up as a par 4 with the tee boxes down 150 yards or so in the middle of the fairway and this is due to the large amount of rain. In my opinion this is an easy fix, simply put a sign that says tee boxes ahead or something to inform the players in a better way. The first nine holes were great, I only ran into a couple groups and the pace of play was perfect. The back nine holes is what ruined it completely for me.I first ran into 6 some on hole #10 and they were playing two man scramble teams, I ended up finally being able pass them on hole #13 after painfully waiting and making it clear that I was having to wait. Shortly after passing them on hole 16 I ran into a 5 some of "members" and they were in no rush whatsoever, and they were in no way being held up or having the wait on the group in front of them. I waited almost 20 minutes to tee off hole 17 which is a par 3. Eventually having finished hole 17 I went straight to the cart return and then into the clubhouse to speak with either Chris or Wayne.Chris was out of the office for the rest of the day I was told so I had the pleasure to speak with Wayne. Wayne and the gentlemen who took my payment at the start were very professional and listened to my complaints even though one of my complaints was purely my opinion. My opinion was you cannot have 5 and 6 some out on the golf course no matter how slow and dead it is, again purely my opinion, not my golf course to say how it should be ran. And to let members who pay substantially more than someone who isn't a member to play in a 5 some is understandable, but the course staff needs to insure that they are aware of pace of play, others who have paid to pay that are out on the course, and simple golf etiquette. Not to mention there was not a single marshall out on the golf course to insure the pace of play...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting River Club for the second time and I must say it exceeded all my expectations. From the moment we arrived, the staff was incredibly welcoming and attentive, ensuring that our group of 8 had a memorable stay.

The golf course at River Club is nothing short of excellent. The immaculate conditions of the course were a testament to the dedication and care taken by the staff. Every hole presented a unique challenge, and the scenic surroundings added to the overall charm of the experience. As avid golfers, we were thrilled with the quality of the course.

What truly set River Club apart was the accommodation. We opted to stay in the cottages, and they proved to be the perfect choice for our group. The cottages were spacious, comfortable, and well-appointed, providing everything we needed for a relaxing stay.

Throughout our stay, the staff went above and beyond to ensure our needs were met. Their professionalism, friendliness, and attention to detail were second to none. They were always ready to assist us with any requests or inquiries, making us feel like valued guests.

In addition to the golf course and accommodations, River Club offered a range of amenities that further enhanced our experience. The clubhouse provided a welcoming atmosphere where we could unwind after a day on the course. The on-site dining options were excellent, offering delicious meals.

Overall, my experience at River Club was exceptional. The combination of an excellent golf course, immaculate conditions, comfortable cottages, and an outstanding staff made for an unforgettable stay. I highly recommend River Club to anyone seeking a top-notch golfing experience combined with warm hospitality. I can’t wait to return for another round and create more...

This is an aggregate rating of the combination of the course, accommodations and staff. I am just back from a week long stay at the The River Golf Club. A group of friends stayed at one of the cottages along the 18th fairway.

Golf course: Excellent. 4 stars. A great course with many challenging holes. Scenary is beautiful with many lakes and ponds and wildlife. Greens are very undulating and tricky to read. They are very firm but held shots into them very well. We ran into some rain during the week and the course drained pretty well except for hole #2.

Cottage accommodations: 2.5 stars. It is great to be able to stay right on the course, but the cottage was showing some wear and tear. The rear door would not stay shut unless the deadbolt was locked. Exterior could use a good power washing and re-paint or stain. Most of the furniture was in good shape except for the couch. It was a little dingy and out of place with the rest of the furniture. The kitchen was lacking some key essentials. For eight guys playing golf, there were only 4 coffee mugs. Also some key cooking items were missing. The bathroom shower could use a re-tile. The mold and mildew build up on the grout was disgusting.

Clubhouse staff: 3.5 stars. The restaurant staff was great. They were very friendly and attentive. Food, while not extravagant, was very good and well prepared.

Proshop staff: 1 star. With the exception of the general manager, the staff seemed to care less that we were there. Being a semi-private club, they paid more attention to their members than...