Veenker Memorial Golf Course

This course has great potential, and offers good challenges, but its maintenance and general amenities leave much to be desired. The odor in the "locker room" (at least for men) was unbearable, and its floor looked like it hadn''t been washed since the end of winter. The "clubhouse" is an enclosed dark brown-painted wooden box with plastic windows — the kind that have been there too long, can no longer be adequately cleaned, and are clouded, as if they have cataracts. No one cleans the tee areas, and there are no little boxes for broken tees, meaning there are cigarette butts and broken tees all around the pads. Granted, the rough means taller grass than on the fairway, but probably not as tall and unwieldy as it was. The food is pretty much limited to hot dogs (which they call bratwurst) and pre-made sandwiches wrapped in plastic, which they nuke in the microwave, with the plastic still on (c''mon, guys, haven''t you read much about nuking plastics?) and which are overpriced. And speaking of overpriced, all this for more than I''ve paid at a private club — clean, well maintained, and yes, still challenging — in other areas of the country. Most public municipal courses I''ve played are cleaner and well maintained than this one, and less expensive. It''s a good basic course that needs some attention.

My expectations of this course was such that it was going to be a very long day of golfing because the course plays very difficult. I don''t think this course played nearly as difficult as everyone says it will does, if I played the course again knowing where the holes go would change my club selection because I did not think you needed to be very long off the tee.

The variety of the creeks, trees and elevations gave this course some very unique characteristics that I thought were very interesting. However, the maintenance on the course was something where I was left with mixed reviews... We played early and they were mowing the greens however they mowed back and forth but did not make a once around the outside, which left some odd rolls off the fringe. Once on the green the speed was medium with a fair bit of undulation, but really didn''t roll too fast. The tee boxes were the most disappointing as they were very torn up, it wasn''t just one it seemed like they were all of in the same condition. I am not in a hurry to return, sorry.

As this was the first time I played Veenker, I cannot comment on the "old Veenker" as faction recalls it. However, this current incarnation is still a pretty good course, in my opinion. Again, I don't know the old course, but Veenker's website and the Player's Guide they gave me, lists hole #7 as "Big Boy". Also, the trees on the right of #9 are to hide the driving range.

Anywoo, this current incarnation demands accuracy and a reasonable amount of length. There are many holes where you have to thread the needle, otherwise your ball is gone or at the very least in a very tough spot to get up and down from. Severe slicers and hookers probably won't have a fun day. Lots of elevation change, too, as best exemplified by #11. It is a par listed at 98/134/155 from the front/middle/back tees, but you need at least two and maybe thee more clubs as it is almost straight up. Squaw creek and its smaller tributaries come into play on many holes, and I think that the holes are weaved very creatively around the creek: sometimes driving over the creek from the tee, other times the creek protects the green.

The course is in great shape, and the cost is good for the area. The scenery is decent, there are large roads and a busy railroad that runs next to the course, and one house. But, it certainly isn't anything like a typical suburbia golf course/housing development.

The staff are very friendly, and the practice facilities are top notch. The driving range prices are fair, there is a practice sand trap, and two putting/chipping greens in the practice area and a third near the first hole. I will definitely be coming back.