River Run Golf Club & Community, Berlin, MD

Initial impression - what are we in for.....
Upon arrival we dropped our clubs at the bag drop (ourselves) and then asked where the pro shop was of the starter at which point he asked what our tee time was and said after we checked in feel free to hit complimentary balls at the range or go to the putting green or go right to the 1st hole. He said there was a 2 some ahead of us so no big deal we could go right out. (i.e. no structure to the course - we could tell b/c he sent a 2 some right out on our tail so there was no pace, the 2 some was actually at our tee's while we were hitting.)

When checking in I asked for a logo ball to which the pro said we just ran out. I also noticed a sign in the mens room that stated buy an entree and receive a free greens fee!!!! That was the first warning that we were in trouble when an entree takes the spotlight away from the $70/man course (they tried charging $90 but when we were not interested on the phone quickly dropped to $70)

The course had a nice layout just terrible and I mean terrible upkeep. There were no markers on the tee boxes showing the direction and yardage on the holes - we had to rely on the barely readable score card. My cart had 2 1/2 inflated tires and the alignment was so that I had to have 9 oclock at 12 oclock to go straight.

The website really promotes the 3 half decent holes on the course. The tee boxes were aerated and dried out, fairways were long and the fringe and approach on 13 out of 18 holes was either under construction, burned out or SAND!!

On 1 par three my shot landed about 15 yds short of the green to the right and a grounds keeper pulled up to the green while we were playing, parked his cart infront of my shot then proceeded to seed, yes seed, the green while we were playing. This green had tire tracks going through the back side of it.

On another hole a groundskeeper was trying to remove geese from a pond by firing off m-80's in the middle of the course - he should have spent some time worrying about the course then the geese not bothering anyone in the ponds.

I would not reccomend this course to anyone at all, our rate was $70 in August - for $15 more you could play Baywood Greens in Long Neck, DE (20 min from MD border) and that course was prestine and run like a course should be run - I would strongly recommend that course.

I read some bad reviews of river run and thought we would give it the benefit of a doubt b/c its a player course - i wish i could have my money back.

Oh and as a parting gift they offered a return rate of $25 if you play within the next month - seriously?!? Thanks but really - not even worth the $25 for all of the headaches.

Dont let this course ruin your vacation!

We only finished 15 holes. Played the front nine in less than two hours and the back nine we were three hours into it when we stopped. When we drove out we saw other golfers also quitting. They jad rangers but did nothing. The layout was great and the conditions so do. You could tell it was an elite course at one time.