Okay, so I finally got around to playing Dakota Ridge Golf Course the other day, and let me tell you, it was an experience. I’d heard some good things, and seen some pictures online, so I was pretty pumped to check it out.
Getting There and Getting Started
First off, finding the place was pretty straightforward. I just plugged the address into my phone, and it took me right there. No problems at all. Parking was ample, which is always a plus. I grabbed my clubs from the trunk and headed towards the pro shop.
The pro shop itself was decent. Nothing fancy, but they had the essentials. I checked in, paid my green fees, and grabbed a scorecard. The guy behind the counter was friendly enough, gave me a quick rundown of the course layout, and pointed me towards the first tee.
Hitting the Links
I started on the first hole, a par 4, I think. My drive was…okay. Not my best, but it stayed in the fairway. My approach shot, though? Totally shanked it. Ended up in the rough to the right of the green. Sigh. Managed to chip it on and two-putt for a bogey. Not the start I was hoping for, but hey, that’s golf, right?
The front nine continued in a similar fashion. Some good shots, some bad shots, a lot of “meh” shots. I think I parred maybe two holes? The course was in pretty good shape, though. The fairways were well-maintained, and the greens were rolling pretty true.
- Fairway condition: Good
- Greens: Fast, but fair.
- Bunkers: Didn’t find myself in too many, thankfully!
- Overall upkeep: Solid.
The Back Nine and Beyond
The back nine was where things got a little more interesting. There were a few holes with some nice elevation changes, which made for some challenging shots. I remember one par 3 in particular where I had to hit a pretty high iron shot to clear a ravine. Managed to stick the green, though, so that was a win!
I ended up shooting a…well, let’s just say it wasn’t my best round. But honestly, I didn’t really care. The weather was beautiful, the scenery was nice, and I was just happy to be out there playing.
Wrapping Up
After the round,I decided it was time to get back, it was getting late.
Overall, I’d say Dakota Ridge is a solid course. It’s not overly challenging, but it’s still got enough going on to keep things interesting. If you’re looking for a decent place to play a round, I’d definitely recommend checking it out.
