BEST GREENS IN THE COUNTRY
Written: Mar 16 '01
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Pros: Good variety to this course, to keep you interested in your golf game.
Cons: The signature hole #14 can be intimidating.
The Bottom Line: This course has enough variety to keep you involved with each shot. The course is kept in excellent shape and greens lighting fast but putt true.
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| grandgram's Full Review: Carroll Country Club |
Yes, that is what my son says about our Carroll Country Club “BEST GREENS IN THE COUNTRY”. He has played golf in numerous places around United States and several places in other countries. Our greens have the reputation of being fast with a stemp meter of 10 for Tournament play else it is about 11, I will say they putt true. You can count on several twists, turns and breaks on these greens, all what makes a golf game interesting.
UPDATING EPINIONS
Most of the information given in epinions.com’s golf section on the Carroll, Iowa Country Club is incorrect. This course was established back in the 1930’s by a group of businessmen. In the 1960’s the course was expanded to an 18-hole course when the Country Club Board agreed to have the Golf Pro design and build the added 9 holes. Many of the holes of the old course were redesigned and incorporated into this new layout that we enjoy today. The fairways are not Bermuda grass as stated in epinions but Blue Grass and the greens are not Bermuda but Bent-Penn Cross.
WELL RUN PRO SHOP
The item in epinions information that is correct is Joe Ward is the Club Pro and has been since 1984. He is one of the reason we moved to Carroll to be part of this Country Club. He runs a great pro shop, gives excellent lessons, organizes all the golf activities, handicaps and has a large junior golf program. He is helped with this by training an Assistant who is interested in becoming a Golf Pro. He has a group of younger boys interested in golf to help around the Pro Shop and work as bag boys. It is amazing what nice service you get when you tip these young boys.
SUMMER GOLFING
Our Golf Course season is from March until November, this year it may not start until May. Last year the course opened on March 7, with an estimate 35,000 rounds of golf throughout the year. This year with the bad winter and lots of snow this will delay our opening. Walking this course is allowed, and soft spikes are required. There are no club rentals but golf carts and pull carts are available to rent. The golf fees for guest are $13.00 for 9 holes and $23.00 for 18 holes. Golf cart rental fees are $12.00 for nine holes and $20.00 for 18. Carroll Country Club is a Private club and guests are welcome with members. We have a driving range and a chipping area also available with a large practice putting green. It always pays to practice to keep your game sharp.
Our course layout is considered hilly to flat the lower part of the course is flat. You will find trees, four ponds, numerous sand bunkers and out-of-bound markers. There are doglegs on a few holes of the course with the signature hole #14. This hole is the most challenging with out-of-bounds, dogleg around water, trees and sand. This hole can make or break your score many times, if you think you can cut off the water to get to the green
TENDER LOVING CARE
The length of this course is 6219 from the blues to 4724 from the reds. The club has built 5 new tee boxes for the gold and red tees a few years ago. This has helped greatly in the scoring on this course for us gals and older men. Our Golf Course Superintendent is Jim VanAhn and has been with the Carroll Country Club since the 1980’s and is one of the reason my son says “BEST GREENS IN THE COUNTRY”. Jim has extensive training in Golf Course Management and was honored by the Iowa Golf Association for being an outstanding Golf Course Superintendent. He continues to upgrade and improve the course. He has made many changes in water flow after heavy rains that has helped ease the flooding on the lower part of the course. Cart paths continue to be improved, flower planting's and new tee markers all add to the essence of the course.
GOLF TOURNAMENTS
Carroll Country Club hosts many Tournaments throughout the year. The Iowa Golf Association holds the State men’s Amateur, Senior and Junior tournaments every year. They also hold the PGA Sectional tournament. I helped our club sponsor a State Ladies Senior Match Play Tournament a few years ago. I found this a fun experience and the ladies had a great time even if the weather was a little wet. We also have ladies and men Club Tournaments each year also a open Ladies Invitational. These tournaments always draw a large attendance.
CLUB LEAGUES
The Pro Shop organizes the Men’s and Ladies League each year they meet each Tuesday for the men and Wednesday’s for the ladies. The men have an 18-hole group that plays at 1:00 p.m. with a 9-hole league starting at 5:00 p.m. The ladies league starts at 3:30 p.m. for the 18-hole group with a 9-hole group starting at 5:30 p.m. Both groups have a dinner and awards at the end of August for our final league play. The Pro-Shop also organizes a husband and wife scramble league on a few of the weekend throughout the summer. The summer is full of activities both on the course, in the clubhouse and swimming pool.
OTHER AMENITIES
The clubhouse includes a large bar area, and dinning room all was completely remodeled a few years ago. Food is available during the summer months and the dinning room and bar are open most evenings in the winter. A new swimming pool was installed last year as the old pool was in need of too much work. They now have a large enclosed pool area with their own food building that serves both swimmers and golfers. The pool is a popular place since this new pool now includes a diving area. Several special parties are planned throughout the year, with member committees organizing these events.
One of the most popular events at the Carroll Country Club is their Fourth-of-July celebration. They have golf Scrambles for men and women in the morning and afternoon. All the activities are planned by a committee set up each year for this celebration to include children’s and adult’s events. They include a decorating golf cart and parade that the young people enjoy. A barbecue and all the trimmings are available with ice cream sundaes to finish off a good summer meal. Everyone waits until dark for the fireworks display, we see lawn chairs, blankets lined up from the clubhouse balcony and down the cart paths around the 18th green. This event is a great time for the whole family and their guests.
WAITING FOR COURSE TO OPEN
Since we have returned to Iowa and listen to all the people who are so disgusted with the bad weather and waiting for the golf course to be cleared of all the snow. Warmer weather will be coming soon but they are getting anxious. This is the reason for my writing this review, it helps pass the time until we gather again and chase that little white ball around a great golf course. IT ISN’T A BAD WORLD AFTER ALL, ONCE YOU GET USED TO ENJOYING THE BENEFITS!!
Recommended:
Yes
Green Fees Paid (US$): 23.00
Speed of Play (typical weekend): 3 to 4 Hours
Look Out For: Sand
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Epinions.com ID:
grandgram
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Letta Meinen
Location: Central Texas
Reviews written: 455
Trusted by: 275 members
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