Stonebridge At Newport

UPDATE MARCH 2012 - Absolutely nothing has changed with the greens. They are still constantly in bad shape. My friends and I played here for an entire year (32 rounds) expecting something to change, but the maintenance here is sub-par.

We were hard pressed to find a time of year when the greens were in any shape worthy of playing golf on. It was frustrating because the course is so beautiful otherwise and its a fun place to play.

But when youre trying to putt across a pegboard (or Chinese Checker board as my friend said) its simply impossible to judge your game or get any kind of realistic score. There are SAND TRAPS ON SOME GREENS! Im not talking about a regular sand trap next to the green, I mean ON THE GREEN! We saw this 15 of the 32 times we played (I keep notes).

The last time we went was last weekend, and when I say last I mean LAST. It had been 7 days since it rained in Houston, yet there was standing water along many fairways (due to faulty sprinklers it appeared) and enough mosquitos to increase your chance of malaria 1000%. We made it 10 holes before giving up and heading home.

Another problem we experienced here were fluctuating prices depending upon who worked the counter. We also only received their web advertised Junior Rate once out of 20 times I brought my son. There was always a different reason given as to why they would not honor the price.

My friend and I attempted to purchase two memberships in 2011 for an entire year ($2,000 - $2,400 a piece depending on who you asked). We were quoted one rate over the phone, another in person from a Manager, then another price from another worker and finally by the time we got them nailed down on a price they could all agree upon we were told that the offer had expired days earlier!?

Its like night and day depending upon whos working the counter. Most all of the employees are super friendly and very helpful. But the rules, prices and service change at times. Its sad to say because I really liked this course.

I sure wish the new management would fix the issues with the greens, post a price and make all employees stick to it, honor your website pricing, honor your Junior rate, buy your ball boy some protection for his cart before he gets hurt on the range (seriously, no netting even for him?) and most of all stop polluting Newport with your plastic bags at the driving range!

Its ridiculous that they give out plastic bags filled with about 25 balls and almost everyone just discards their bags into the wind or they end up there and float out into what were beautiful woods.

The range is littered with thousands of plastic bags. How they are not ticketed for it is beyond me. If an individual threw as much trash as they do into a neighborhood there would be a public outcry, yet no one mentions it here. Odd.

--------------- back to the original review ---------------

Lots of work going on with the greens right now. Aeration holes, sand, ant trails, divots from kids ... you name it and its a hazard on the greens.

With that out of the way ... I love this course! I cannot wait until they finally finish fixing up the greens because this will be my favorite course when/if that happens. The front nine is a trip through a petting zoo (except you cant actually pet the wildlife) as you curve through the woods which choke the fairway down to the point that amateurs will be intimidated.

N00BS - LEAVE YOUR driver AT HOME! Suck it up and break out the hybrid off the tee and save yourself a dozen balls, futile searches for your ball in the woods and possibly a club or two due to frustration.

The management have always been super nice, more so than any other course Ive played at (three total so far). Some of the players here are a little more experienced than elsewhere but they are also helpful. Ive been offered some good tips from residents sitting outside their home on the back 9! ;)

Overall this is a great course and looks like it will be even better by Summer 2011.

TIP : Dont waste your money on the driving range here. They charge $5 for a small (and I mean small) bag of balls. I bought 2 bags and was done in 20 minutes or less. River Terrace Golf Course gives a large bucket of balls for $5 ... but the driving range is all RTGC is good for.

As a beginner, this course was fun and challenging. The fairways and greens were well-maintained, and the "rough" was chocked thick with leaves. For a course like this, the price is incredible. Will definitely play Newport again!