Rockland Golf Course

First let me start by saying that when I first saw this course on the golf Now App I didn’t realize it was a Par 3 course… but that’s on me… I didn’t realize it until after I paid and grabbed a score card… again that’s on me. As soon as I grabbed my cart and went to put my clubs on it a Ranger came over and told me that I should just skip the first hole because there is a foursome just teeing off and to quote him «they are slow as sh! t». So I proceed to the 2^nd tee box… which is a shared tee box (with the 5^th hole I believe). I look and they have the sprinklers on watering on and around the green… with a worker standing there. The Ranger approaches me again and says «I don’t understand this… they had all last night and early this morning to water!» The sprinklers shut off and I start my round… I arrive at the 4^th tee box… this one is shared with not one but TWO other holes… the 6^th and the 13^th… there is a worker cutting the grass in this tee box and I look down and the markers to dictate where the Blues and Whites are for the 4^th hole are gone… he moved them to cut the grass… I ask him Where I should tee off from For the blues and he replies «Ummmm…any where right there is good» I have no idea of distance… and because the size of the tee box… he proceeded to keep cutting grass while I’m teeing off… this became a theme of the day… almost every hole there was landscaping and watering going on. Makers in the tee boxes being moved around because of grass cutting… mind you this wasn’t first thing in the morning… I was teeing off at 9am… the course had been open since 6am… I finally gave up at the 13^th hole. And mind you they had probably approximately 10 grounds crew people. I have golfed for over 20yrs and at many golf courses… I have never experienced anything like this anywhere else. I definitely will not be going back… and I will share this story with my golf buddies. I do want to say that the course itself is in good shape. Fairways were pretty nice and the greens were as well. But that won’t persuade me to come back.

Maybe it was the fact that I don’t normally play par 3’s and when I have they have typically been very short yardages. Rockland was different in that the length of the holes and the size of the greens were what you would find at a regular 6500−7200yrd course. Tee box options were numerous so the lengths of the holes could be tailored to the strength of the golfer. Club house was decent and the course very mature. Our only complaint would be how hard and dry the tees, fairways and greens were. It was very difficult to stick a green with a well lofted shot. To stay on the greens you had to shoot to the front and hope the rolls would work out. Since our home course has well irrigated greens this was a big adjustment. The fact that we were able to play 9 holes in just over 1 hour was much appreciated. (Unfortunately we didn’t think we would have time to play 18 when if fact we did). Groups in front and behind all kept a good pace of play. Hard to loose a ball at this course which probably helps the pace of play as well.

Yesterday I visited the course around 6:30 P.M. expecting to play a couple holes of twilight golf at a cheap price. When I arrived at the course there was no one in the club house and I did not see a starter. Being so late my friend, who also came to the course with me, and I figured that everyone had gone home. We went to tee up and while we were, a woman asked if she could help us. We explained that we did not know if there was anyone to pay and quickly made towards the building to pay. After we were told to pay at the bar we simply asked this woman if we could play the back nine, she gave quite a bit of attitude. The two of us laughed it off and continued walking in to pay when we were told by the woman that… «If we wanted to keep laughing we could just not play at all.» Once this was said I told her that we were all set on playing and left the course. This is a course I have played since high school on a weekly basis. After this experience I will not be returning and I certainly will no longer suggest it as a potential course to play with friends.

This is a par 3 course, which is just «so so». My review is based on the front 9 only, which is all we had a chance to play. Some tee boxes/​fairways were creatively situated primarily due to the lack of space.

played it again this past week, confitions are ok. this time, no one followed us around, but we were hoping to see a ranger on the course. There was a slow threesome n front of us and when they actually caught up to a 4 some of seniors it made for a miserable back nine, everyone behind us were 2 somes and complaining. I wont play this course again simple due to 1. 30 mmiles away, 2. way too many slow play experiences the 2 times I played there. 3. The golfers lack etiquette. but it is a cheap course… so I shouldnt expect too much.

I hit up the course today for the second time and had the pleasure of playing the back nine during my visit. I very much enjoyed the back nine over the front nine. The course was busy during our 1:30ish tee time but we never had to wait to tee off.
This is a great course for the price, especially at the 9-​holes rate. Some holes are challenging at times for myself (a little more than beginner) while the other are just right for my skill level. My in-​laws frequent this course and I can see why. I’ll definitely be back next time I visit.