Gaylord Springs Golf Links, Nashville, TN

This is the nicest public course in Nashville.  A little pricey, perhaps, at $64 (including tax) winter rates, however, we really liked this course and would love to golf here when it's green.  Because of the rain, it was cart path only.  The fairways are quite wide and because it was cart path only, it took a long time for us to golf.  The greens were in really nice condition because they cover them with tarp every night.  The greens were really hard to judge and I couldn't figure them out until the back nine.  There were some really nice holes including a par 4 with an island green (picture below) and a couple par 3's that you had to go over water or swamp.  It was a true links style course but because it was the winter, we didn't have to contend with a lot of long grasses.  The carts are equipped with gps so you get a real accurate picture of the shots you need to hit.  There's a golf institute, driving range, putting green, very nice pro shop and clubhouse.

Bathrooms were located conveniently on the course.  We ate in the clubhouse after golf.  Food was good but my complaint is that we were unable to see any holes from the clubhouse.  We could see golfers tee off at hole 10 but that's about it.  There was a nice outdoor seating area but I don't know if you'd be able to see anything from there.  We'd definitely golf here again when we're in the area.
www.gaylordsprings.com

Hole 4 with island green

Hole 13 over water

Forrest Crossing Golf Course, Franklin, TN

This is a Nashville City Course.  It was a little chilly so there weren't many people on this course.  Because of the time of year, the course wasn't in the best of condition but the greens were OK...though a little unpredictable because of the weather.  It had rained quite a bit the day before and it was cart path only.  The starter was very nice and the ranger drove around frequently.  There are several sets of tees and the forward tees are very women friendly and are needed on this course.  Hole 9 (above) is a par 4 and has an island green.  The back 9 has several fun, unusual holes.  There is some elevation changes and water and other hazards.  My problem with the course is that it isn't very well marked.  It's sometimes hard to find the next hole, the appropriate tee and even, at couple times, which green you were hitting to!  We especially had trouble on the last hole...we could not figure out where to hit the all, even with the score card and the sky caddie.  They had a small snack bar, but at this time of year, only had hot dogs.  We enjoyed the course and would like to play it again when it's warmer and greener, even though with the trees and grasses grown, it will be a lot harder.

Cedar Creek, San Antonio, Texas

This course is part of the San Antonio Golf Trail.  We really enjoyed this course...although it was pretty cold, especially for Texas! The course has a lot of undulating fairways that really give the ball a lot of roll.  Women did not get too much of an advantage on most of the holes.  It's quite a long course, even the par 3s are long.  The course was not in excellent condition, but quite good considering the time of year.  The staff were exceptionally nice BUT there was no liquor on the course so I couldn't try a bloody mary.  There were bathrooms on the course that were fairly clean and there were sandwiches on the turn which were good.  The first 9 holes were very hard, the back 9 a little easier.  There were homes on the back nine but none were in jeopardy from random shots.  The greens were in really good condition considering the time of year. Will definitely plan on returning to this course.

http://www.alamocitygolftrail.com/

Silverhorn, San Antonio, Texas

http://www.silverhorngolfclub.com

We had golfed here a few years ago and decided to try it again.  We liked the course and it was in decent condition, however, I think that at $57 (resident rates they gave us) it was overpriced.  The course is mostly flat and kind of wide open.  The fairways were decent and the greens were in really good shape.  There's no elevation but some water and a trees.  There were tons of deer on the course that didn't look too afraid of people.  We grabbed a hot dog and a couple of beers on the turn which were quite expensive but really good.  I don't think we'll golf here again...there are too many courses on San Antonio to try!

Dunham Hills, Hartland, Michigan

This is a small, heavily treed course near Milford.  Most of the holes were "side by side" and therefore a little tight.  Golfers frequently hit the "wrong" fairway.  But there were some really interesting holes also, with hidden water and bunkers.  The fairways were in decent condition and although the greens had already been aerated, they were in fairly good shape also.  Women didn't get too much of an advantage but we didn't really need one because the course was 6291 from the white and 5253 from the red.  The cart girl was very nice and was around frequently, I had a decent bloody mary.   There were port-a-potties but the clubhouse wasn't ever too far away!  We paid $40 which I think was a little too much for this course but senior rates are $27 during the week...still a little high.  Might golf here again, if the price goes down!

http://www.dunhamhills.com/index.html

The Jackal, Brighton, MI

Bought this at groupgolfer.com...well worth it!  When I first drove up, I was a little disappointed...the course was part of a ski slope and looked kind of run down.  But I really liked this course.  Because it was part of the ski area, there were lots of elevations both up & down!  There was also lots of water, sand bunkers, trees and everything else that makes an interesting course.  The pro shop was a little run down but the course was in great condition...fairways were nice and greens were smooth.  Play was a little slow on the back nine because they sent a twosome out ahead of us.  But we really enjoyed the variety and the condition of this course so we will definitely play it again!http://www.jackalgolfclub.com/

Betsie Valley, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville, MI

We stayed at Crystal Mountain on a package deal and golfed both Betsie Valley and Mountain Ridge.  I golfed at Mountain Ridge last year when we stayed at Crystal Mountain and really enjoyed it so I was glad to do that course again.  Betsie Valley was very different from Mountain Ridge.  There weren't the elevations or views that were on the ridge course but it was a very nice, enjoyable course.  There was water on quite a view of the holes on the first nine and a few on the back nine.  The front nine is pretty flat but there are a few holes on the back that have some changes in elevation.  The course was in good condition, with nice greens.   We returned to the clubhouse after 9, unlike Mountain Ridge which had a halfway house.  There was a cart girl but we didn't see her very often, she might have been doing both courses.  We enjoyed our stay here very much.  The bungalow we stayed in was great, although we got stuck with bunk beds, no closet and no bathroom!  At this time of year, one of the restaurants was closed and the outdoor pool closed at 4pm.  The outdoor hot tub was open as well as the indoor pool and spa.

http://www.crystalmountain.com/