With a round a Wyncote with the boys scrapped, I decided to finally take a trip to Royal Manchester just north of York, PA. Fun course, very gettable due to all the recent rain. Greens were super receptive but still rolled incredibly fast. Best short game area I’ve found anywhere near here (I’d love to hear of any others you’ve found). It’s a hike to get up there, but it’s absolutely worth it. Can’t wait to take a crack at it when it’s burned out and crunchy.
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Was burned out and crunchy last weekend, all the rain must’ve softened it up. One of my favorites up there.
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Thanks! It certainly looks like it dries out and runs but good to hear it from someone who knows. That course is definitely getting into the rotation, heck I’d pay the afternoon rates just to wedge and putt the short game area.
They’ve had a few disasters maintenance-wise this year. I guess their irrigation system broke in the middle of the July heatwave, and they’ve recently hired a new superintendent. That course is usually in great condition.
Not interested in shipping it because it’s large, but would anyone here be interested in buying a Walker Trolley? It doesn’t fit in the trunk of my coupe and I don’t want to leave it at the club. It’s great, just not a good fit for my lifestyle at the moment.
It’s literally just been used once and is otherwise in perfect shape. I’m in Arlington but play over in Maryland somewhat regularly.
sold to a loving home
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I didn’t make it to the DMV event (stupid COVID quarantine), but if you guys need a fourth for a round, shoot me a DM.
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I love this course. Have a buddy from PA and we meet there all the time. Prices are always reasonable and for me it’s usually in fine condition. Also a fan of Wyncote. Played there a few months ago.
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Do not, under any circumstances, play Renditions. Decided to give it a chance with two friends this weekend because it was the only AM round we could get on a Sunday. Hadn’t been in years, figured what the hell. Horrible conditions. Mud fairways that swallowed drives. Still cost $100. I know the whole place is a gimmick that is tired after one round there, but never again, man.
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I came to this realization after playing it last summer. It’s never in good shape and like you said the gimmick holes get really old and boring. Completely out on that place.
Edit: also was this said round Porath mentioned on the pod this morning?
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Indeed it was! Great to see him, just wish I’d dragged him up to my place instead of wasted his time and money there.
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Renditions is perfect (term used VERY lightly) for a charity scramble outing. Its not worth the $85-$105 fee to play as a regular round of golf, as noted above always disappoints with conditioning, and the holes are never as cool as expected. That said it’s fun to do when having a couple drinks, playing in a scramble where it’s not that serious, and once every few years. A+ for concept D- for execution/maintenance there.
damn, my loving gf got me a gift certificate here for a round, thought the rendition holes would be cool. I’ve never been out there, but may need to split my gift card to get someone here to join me lol.
If you’ve never been there before then the holes can be fun especially “Amen Corner”. But for me there’s much better places to play for that price.
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I volunteer as tribute.
Yeah the conditions are generally pretty stinky, I’ve been out there at least half a dozen times and have never once left satisfied with the conditions. But at the end of the day, the layout is a pretty cool idea, even if not executed great, so if you can get a DEAL, its fun to check out. But I wouldn’t be out there for more than $50/60.
The absolute WORST was when it first opened. Drainage was an issue from the start it seemed. The “Links” style holes they had were entirely fescue lined, so people would spend forever searching for golf balls. 5-6 hour rounds. Miserable. Within a few weeks they hacked it all down.
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It’s a decent concept but it’s also not really a “round” of golf. It’s a collection of holes. Golf courses that have terrible drainage and also do not let you walk are such a disaster. Because the problems compound. Either you’re taking carts into bad fairways and making them worse, or you’re playing cart path only golf and parking, then trekking across wet fairways with three clubs in your hand trying to guess on distance and losing a towel or range finder. Maybe Renditions would be fun if it could be at all firm, I don’t know that I’ve ever played it when it was.
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Being built on an old sand pit/mining location definitely doesn’t help with drainage. It definitely seems to always be soft.
Agreed, but I would assume that it was never the goal to be a “round” of golf, and that the players would be there in search of the “cool” collection of holes. When the advertisement of the course is Birkdale to Augusta to Oakmont to Sawgrass, I would imagine not many are in search of a cohesive round of golf.
I’m not sure in the history of the course has it ever actually been firm, which is why i certainly agree its never worth the full price tag. But as a way for the average joe to “play the famous holes”, hit into the island green, play through amen corner, its a neat idea that was unfortunately executed poorly.
It might be a collection of holes but it still makes up for a fun round. Every time I’ve played it I have really enjoyed myself. It’s not a Course I would pay anymore then 40 for it but it’s more then likely the closest I’ll get to playing holes from Augusta, Marion, Oakmont, etc.
I do agree the course conditions aren’t great. I’ve played it 4 times I think and it’s been cart path only each time, but the greens are usually good when I’ve played it (has been like two years since I last played it) which is the most important thing for me when it comes to a course
I played it for the first time a month or so ago. I was not expecting too much from the round, but still left disappointed taking into consideration the conditions, cost and not being able to walk.
It hadn’t rained in 5 days or so and the first 7 holes were totally drenched, every fairway hit was a complete mud ball. I don’t understand why they are trying to mimic famous holes at courses known for firm and fast conditions like Oakmont, Shinnecock, Carnoustie etc, when they knew the property would play soft and not drain well. It seemed like the entire place started off as a potentially fun but gimmicky concept, and they forged ahead with the work on the wrong piece of property or at least without consideration for the land it was being built on.
Anyone up for a round somewhere on Nov. 5 &/or Nov. 6? Just had some mini-vacation plans cancelled and so have a couple of days off. I’m in Silver Spring but I’ve played no golf in the Baltimore area and would be happy to head up if anyone is interested/available. Let me know!