West Winds Golf Club
3.9
5
21
21
Excellent value in golf and hilly terrain poses challenges. Very well kept up greens, fairways and a little less so on bunkers.
About 15 years ago, this course was at the low end of my rating scale, no matter the cost. In the past 5 years or so under new ownership, the attention to the course has improved dramatically and now the course is in very good to excellent condition and well worth the Golf Now bargains of around $20 a round with cart (at least now in the off season). Only criticism is that some of the carts are a bit banged up and the bunker sand isn't the best I've played. Well worth a try. and particularly with value pricing.
December 21, 2012
Great value
The course was in great shape for December. The greens ran true. A nice combination of challenging and easy holes. The price was great. The staff was very nice.
December 21, 2012
Good course if you lower expectations
I played this course in the late fall and early winter. The course was not crowded, but the play time was so long because most of golfers were high handicappers. The design for the individual holes are well designed, but the overall course layout is a bit poor because the resident houses are too close and the distance from a green to the next tee-box. In general, if you don't hit an accurate shot, your score will jump up very easily. If you are a big hitter on the tee-box, don't be greedy. you need to fade your shot on a couple of dog-leg right holes. The greens are well maintained and the ball rolls well on them.
December 16, 2012
can be difficult if you don't know where to hit it, when to be agressive and when to take your medicine.
The first two holes will test you and going +2 after two should be considered a good score however the 2nd hole can easily net you a double or triple if you don't hit two perfect shots in a row. Two Par fives on the front are relatively short and par should be the goal although birdie is manageable if you're 250 or better off the tee. Back nine is more difficult then the front, often by 4-8 strokes so scoring on the front is crucial. Number 10 is one of the most challenging holes on the course and a bogey is considered a good score to sneek away with. Numbers 13, 14 and 16 will test your ability to hit some golf shots and again, if you don't play some target golf on these holes you'll likely end up wishing you stayed home and cut the grass.
December 14, 2012
Gem.
Fun course. Very much located within a housing development. Houses come into play on a few holes. Was in great shape, greens rolled true and fast for December round! We were the first group out so pace of play was our own speed. Will return.
December 9, 2012
This is a great golf for the price
I first played this course last fall and it's has improved in every aspect over the past 12 months. You can not find a better value for your money. The greens are some of the best in the area.
December 6, 2012
SLOOOOWWWWW PLAY
Pace of play was too slow. The head pro let me go foo the back 9 due to 2 foursomes in front of me. Played the back 9 in 1 hour and 10 minutes. Got to the front nine and met up with another twosome. We were following a 3 some with 2 women who were unable to hit the ball more then 50 yards at a time. They also walked very slow to the ball and did not play ready golf. There was no ranger out to make them pick up the pace.
2 hours and 45 minutes to play 9 holes.
The course itself was in great shape. The greens were fast and true.Fairways were in very good condition and if it were not for the very slow pace, we would have really enjoyed this round.
Course is known for slow play, but it is a great value for the $$$. Very friendly staff but they need a ranger.
December 4, 2012
challenging course and great value
the course was in great shape with the exception of the bunkers. They were not maintained at all. The grass on the lips was overgrown, very little sand, and did not drain well.
November 19, 2012
The course is empty.
The course is in good shape, I usually pay $15 and under and is well worth it.
November 2, 2012
Great course I never heard about.
I was visiting Fredericks, Md and was looking for a course to play. Golfnow $12 West Wind with cart? Hey, for about a beer at some golf courses, how bad could it be? Well surprise, what a gem and the best golf bargain in the Washington DC area.
Great fall colors, the greens were in perfect shape. Best fun greens I've putted since Pasotiempo, Scotts Valley, CA. Fast, really pay attention to the grain, play plenty of break, don't leave putts above the hole. Tough course for me. I play a hook and you need a high fade for most holes to get at pins and fairways. Seems to me that there was a lot of doglegs right.
Best bargain, Play a round, keep this golf course alive.
October 25, 2012
needs to pick it up
the course used to private and has fallen on hard times so the lack of maintenance is understandable, the rude and unhelpful staff is not, nor is the arbitrary closing time depending on what staffer is closing for the night
October 22, 2012
course has great and different holes
very fun playing and moderately difficult course. We were a two-some and both of us left pitching wedges somewhere on course. By the time we got to the pro shop; both clubs were turned in. Unbelieveable service.
October 21, 2012
THIS COURSE IS FUN BUT CHALLENGING
MY WIFE AND I HAVE PLAYED THIS COURSE A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK THE PAST TWO MONTHS. THE STAFF IS VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. THE COURSE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND CLEAN. THE PACE OF PLAY IS GOOD BUT WE ONLY PLAY DURING THE WEEK. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BIG CLUBHOUSE AND OR BAR THIS NOT YOUR PLACE. THIS IS A COURSE FOR GOLFERS WHO LIKE PLAYING GOLF. DOTTY & CHARLIE T.
October 18, 2012
Good condition - reasonable rates
Feel great after the front 9 - back nine is very challenging. Have golfed here 3 or 4 times. Like the course
October 16, 2012
Nice course Need a marshall out there on the back
Perefect golf value.
Great Staff Curly Nice guy,
Pace slow on the back
October 12, 2012
I had a very enjoyable day
The course was in excellent shape and very challenging. The staff were very friendly and helpful.I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great challenge.
October 11, 2012
Value, Value, Value. Never been let down.
Played this course yesterday Tuesday 10/10/12. Pulled up to the parking lot to see what I anticipated, a lot of empty parking spaces. My thoughts were, "yes we have the whole course to ourselves". Most who have never played here would probably start to worry what kind of course they had arrived at. I, on the other hand had no worries taking my 3 friends there. Of course when pulling up all holes in plain view look great at just about any course. But ultimately it's the other 14 holes you don't see that will sway your decision to return or not in most cases. I looked at my friends and said, "cant beat this for $15". That's the cost to hit balls at the range these days. When you go to a course you pay for green fees. For $15 these greens were incredible. I've been to courses were the fee is 7 times this price and the green itself is 7 times worse. While right now you must be thinking the rest of the course must be sub par, this is not the case. The course is and has always been in great shape in my opinion. While over the years some off the fairway bunkers bunkers have grown in, all green side bunkers have been in decent, but more importantly, consistent shape throughout the course. The courses layout offers many challenging but fair holes. Many of the tee shots are blind with OB on just about every hole, but still plenty of room on errant shots. This course has many elevation changes and is laid out around a community with quite a bit of distance between some holes. I do not recommend walking this course unless its something you always do. I first played this course 15 years ago in a best ball tournament or I would have never known about it. In between then and now the course went from private to public then back to private to become once again public. I do not know if this has pushed people in the area away or not. Maybe it's the layout. Maybe it's the food or lack there of. There was no food when we went this past time. The only negative thing my friends noticed. I definitely know its not the shape the course is in. I've never been disappointed here and my friends and I will be back and will have the entire course to ourselves for only $15 when booked on golfnow.
October 11, 2012
Mid-September evening at West Winds
The course has some areas that desperately need attention. More than the course, the staff needs to learn to pay attention to patrons. We were not made aware that all the golf carts must be returned to the clubhouse by 7:30 PM instead of at dark, so when we headed out at 6 we didn't realize our play would be interrupted by staff wanting us to bring our cart in and we could 'walk & carry [our] clubs' if we wanted to play longer.
October 4, 2012
Carl the Hack
I play this course as often as possible. For the money and the amazing shape of the course, it can't be beat. I have several courses around me in Montgomery County that I've frequented but few have been the same level of quality as West Winds and they often cost 3 times as much to play. Extremely friendly staff, great course, some very difficult holes on the back 9. Blind tee shots, sloping greens, a hole where you have to carry water and/or a tree to have a good tee shot, this place has it all.
My only qualms 1) some of the sandtraps could be better/softer and 2) the people that don't take care of the course as they play.
September 26, 2012
Best course in the area
Aside from the very reasonable rates, this is one of the finest courses within 100 miles!
September 26, 2012
had a really slow group of hackers 2 groups ahead and never saw a ranger
if new to course some markers or hole highlights for some holes would help
September 24, 2012