Played Garden Valley Today

Played this morning at Garden Valley in Lindale. Had not played it about 15 years and had read and heard how much it had gone downhill.

Course was actually in better shape that I expected with the exception of very slow and soft greens. Again, I wouldn't say it was in great shape but not a goat track like I had been told.

This is actually a very good layout with some really good golf holes with a lot of character. With a little money this course could be a really good destination and one of the better courses in that part of East Texas. Whoever owns this course is missing the boat.

Yeah, GV isn't as bad as a few folks make it out to be. I play there often. They do have a tendency to struggle with the greens quite often tho.

When I first moved here 5 years ago, I played it quite a few times. I actually like the layout, not super hard, but not an easy course by any means. It has a varied enough layout, elevation changes, etc to make it interesting. A couple holes are so-so, but all in all a solid course, 5 years ago it was in decent condition. I just don't know what the issue is, I think they had grand plans for the real estate, which never took off. The course is just far enough away from Dallas to make it a chore to get to, same with Tyler/Longview. Haven't played there in a couple of years, I also had heard the greens were slow and soft, and overall conditions had gone done hill.

Yup, I hear you man.

I tell tho, my thoughts are that when Tempest opens and gets rolling, I have doubts that Garden Valley will survive.

Update 4-29-19

Played GV this morning. They have lost every single green on the course. They are just terrible.

There isn't any bermuda grass left on any of them. Just weeds.

That makes me very sad

It was such a great course. So sad.

Please keep this up to date on GV. We go there in August every year and have heard several people talk about how bad the greens are. Is it because the Bermuda has not started growing or have they really lost the green?

Sounds like you might want to head over to Pine Dunes instead.

It could be poa Anna overtaking it with the wet spring. Once the sun and heat hit I bet it’s better

any recent updates? Looking to play either here or at PIne Dunes this weekend. The last review on the PD thread has me worried about its condition though.

4-27-21
Last time I played GV was a bit over 2 years ago.  Back then, they had completely lost all of their greens so I didnt go back again... until yesterday.

The greens are back, they are a little slow right now but they are looking OK as well as the rest of the course.   Its not any better or worse than it ever has been.  For those of you who know GV, its pretty much the same except for No's 8 and 9
8, 422+ yds is now a short par 5 instead of a long par 4.

9, 525+ yds that needed a 275 carry to clear the pond,  is now an easy 310 yard par 4.  The tees have been relocated to just across the right hand side of the pond. 

I heard about those changes, those used to be 8 and 9, sounds like they flipped the nines.  But those actually sound terrible, the new 17 was a good hard hole before.  And a short par 4 to finish is also bad.  The other 9's finishing hole was a good par 5 closing hole.

It has been forever since i played it.  Is 18 now coming up by the range?  I always thought the "old"18 was great by the lake coming into the condos/clubhouse. 

Who owns it these days? 

Also 8 was a great par 4 

Flipping the 9s was dumb. The course had great build up the other way. But back to back par 5s on the transition was weird. Now 1 is a par 5. 

On 4/27/2021 at 7:24 AM, Mike_C said:

I heard about those changes, those used to be 8 and 9, sounds like they flipped the nines.  But those actually sound terrible, the new 17 was a good hard hole before.  And a short par 4 to finish is also bad.  The other 9's finishing hole was a good par 5 closing hole.

my bad- its 8 and 9 that are flipped.  (how stupid can I be)

On 4/28/2021 at 11:15 AM, callawayjay said:

Flipping the 9s was dumb. The course had great build up the other way. But back to back par 5s on the transition was weird. Now 1 is a par 5. 

my bad, its 8 and 9 that are flipped.  Stupid me