Forest Park Golf Course - Red Bud

Took 3 1/2 hours to play 9…. Be prepared to wait at every tee box.

While I like all three nine-hole layouts in Forest Park, I simply don’t enjoy playing there because it is ALWAYS so crowded. Was hoping for something different this time and praying for the best. But not surprisingly, our group ended up taking more than five hours to play, even on a weekday morning.

The two nines we played were both in solid condition. The greens were a little slow and rolled true but had a lot of unrepaired ball marks on them. The tee boxes were good and the fairways were maintained well. All plusses that would normally make me want to play a course like that more often.

However, it was packed and my dread of a long slog came through. It started as we got to the first tee box. We saw there was a group on the green, a foursome in the fairway and a couple waiting to tee off. Things never got much better and we had long waits on each and every single shot.

Like I said, I enjoy the course itself. If my group could get the very first tee time of the day and have it completely open, I would rate the course much higher. But the fact that EVERY single time I play there, it is a five-hour plus round, makes me give it a lower rating than it deserves. I’m sure they would never do it because it would cost them money, but a few more minutes between tee times would be a big help. In addition, what they charge to play a five-plus hour round isn’t really worth it. But because it is packed all the time, they will never change.

This will probably be the one time I play Forest Park this year. Maybe I’ll hope for the best and try again next year. I know - insanity. Sigh…

Had 3:50 time. Got to tee and there were three groups on tee claiming same time. No marshal. Called shop, no answer. Went back to shop (quarter mile away) and were sent to new 9. "You'll be good there." We weren't. As we arrived so did another group making the turn. Had to cut in. Course was mundane, condition okay, but no one bothered to put rakes in bunkers. Our threesome spent almost $100 for this. Would not recommend that you do the same. Been in the golf business most of my life and played thousands of rounds of public golf. This was public golf at its worst. Embarrassing management. Colorless course. You can do better. Disappointed in GolfNow, too.

Played the first nine (dogwood) slow play, then went to tee off on redbud.
One group teed off, two more groups waiting in front of us ,one more group pulled up, and us, five groups waiting to tee off. We left didn’t get to play. Obviously overbooked. We won’t be back

Played here at least 20 times. 5 hour minimum for 18. Layout a little wonky and gimmicky, but can keep you interested if only for that. They have a flat rectangle green and another one but it has a massive valley in the middle of it. Lots of city noise and traffic around the course and many “pedestrians” walking through the course. No marshal or beverage and snack cart. Greens a little fuzzy always but not awful. Lots of tree and foliage debris on greens, some so bad there’s not even a reason to read the putt. No range also.

I’ve learned that driving 30 to 45 min out of the city yields much nicer courses with much fast pace at the same price point or even cheaper. The time saved driving to Forest Park is more than made up by pace of play when driving outside the city for a round.

I only play at FP now when invited by friends for an outing, never my choice.

They obviously aerated the greens in the last week. Greens are terrible to Pitt on as they didn’t do a good job of sanding and rolling so it is like plinko. I would give it another week or 2. They shouldn’t have been charging full price for these conditions.

Greens on Redbud had just been rolled and spiked and were in very poor shape. Rain previous night by course handled well.

No starter or marshal so there were many single players and twosomes. Pace of play was EXTREMELY slow. They also booked regular tee times at the same time as a multi-team high school match. The course was way too crowded and every tee had a long wait time. Greens had been aerated with large holes all over them so putting was nearly impossible. A very poor golfing experience.

The course is nothing fancy, but it’s always in great shape, three separate 9s let’s you switch it up often, and for the price point there’s not much better golf in town. Right in the center of the city and always buzzing with walkers bikers and nature. Go to golf course for me and my friends.

Tee Boxes and Fairways were excellent. Enjoyed the course layout.

I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COVID OPERATION PERIOD FOR ALL BUSINESSES AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, HOWEVER THE BATHROOM FACILITY AWAY FROM THE MAIN BUILDING WAS IN HORRIBLE CONDITION...AT LEAST THE MENS BATHROOM THAT IS, NOT SURE WHAT THE CONDITIONS WERE FOR THE WOMEN. IF WE ARE GOING TO OPEN FOR BUSINESS, MAKE SURE THE CARTS & BATHROOMS ARE CLEANED TO PREVENT FURTHER COVID CASES