I played shale creek on a Tuesday morning and wasn't very excited. I'd heard great things about the course. It cost me $54 with a cart.
On arrival the staff were very friendly and polite. I really like both the starters.
I started on the back 9 which is fine I said I was more than happy to. The course looked in great shape. I felt good and it was a perfect morning.
I tee'd off and put it down the middle and thought this is gonna be a good day. I really wanted to play well here and had been looking forward to it.
NOW THE BAD STUFF!
On my approach shot one of the grounds men was behind me driving around dropping blobs of foam. I thought he'll shut off his engine when I approach my ball. I took a few practice swings and he's still driving around maybe 40 yards behind me. I hit my shot but he drove around through my whole shot. Very off putting and not what I'd expect, especially after the very professional greet you get upon arriving.
The next hole a gentlemen let me play through he was very nice. On the 3rd ( 12th ) the same grounds men was laying this foam around the tee area. I hit my shot off to the right ( in play but I was slightly annoyed) I went back to my bag pulled out another ball and looked at him. He pulled to one side and shut off engine like you he should have 2 holes ago.
From there the next 6 holes were great. Good pace of play and course was great. Really enjoyed it. I made the turn after 1 hour and I was 1 under par.
Now the real fun stuff happened. I came to the club house the starter said you can go right out. I said thank you sir and off I went.
The first hole is fairly short. I walked onto the tee and there were 3 older gentlemen infront of me. 1 on fairway and 2 off to the right in the rough looking for balls.
They got onto the green finally. I hit my t shot, chipped and 1 put. I got to the next hole ( 2 par 3) they were still on the tee box. I watched them tee off they got in their cart and drove away. I did this for the next 7 holes. I was behind them every single hole watching them tee off. The ignorance and shear rudeness of these people completely stunned me. I got to the tee box pretty much the same time as them every hole.
Now I understand not everyone plays quick and being older I don't expect them too, but to say sorry would you like to go through???? I would have been out of their way in less than 1 minute they wouldn't have seen me again.
I feel like shake creek has to take some responsibility for the players on the course. They should talk to golfers just before teeing off about etiquette and avoiding slow play.
All the starters would have to do is say " please try and avoid slow play, if you are caught by other players and especially if you are a group and get caught by a single, please allow them to play through".
I did like the course but my back 9 was completely miserable. I didn't even play 18. I picked up my ball after 17 holes and just drove back to the club house. So 8 holes took 2hrs 30 mins. The front 9 took 1 hour.
I would like to play here again as I thought it was a nice looking course but my first experience has really put me off returning.