Safari Golf Club gets 2-stars from me for a small handful of reasons.
First on the list is the course design/layout. Safari underwent another make-over (the last and most dramatic being around 2007 - 08 when many holes were re-routed; in a good way I minght add). The course has been lengthened but not strengthened. By that I mean a long course can add to its unfavorability. Because so much of Safari's golf holes run back and forth, to and fro, parallel to each other there are golfers playing from other fairways back to their golf holes and greens. Stretching out the length simply puts a poor or average golfer further away from their final destination and, when in my fairway, causes delay after delay. I liked Safari of old because it was short and simple to play - still aggravating because of layout - but play was swifter. Today, things are really backing up.
Next is simply the level of golfer playing Safari. The cost of playing is less than most public courses around and that's good. But low cost brings out poor golfers who in what seems more incidents than not don't understand or give a hoot about speed of play. Two carts and four guys looking for one golf ball doesn't work for me, especially (read last paragraph) when they're trying to drive into my fairway. Etiquette in golf is paramount and, yeah, that makes me sort of a golf snob. There, I said it. But JesuChristi, a 5-hour round on a short course because somebody wants to compare cigar brands, chat about last night's piece of gr_ass and the likes has no place unless you're a +2 handicap.
Finally, the course seems to have many green-to-tee distance problems. Heck, it takes almost a full minute to leave hole no. 1's green to get to hole no. 2's tee (with a cart). The same can be said for 3 or 4 others. And Safari takes on a lot of local walkers. Walking is fine but not when a group in carts is finished and moving before the foursome ahead of them is arriving at the next tee.
What's good about Safari? The range is a good place to warm up before the round. The putting green is big and smooth. The restaurant, bar and outdoor patio serviceable. A large outdoor pavilion is available for party rentals. Parking is ample. And there are stretches of holes at Safari that are very enjoyable, mostly on the back nine. Last - if you're a CBUS Zoo contributor you'll get a 10% discount.
I love golf and I'll return to Safari Golf Club time and again because of price and friends play there. But I can say I walk off with more stress than when I entered the grounds. read more
