[golfernut78]

Rivertowne Country Club is a semi-private, "lowcountry" gem located in mount pleasant (across the bridge from charleston) that winds along the wando river and horlbeck creek. the course is a 18 hole championship course designed by arnold palmer. the course has five sets of tees for varying skill, ranging from 5,089 yards to 7,188 yards. the course has a variety of holes from par 3's as short as 152 yards (from the tips) to as long as 213 yards (from the tips) and par 5's as short as 507 yards (from the tips) and as long as 586 yards (from the tips). the course is protected with a varitey of water features - marsh, creeks, and ponds, as well as some heavily tree lined fairways, and strategically placed bunkers. the course all features a number of holes with severe dog legs leaving a number of risk reward shots off the tee and if played conservatively, leaving long irons into the greens. the greens are large and undulating leaving long putts very difficult to judge as well as making the shorter putts very difficult too. there is not much topography on the course but there are a couple of holes where the fairway or green are slighly elevated making tee shots or approach shots play a little longer.

the course is a very fair test of golf, and while there are a number of obstacles to be cleared on the course this course is not too much for the novice golfer - provided they chose the proper tee box. for the most part the fairways have large landing areas and on a few holes, the lesser golfer might need to play for boogie rather than par.

for the most part, the course conditions are great. the course is always lush and green with thick rough and fast greens. the course is well manicured with the bunkers always in great shape. the greens are soft, making it easy to hold approach shots and even spin them back.

the course has golf carts with GPS, but even with that the fairways are still well marked with yardage markers making navigating the course very easy. the driving range is a little small, but there is another tee box at the other end of the range for members. there was no short game area at the time of my last visit, but with the upcoming LPGA tour event i was tould one was being added. the is a large, undulating practice green that rolls very true to the greens on the course.

the rates vary on the season between $130 and $95 - which is a little steep, but for the quality of the course and the staff is reasonable. the the beverage cart is frequent on the course and you pass right through the clubhouse between 9 and 10 to pick up a bite to eat if need be. there are plenty of restrooms throughout the course and they are always very clean.

i highly recommend this course to anyone visiting the area - and after may 2007, you can say that you've played a LPGA tour host course.

Rivertowne Country Club

[hobbes]

Nothing like having a nice long lake on #1 to invite that early slice

Looks nice though and thanks for the review. This is about 3 hours from my parents' house, road trip might be in order at some point.

[golfernut78]

hobbes, on May 29 2007, 08:42 AM, said:

Nothing like having a nice long lake on #1 to invite that early slice

yeah, its a nice way to start a hole, but the water isn't overly long so even a slice can still be dry - assuming you didn't get too greedy trying to cut the dog leg.

i typically play it safe and take a wood at the bunker on the left side of the fairway - which is no longer there - and then a mid/short iron in to the green.

[Chopper69]

I played this course on August 18th. It was in terribel shape. Hard No watering . the greens were in rough shape. they said they were leting the overseed die, but even then the rest of the course was VERY DRY. I recommend going accross the street to Dunes West and playing. The conditions were plush and half the price of Rivertown!! Stay away after the LPGA event they let the course go to HELL>

[golfernut78]

Chopper69, on Jul 26 2007, 01:25 PM, said:

I played this course on August 18th. It was in terribel shape. Hard No watering . the greens were in rough shape. they said they were leting the overseed die, but even then the rest of the course was VERY DRY. I recommend going accross the street to Dunes West and playing. The conditions were plush and half the price of Rivertown!! Stay away after the LPGA event they let the course go to HELL>

i actually played the course july 5th and found the course to be in good shape. there were some real wet spots in some areas of the rough (i suspect near drains, but the rough was so high i didn't see drains). the greens were firm and fast. the fairways were a little fast too, but the course was very green and bunkers were in good shape.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I'll have to play Rivertowne the next time I am down that way.....sounds good.