For the money, Bradshaw Farm in Woodstock is a good public course. There are three nines here: Red,…read moreWhite, and Blue. The two nines you play can change depending on how the pro shop has scheduled tee times for the day. I've played Bradshaw several times over the years and have usually wound up playing the Red and Blue nines.
From the blue tees, the Red measures 3,128 yards, the White 3,286 yards, and Blue 3,153 yards, so it's not a terribly long course. It's moderately difficult and I think somewhat beginner-friendly for a standard full-length course. There are a lot of hills and elevation changes, some of which are quite steep. The first tee on the Red nine has quite the drop which makes that drive a lot of fun. The most memorable hole to me is the 9th on Red. It's a long par 4 which goes downhill then back up to a steeply elevated green. The view is cool because overlooking the green way above is the clubhouse and golf cart storage building.
At the time of writing this review, Bradshaw's public rates are $42, Monday through Thursday, $55 on Friday, and $65 on weekends and holidays. You can find good deals online through various websites like GolfNow and TeeOff.com. For example, I was able to book a Friday round here for $45 using TeeOff.com, a $10 savings off the regular rate. These websites also offer various discounts and promos throughout the year so you can save even more money on the already discounted tee times. It should be noted, however, that the tee times available on these websites can sometimes be more limited than what you can get by directly calling the pro shop.
Overall, the condition of the course is decent. The greens are the best part. They are Champion Dwarf Bermudagrass (installed in 2012-13), the same grass that is now used at the club I grew up playing at (High Point Country Club - Willow Creek, also installed around the same time). The last time I played here, the greens were in great shape. They rolled true. The fairways were OK and the rough was cut short. The brown-red sand in the bunkers had more of a hard, dense, clay-like consistency as opposed to the drier, white, "fluffy" sand. Not bad though. I was still able to hit out of them with my usual sand shot.
There's a big driving range and one practice putting green and short game area. Like some of the tee shots here, the driving range is located on what feels like a cliff, so you are hitting shots down into a valley. It's mats only at the range and range balls (not included) are dispensed from a machine outside the pro shop. When you purchase range balls, you'll be given a code to enter into the machine. A small bucket costs about $4-5.
I'm not a fan of the golf carts here. They're old. Several have worn out tires and the carts' turning and handling is not good. These carts are definitely showing their wear and age. Also, no GPS and towels are not provided. Neither are tees, ball markers, repair tools, etc, but to be expected at the rates they charge.
What Bradshaw does have, which I love and think every golf course should have, is one of those compressed air guns. They're great for blowing grass, dirt, sand, and other stuff out of your shoes, socks, skin, etc. Also, the restrooms out on the course are satisfactory.
The clubhouse itself looks like a giant red barn. Very distinctive. The clubhouse has a nice view of the first hole on Red. The pro shop is small and basic. The restaurant and bar is also no-frills. The grill offers food like breakfast sandwiches, Danishes, muffins, hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, and fries each under $6. The bar serves liquor.
The staff I've encountered have been friendly, polite, and helpful. That goes for the guys in the pro shop to the cart girls. Marshals? Not sure I've ever seen one or had one say anything to me.
In the end, Bradshaw Farm gets 3 Yelp "A-OK" stars out of me.
