About myself: Play Riverfront anywhere from 4-5 times per month. Not a member but often play with members.
Pros: Riverfront is typically in good shape. For a course south of the Hampton Roads tunnels, Riverfront is usually a good bet that you will have decent tee box, good greens (with some exceptions), and clean fairways. Staff are generally friendly.
Cons: Grounds crew is oblivious to the players. Typically find them with headphones on and unaware of their surroundings. Always have a problem with bunkers, bunkers are rarely raked and players don't do the course any favors by cleaning bunkers after use. Expect high load of divot marks on the greens. Normal to have to fix divot marks before a putt. If you are off the fairway, come to expect to have to hit off unmaintained areas (dirt, pine straw or debris). Maintenance ends at the fairway, rough is typically cut similar to fairway. If there is any rain the night before and you have an early tee time, expect no range as it is often closed.
Unacceptable: The manager (Brian) is unfriendly and unloyal. How he maintains his job is not understood by members and players that know the staff. Example: Today I witnessed (why I decided to write a review) a twosome that went out for the first tee time (7 AM). Within the twosome were myself and a member of 5+ years that plays golf at Riverfront upwards of 4 times a week. We were provided awareness that a tournament would be going out at 8:30 and that it was starting on the back nine and stretched to hole 12. No additional direction was given. We reached hole 16 and ran into the tournament beginning play. Unfortunately, we folded in between the tournament groups and tee'd off on 16. We were met at our ball by a marshal. The marshal stated we needed to wait until the entire tournament went through before we picked up our play again....so other words wait 1.5-2 hrs for the entire tournament to go through. We let the marshal know that was unrealistic and that we would be able to fold into the group, finish our two holes and not hold anyone up. The marshal was favorable to that course of action, but the pro shop returned with an answer of we would shut down the cart until they leave. We finished 16 and then headed into the pro shop. Going into the pro shop the member requested a 9-hole rain check believing that was a good compromise to an unfortunate situation. He was offered by Brian, $5. Considering the long wait, we would have had to finish our round, the poor management of tee times (there was a twosome behind us) and the fact we were unable to finish our round that we paid for, we thought this was a good compromise. Brian disagreed to the point he ended up refunding the member over $800 for the remainder of his membership at the club. So, a long-term member, who spends over $500 a month additional at the course, and the upwards of $400 I spend at the course a month were not worth a nine-hole rain check due to an inconvenience on both the course and ourselves.
In closing: I am sure this review will be met with the same professionalism and loyalty as presented today. Unfortunately, this professionalism is normal for management. If you want a decent course to play and have to stick south of the tunnel, no doubt Riverfront is worth the time. Do not expect you to be at the forefront of the management's concerns. Customers at Riverfront are not always right! read more
