River Downs Golf Club

1900 River Downs Dr, Finksburg, MD 21048, USA

Address:	1900 River Downs Dr, Finksburg, MD 21048, USA
Phone:	+1 410-526-2000
Site:	riverdownsgolf.com
Rating:	3.3
Working:	7AM–8PM 7AM–8PM 7AM–8PM 7AM–8PM 7AM–8PM 7AM–8PM 7AM–8PM

Location

Photos 44

Reviews 8

JOHN THOMPSON

We played on a Monday morning. One person was working in the clubhouse. He was also the starter and snack bar operator. He was very helpful getting us signed in and gave us a quick review of the course layout. He gave our foursome a book which described each hole and how to play it. Green fees were $30 for seniors. The clubhouse was nice. We had hoped to have a breakfast sandwich before playing but the cook did not show. The practice area was good. It had mat and grass areas from which to hit. This is a very hilly course with hidden hazards and slanted fairways. Bring some old balls to lose because many shots to the fairways roll into the high weeds. The tee areas were in pretty bad shape with many divots. I give the fairways a "B". If you manage to stay in a fairway the surface was usually good. Greens were all different as to speed. Some were spongy and slow while others were fast. All had bare spots and ant mounds in them. I give the greens a "D". The traps had sand in most but it looked like a herd of deer ran through them. I give the traps a "c-". The course layout is very challenging. Traps are located in strategic areas that make you think. Hazards like tall bushy rough are located just over the horizon so you must study the hole before you hit your tee shot. Hole 10 is typical of many of the holes. You must hit at least a 200 yard drive over bush and trees to what looks like a postage stamp fairway way below. I give the course layout a "B". It is a very beautiful course. I would play here again but not soon.

Brian Durkin

River Downs Golf Course - A mixed bag. First of all, my buddies and I got discounted greens fee of $29 from a golf web site, so that was a plus. The setting for the place in quite beautiful and that is another plus. The folks working in the course were nice enough. The starter gave us what seemed like a 15 minute briefing. That may been to allow some the regulars to slip ahead of us. Nobody in the group remembered much of the briefing. The course itself is an interesting layout i.e. lots of contour, blind shots. What I did not like about the course was many of the fairways rolled off into the abyss. I mean some briarpatch thicket that Brer Rabbit would have difficulty finding his ball in. So find the fairway or start adding up the strokes. Some the fairways had huge patches of bare dirt. The greens and fringes were generally slow and shaggy and a few had patches missing. Hole #10 is quite strange. From the tee you have landing area around 200-250 yards with a 100 drop from the tee area. Round played 4/27/2013 One more thing, the bunkers were the worst Ive ever seen. Not a grain of sand, just powered clay and rocks...lots of rocks! My grades: Fairways: C- Greens: C - Bunkers F Layout: B + (for originality) Tees: C Staff and Clubhouse: B Price: B Overall: C

Amy Starliper

I played River Downs last Sunday 8/18. I found the course to be over priced at $48.00 per person and the conditions very poor. I went out as a single and ended up hooking up with a young man on #10. After we teed off on #18 we found it diffcult to get the carts up this huge hill with a massive incline due to the fact that it had rained earlier that afternoon. We made many attempts to get up the hill, however it became too dangerous and we made the decision to leave the carts at the base. After completition of #18 my partner went into the clubhouse to inform the associate that we left the two carts at the base of the hill on #18. He notified me in the parking lot that the associate told him that we didnt try hard enough and we didnt do it right! So now we have an over priced course in poor condition and unacceptable service. I assume business must be good to treat paying customers this way. I am local and have enjoyed playing this course in the past, along with many of my friends. After experiencing that type of service along with everything else I will not return to River Downs and will inform my friends to do the same. I hope the Golf Course can use this to better themselves in the future. Patrick

Chris Weddle

Absolute worst golf experience Ive ever had. We showed up a half hour before our tee time just to be told they were out of golf carts and werent sure when we would be able to tee off. Ended up teeing off 45 minutes after our scheduled tee time. During this time we saw 4 groups of 5-somes make the turn and at one point saw 8 golfers playing the 9th together. When asked why they are allowing this the lady at the desk said "once theyre on the course theres nothing we can do about it". Break them up at the turn, send out a marshal, or dont let 5-somes tee off together are just a few suggestions. If that wasnt enough, the course is in terrible shape. Multiple fairways were nothing but dead grass, tee boxes are uneven and the greens are in dire need of a good rolling. The 6th green looked like someone was using it for chipping practice. We decided to cut our losses at the turn and didnt play the back 9 so I cannot comment on the shape of those holes. I cannot recommend this course to anyone and will never go back

Dwayne Weddle

Right off the bat, we were told they did not have enough carts so our tee off was delayed by over 50 minutes. Many of the tee box areas need a lot of work and on several, (4-5) holes, there is no green grass. Many of the fairways are burnt. We prepaid for 18 holes, four golfers and ended up only playing nine. They also allowed more than 4 golfers to a hole. We saw one eightsome on the course. The course has a lot of potential, its just not there but I for sure will not see whether it reaches its potential.

Brian F

Well, they had 1 person working the register and the grill. They had no cart girl on a Sunday. The water coolers on the course were filled with days old water (no ice). Course is tricked out, meaning there are a ton of carries and blind shots. Its not really that fun when you have a hazard 200 to 230 off the tee on every hole and you consistently have to lay up. Greens were decent. I will not be returning.

Richard Byrd

This course has turned a corner, new sand in bunkers and Bermuda laid down a year ago is making this course play very nice. It is a shot makers golf course so if your game is a little off you will lose some golf balls. ALso for those that say there is dead grass, do not know that it is Bermuda grass in the fairways and it goes dormant until weather gets warm, looks yellow but still plays well.

Sander Goldberg

A few years ago this course was literally a farm. But today it is coming back nicely. A few holes still need work, but I played there about 6 weeks ago and then 4 weeks later and noticed a big improvement in the fairway grass. Book online, or even call the club house and they may match the online price, which is the best bargain in golf in 50 miles at least.