Today I played Hidden Greens Golf Course in Hastings with my friend Brad and his son, who was playing his first ever 18 hole round. The walking weekend rate is now up to the astronomical price of $27!

Hidden Greens has always been known for their low prices and surplus of trees lining every hole. The course plays 5,954 yards from the whites and 6,289 yards from the tips, but I’ve never thought that the slope and rating assigned by the MGA was an accurate indicator of how tough the course can play (68.9/121 from the whites). The sound of golf balls hitting trees is the siren sound of this course.

While we generally like playing the course as is, Brad and I discussed how a course review by an architect could have the potential of vastly improving the playability of many holes. The removal of a few overhanging branches and/or whole trees would do a lot to speed play and increase the enjoyment of the typical white tee player.