View of the 16th green at Waterlefe Golf & River Club
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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
2080 Reviews (2080)
5 Stars
1331
4 Stars
630
3 Stars
81
2 Stars
21
1 Stars
17
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.3
Amenities
3.8
93.3%
Recommend this course
1992 out of 2080 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
102 Reviews (102)
5 Stars
62
4 Stars
30
3 Stars
9
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.1
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.6
93.1%
Recommend this course
95 out of 102 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
134 Reviews (134)
5 Stars
84
4 Stars
36
3 Stars
13
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.3
Amenities
3.4
StaffFriendliness
4.6
93.3%
Recommend this course
125 out of 134 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6892 yards
Slope 146
Rating 73.9

Inspired by the backdrop of the Manatee River, Ted McAnlis has created the ultimate golf experience with the perfect combination of beauty and challenge. Waterlefe Golf & River Club is built along a particularly beautiful section of the Manatee River, complete with wide expanses of pristine marshes and pleasant coves. Don't be surprised if on the 15th tee you spot a family of manatees poking noses up for a breath of air. The golf course was designed with a great deal of time, effort and expense going toward protecting and resorting the natural environment that gives the course it unique character. The gently sloped greens with the newest Tifteagle Bermuda offer the ultimate in putting. From a lazy start on the par-5 first hole to the big finish on the 18th hole island green, golfers love Waterlefe Golf & River Club!

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Waterlefe Golf and River Club
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Course Details

Year Built 2000
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Ted McAnlis (2000)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
GPS Yes
Pull-carts No

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker No
Caddies No
Golf School Academy Yes
Golf Simulator No
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area No
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole No

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Major credit cards are accepted.
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Proper golf attire required

Food & Beverage

Bar, Grill, Beverage Carts

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet Facilities, Spa

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Fitness, Tennis

Accolades

Reviews

4.5
2080 Reviews (2080)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 56
Brunch 17
19th Hole Specials 15
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 158
Forced Carries 105
Bunkers 93
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 126
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 113
Locals 48
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 105
Convenient to the City 51
In the 'Burbs 43

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 23
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/23/2023

We love hearing about our golfers' experiences, PeterZeller. Please tell us more about what you enjoyed during your round. Thanks for choosing Waterlefe Golf & River Club!

Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/17/2023

Hi, artofrock. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time at Waterlefe Golf & River Club. We look forward to seeing you on the course soon for another 5-star experience!

Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/17/2023

Hi, samflhomes. We would love to hear more about your 4-star experience on our course. Please tell us what we can do to earn that last star, and thanks for golfing at Waterlefe Golf & River Club!

Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/17/2023

Hello and thank you for your 5-star rating! We're delighted you enjoyed your round. Please book another round with us soon, and thanks for choosing Waterlefe Golf & River Club!

Played On
Reviews 28
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/10/2023

We love hearing about our golfers' experiences, Ricfresh. Please tell us more about what you enjoyed during your round. Thanks for choosing Waterlefe Golf & River Club!

Played On
Reviews 83
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played

Renovations complete

Waterlefe was already one of our favorite courses to play but after shutting down for renovations it made it even better. I would imagine it was like playing when it first opened. All tee fairways and greens in immaculate shape. Still working on clubhouse but had food truck out front to help with the eats. Great round and we’ll be back next week

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/10/2023

Thanks so much for the great review, u000003898409. We look forward to welcoming you back to our course soon. Thanks for choosing Waterlefe Golf & River Club.

Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Amazing shepe

After the replacement of greens and tees, the course is in amazing shape. Great layout. One of the best golf courses in the Bradenton area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/10/2023

Thank you for taking the time to review us, msivilich. Your feedback is valuable, and we look forward to delivering you excellent service again soon. Waterlefe Golf & River Club thanks you!

Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Perfection!!

First time playing the course since it was renovated I liked it before but now I love it! The fairways were perfect, the greens were the nicest I’ve played here this year they were excellent!! The ball rolled a perfectly straight line. if you are in the area, you have to play this course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/10/2023

Thanks so much for your wonderful review, artofrock. We are thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed your time with us. Please visit again soon. Thanks for choosing Waterlefe Golf & River Club!

Played On
Reviews 36
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Price

Unfortunately you've raised your price being greedy and outpriced yourself for alot of golfers that can't afford that price such as myself that supported you theu your earlier years.

Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Overcharged

I played this course in may of last year while down in FL. I enjoyed it so much I was looking forward to another round there this year. So I book my round , drive a little over an hour to the course , pay a premium rate to find that the greens are completely barren and unplayable.

You cannot charge a premium rate on a course that is ultimately incomplete. Green Speeds were impossible to predict and there was not an ounce of responsiveness left to the green. You need to make people aware your course is under repair before they book. A tee time.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens and Tee Boxes Were Terrible

I've played this course before and enjoyed playing there. They are in the process of killing all the grass on the tees and greens. I paid $120.00 each to play this course under these conditions.
I would have appreciated it if I were told of the current course conditions prior to playing and/or given a discount off their green fees during the reconstruction.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Not so good of a time at Waterlefe

Course is under going the beginnings of a reconstruction. Greens and tees are dead grass. Asking to pay full price for a course in less than ideal condition is puzzling to say the least. I guess their attitude is to milk the snow birds.
I played the course 2 year ago and it was in perfect conditions. Hope to return next year to better conditions.
Staff, facilities, etc. were great.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/01/2023

Thanks so much for the great review, u00000249054. We look forward to welcoming you back to our course soon. Thanks for choosing Waterlefe Golf & River Club.

Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Waterleaf

I was disappointed when we arrived to hear that all the greens had been burned out in advance of their course redesign/ construction . I did not realize this and I felt we didn’t get the optimum value for our green fees . I will say the course layout is great and I look forward to playing the course when it is back in good condition .

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 04/18/2023

Thank you for taking the time to review us, jwoodsy. Your feedback is valuable, and we look forward to delivering you excellent service again soon. Waterlefe Golf & River Club thanks you!

Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Extremely Challenging Layout

To be fair, the course was getting ready to close for 6 months to prepare for major renovations- including the greens and tee boxes. But regardless of that fact, the greens rolled true and fast ( though they were brown and completely dormant). The layout was very challenging from the blue/gold tee boxes and required some fairly precise golf shots. The slope rating is fully justified. I would recommend more playing tips on the gps to help navigate the course better. Front 9 played easier than the back although neither was easy. Staff was friendly and accommodating.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
Commented on 03/29/2023

Thank you for taking the time to review us, Gary1263822. Your feedback is valuable, and we appreciate your business. Waterlefe Golf & River Club thanks you!

Played On
Reviews 2
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Hot weather
Used cart

Greens terrible

Greens being renovated and all grass was killed and left a bare brown greens..
Course was booked on Teeoff and there was no indication of any green renovations on booking page.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Burned out greens

I was unaware, and there was no clear warning on the website or on the course website that the course was closing in 2 weeks for 6 months to replace all the greens. Greens had been intentionally burned out for removal upon closing. Very disappointed this wasn't made clear when I booked

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Totally burnt out greens

Unknown to me when I booked this that the course is closing in 2 weeks for 6 months to replace all the greens. In prep for that they have burned out all the greens to make it easier to dig up I guess. This fact should have been clearly stated on the listing instead of a small “course caution” Button with explanation. Yes, maybe I should have called when I saw that but there was no other info whatsoever on the listing. Hour plus drive each way and $200+ for 2 green fees. Disappointing because I like the course

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Bad bad bad condition

I think this so rude that we pay full price snd the green are death…(sorry for my english) I stopped after 9 hole and stop at the pro shop to telle the director he should tell us before and he said that it is writen…. At Golf now it is not. I want them to pay me back please.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Greens

I think we should have been informed that the greens were dead and that the course was closing in a week for new greens . The course was in great shape except for the greens and they were very hard to putt totally burned out .

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/01/2023

Hello, Fran1512627. Thank you for visiting us at Waterlefe Golf & River Club. We appreciate your 4-star rating and review. We hope you join us for another round soon.

Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best staff

Everyone super friendly, only negative was they are killing the greens to reseed them. Very fast to putt on them

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
Commented on 05/01/2023

Hi, Steve4479992. We appreciate you taking the time to review the course and rate us. Thank you for the 4 stars! We aim for a 5-star experience, so we always welcome feedback for improvement. Thank you for playing Waterlefe Golf & River Club.

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