Diamondhead Golf Club Review

Last week I wrote about an expensive golf course that I felt didn’t live up to its hype and cost. This week I am writing about an inexpensive golf course with no hype. 

Kathy and I played Diamondhead Golf Club today. It was a very fun day. We paired up with Julie and Jourdan. Two young ladies that were learning how to play golf and wanted to be sure they had fun doing it.

We played the front 9 holes with them and it was a blast!

They had a great attitude about the game – “Hit the ball, (if I can), laugh and do it again”! I believe they could teach many beginners how to approach the game.

These ladies were interested in enjoying the game, AND themselves, while learning to play. They never got frustrated over how many times they hit the ball in the water, trees or any other non-fairway spot. And when they did hit a good shot, they jumped for joy and hooted like they just got their first hole in one! Kathy and I really enjoyed playing with Julie and Jourdain.

I hope to infuse a little more of their joy into my game.

Now back to the course – Diamondhead Golf Club is an inexpensive course at $32 a round – including cart. 

Right away we knew that we were not going to get any extras for the price we paid. And, to be honest, I thought we may have just paid for a dirt track.

I was pleasantly surprised.

Diamondhead Golf Club is located in a gated community just outside of the historic resort city of Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is a semi-private 18 hole, par 72 PGA golf course.

While Diamondhead Golf Club did need a little TLC to turn it into a great course, I don’t think you would be disappointed to play a round in its current condition. The layout was fun and used the available hills to put together a challenging golf track.

There were 90 degree doglegs (3 to be exact), elevated greens, elevated tees, hills, lakes and streams. Every hole had a new challenge. The issue at Diamondhead Golf Club was maintenance.

They needed to mow the greens, tend the sand in the bunkers and water the fairways. It wasn’t seasons out of whack….just a little more TLC would fix these issues. But, they all need to be addressed.

Diamondhead Golf Club is set in a heavily wooded housing development. However, it doesn’t have the feel of a housing course at all. As I said, it is all carved out of a wooded hillside. Giving it the feel of a country course. The houses were not in the way at all. They were nicely scattered along the fairway, showing off their architectural beauty. 

The only real issue I had were the bunkers. They looked like they needed to be completely redone. To be honest, there was enough water, hills, streams and trees, that the bunkers could be filled in and grassed over. You would never miss them. Diamondhead Golf Club is challenging enough without the sand. They could save a little work and improve another area of the course if the bunkers were eliminated. 

The difference between Diamondhead Golf Club and Hot Springs Country Club did show. But, I feel like Diamonhead Golf Club had more character.

And the service at Diamondhead was absolutely better. There was a starter. The restaurant was open. And a marshall came around to make sure everything was moving.

Diamondhead Golf Club was a par course. But, with a little TLC it would be an easy birdie course. I would come back and play Diamondhead Golf Club again. And if you are in the Hot Springs area, you should play it too.

Fairways and Greens – We are 18 Holes and Counting

Written By Marc Festa

COURSE REVIEW SCORE CARD

Course: Diamondhead Golf Club

Type: Semi Private

Date Played: 13 September 2023

HOLE	PAR	SCORE	COMMENTS
1 – Tee Time Availability	4	4	No problem getting the tee time we requested.
2 – Cost of Green Fees	4	3	Very reasonable.
3 – Condition of Tee Boxes	4	4	Average grass.
4 – Condition of Fairways	5	5	Fair condition with 3 very distinct 90 degree dogleg fairways.
5 – Condition of Greens	4	5	Needed to be cut.
6 – Length of Course	5	5	Back tees play to 6621, forward tees play to 5350. Senior tees play to 3975. The back nine play significantly longer than the front.
7 – Hazards	4	5	Bunkers were old and not tended properly.
8 – Starter/Marshal	3	3	Starter was helpful and marshal on the course.
9 – High Handicap Friendly	3	3	There are five sets of tees to choose from.
OUT	36	37
10 – Practice Area	5	5	Driving range, chipping area, and putting green.
11 – Locker Rooms	3	3	Restrooms available.
12 – Pro Shop	4	4	Small but has everything you would need.
13 – Location	4	4	Easy access from Hot Springs.
14 – Rental Equipment	4	4	Available.
15 – Restaurant/Food Cart	4	4	Restaurant but no food cart.
16 – Club House	4	4	Open with restaurant.
17 – Parking	3	4	Limited.
18 – Customer Service	5	4	Very helpful and provided tips on how to play the dogleg holes.
IN	36	36
TOTAL	72	73	PLAYER: Marc F.   ATTESTED BY: Kathy F.