Black Squirrel Golf Club Review
August 28, 2023
While the rest of the country is under a severe “heat dome”, the local weather where we are has finally broke and we are now looking at weather tempatures in the low to mid 70’s.
And for a golfer – that is paradise!!
We continually say that we are chasing 70 degrees, but truthfully, we rarely find it!
However today was different.
Today was a great round of golf. Partly because the weather was wonderful, partly because we haven’t played in three weeks and partly because the course we chose was in very good shape.
We are currently in Elkhart, Indiana getting some routine maintenance done on our RV. While our rig has been in the shop, we figured why not play a round of golf?
One of the techs at the RV shop recommended we play Black Squirrel Golf Club in Goshen, so we took him up on his recommendation and booked a tee time.
The Black Squirrel Golf Course is a 72 par 18-hole course that features all the aspects necessary to challenge both the serious and the recreational golfer alike: water, strategically-placed bunkers, doglegs, short stretches, long stretches, and more; combined with beautifully manicured fairways and greens. There four sets of tees that range from 5,018 to 6,516 yards in distance.
We got an early tee time to take advantage of the cooler morning. It worked out well. We got there 20 minutes before our tee time and we were the only ones registered to tee off for an hour. Just before we got up to the tee, three older gentlemen got to the box before us. So, we decided to tee off on the back nine first.
What a great decision.
We had the course to ourselves for the ENTIRE day.
No waiting for play!
No slowing down our rhythm!
No delays!
Almost every part of the course was in great shape. The only “bogey” issues we had were the tee boxes. Many of the tee boxes were full of divots. It was strange because it could have been fixed by moving the teeing area around daily. The grass on the teeing area was strong and healthy. It just looked like no one moved the tee box areas around.
As I said, everything else was great.
The fairways were lush and well maintained. The greens were speedy, well groomed and had great movement in them. The course was spectacular. We especially enjoyed the layout. The use of the old oak trees made you forget that you were playing in a housing development course. It was beautiful. The trees lined both sides of the course without making you feel like you were boxed in or walking through a neighbourhood.
Every hole was different enough that we didn’t feel like we were playing a grip it and rip style of golf. Black Squirrel used lots of trees and water to make the course a challenge. Then, just when you think you have a clear shot, there was a bunker. They did give you a break on the amount of bunkers used on holes that had water. But, the designers absolutely did not give anything away.
We enjoyed this course and will be back to play it again. For us, this was a birdie. The staff, course and price were all better than you would expect.
If you are in the Elkhart/Goshen area, you have to play Black Squirrel Golf Course. You won’t be disappointed.
Fairways and Greens – We are 18 Holes and Counting
Written By Marc Festa
COURSE REVIEW SCORE CARD
Course: Black Squirrel Golf Club
Type: Public
Date Played: 28 August 2023
| HOLE | PAR | SCORE | COMMENTS |
| 1 – Tee Time Availability | 4 | 3 | No problem getting a tee time. |
| 2 – Cost of Green Fees | 4 | 4 | Well within the going rate for the area. |
| 3 – Condition of Tee Boxes | 4 | 5 | Many of the tee boxes had several divots, making it difficult to find a good spot to tee from. |
| 4 – Condition of Fairways | 5 | 4 | Very well groomed and full. |
| 5 – Condition of Greens | 4 | 3 | Relatively fast and well maintained. Greens have undulation, and are small so you have to be on your game. |
| 6 – Length of Course | 5 | 5 | Fits all level of players. |
| 7 – Hazards | 4 | 3 | Bunkers are well groomed. |
| 8 – Starter/Marshal | 3 | 3 | Starter was in the pro shop. |
| 9 – High Handicap Friendly | 3 | 3 | Forward tee boxes placed to provided challenging play for higher handicapped players. |
| OUT | 36 | 33 | |
| 10 – Practice Area | 5 | 5 | Putting green. |
| 11 – Locker Rooms | 3 | 3 | Bathrooms available. |
| 12 – Pro Shop | 4 | 4 | The pro shop has golf shoes, clubs, bags, balls, etc. |
| 13 – Location | 4 | 4 | 30 minutes from Elkhart. |
| 14 – Rental Equipment | 4 | 4 | Clubs available. |
| 15 – Restaurant/Food Cart | 4 | 4 | The clubhouse has a snack bar inside. |
| 16 – Club House | 4 | 4 | Pro shop and snack bar inside. |
| 17 – Parking | 3 | 3 | Plenty of parking spaces. |
| 18 – Customer Service | 5 | 4 | The starter had some good tips on how to play the course. |
| IN | 36 | 35 | |
| TOTAL | 72 | 68 | PLAYER: Marc F. ATTESTED BY: Kathy F. |
Sounds really great and looks lovely. Yesterday I had a first off occasion. My friend had a memorial to her late husband of 2 years. She held it in an Indoor Golf Club. She picked her husbands favourite course in England, we all played the round on the computer screen and had drinks and snacks, prize giving after. It was a very nice way to remember her husband and see his favourite course. We had plenty of laughs as you can imagine!!
Jean….what a wonderful way to remember her husband! Golf really can bring joy to everyone! Fairways and Greens….XoXo…Kath