I try my best to like Mastodon - it is close, convenient, and a nice layout. However, the course conditions have not been ideal for the price recently. Algae is completely covering most ponds. Fairways, tee boxes, and around tee boxes really could use mowed a bit more. While the course did an excellent job of repairing damage where someone poisoned the greens last year, there are still sections of some greens that are completely dead (not even just brown grass, almost like rock hard dirt with a ton of cracks). The cart paths are quite old too and definitely need a bit of work (not like anybody respects cart rules here though). Not the courses fault but people who play here seem to have a hard time fixing divots on the greens, some of them are like minefields trying to miss someone else’s divot they couldn’t care to fix. Yes there is a smell occasionally - it is just the area where the course is located. So many farms around make the area a bit stinky, so you just gotta learn to live with it.
To me, for the product, prices just seem a bit high. I’ve found myself driving to a course that is farther just to get a cheaper price and better course conditions. Conditions here range from poor to good depending on the day. People do tend to ignore tee times - some people do use them, but there are quite a few who just show up and play. While I appreciate the ability to show up and play occasionally (winter, twilight, etc.) it is a little frustrating to show up for a tee time and have a group teeing off the first tee right at your tee time, or having someone follow 4-5 minutes behind you because they went too early.
On the positive side, I have only ever had positive interactions with the staff, they are friendly and helpful. The course layout is nice - a good mix of challenging and easier. If you’re new, it can be a bit confusing and maybe some more signs could help, but if you look at 18Birdies, or the scorecard, you’ll find your way.
Overall, this course is close to being really good, if some changes are made. I’m almost in favor of more enforcement of rules in favor of keeping the grounds nicer. Will be back, but could be better.