The Club at River Wilderness

My 3-star rating is based on optimism, and not the current condition. We were previously members of the club, and one thing that has always stood out is the golf course layout. It is an outstanding design with great potential. Unfortunately, years of deferred maintenance and poor management have clearly taken their toll. The good news is that it appears the previous management team has been replaced and a new General Manager has been brought in, which is a very encouraging first step. I played the course a few weeks ago, and while conditions were actually worse than they were a year ago, it also looked like the irrigation system was being replaced. If that's the case, it should be a significant investment that will pay dividends as the course continues to improve. The restaurant and bar staff have always been friendly and provide great service. That said, the operating hours seem too limited to generate consistent traffic. I also think the restaurant concept could be better aligned with the current customer base. The menu feels like it's trying to deliver a fine dining experience, when a well-executed, high-quality mid-market menu would likely be a better fit and attract more repeat business. Overall, I am genuinely optimistic about the future. With the right investment, operational improvements, and leadership, this course has the potential to become one of the area's best. I look forward to seeing what the new ownership and General Manager accomplish.

We played on Wednesday morning and arrived to see the parking lot not very full. The golf carts with GPS, was the best part of the course. The greens had patches of grass which was a challenge to putt. The fairways had bare patches on them. The layout was very fun, but the course was not worth the price.

Played the course for first time in a month. Very much improved and greens were looking good. Major irrigation project underway will be a huge plus. New owners are really putting a lot into the course. River Wilderness used to be the premier course in Manatee county back when it was first opened. Has a great layout. Things are moving in the right direction!🏌️‍♀️

Very disappointing to say the least, played here on Wednesday 4/22 with a buddy of mine and the course was a complete disaster. The course has a incredible layout but the fairways and greens were like hitting off a dog track-not one green rolled right and several times we had to move the ball because of crab grass in the way of our putts . I'm not one to write a review but I'd stay away from this place until they get this place cleaned up

Nice layout, however, the course has been neglected and the greens & bunkers need work. The fairways weren't bad. The staff was very friendly & professional. Nice facilities. The carts have GPS which was a plus. The course accepts the Big Summer Golf card which includes a bucket of range balls.