The Mook @ Alderbrook Review

July 13, 2024

The Mook at Alderbrook is going to be a difficult course to rate because the cost versus the course quality didn’t match up.

I will do my best to explain what I mean.

Kathy and I have been golfing some beautiful courses for the past couple of months. The quality of those courses has been amazing. And to make them even better, the price matched the course. Or in some cases, the price was lower than expected for what we got.

When we booked The Mook at Alderbrook we knew that the price was a little high. The green fees were $49.00 plus the cart fee of $22.00. That is $71.00 per person. Not an extremely high price but, once we start paying over $60.00, we start to look for the little extras that make a course stand out. Like, a starter, a marshall, a cart person, well-manicured fairways, and just a little touch of something different or special. None of that was here. So, if none of that stood out then the only thing left is the course.

The course can demand that kind price, but it should be special in some way. I don’t think The Mook stood out. As a matter of fact, we saw players in tee shirts and gym shorts. People playing in sleeveless shirts. The two in front of us were playing two balls.

Those are things that show me that the regulars and the staff don’t regard The Mook as a high-end course or a special course in any way. I don’t mean this in a bad way.

But, if you are going to treat the course like a municipal course then charge a municipal price.

OK rant portion of this review is over. Let me get to the course.

The Mook is a pretty course with some elevated tee boxes and views that are just as beautiful as they can be. There are mountains, trees and streams, that make this area insanely beautiful. The setting for The Mook could not be planned. It is the hand of God. You can see it everywhere. That is the one constant throughout the course.

The first nine holes had a great layout and good golf functionality. It was easy to get from one hole to the next. And each hole was designed with a skilled round of golf in mind. However, the second nine holes felt like an after-thought. Almost like the designer ran short on space and crammed the holes together. Then there were a couple of holes that were a bit gimmicky.

The quality of The Mook didn’t stay the same throughout the entire course. The Fairways seemed to suffer on the back nine in comparison to the front nine. The sand in the traps looked and felt like dried beach sand. I would have rather seen grass grown longer in the traps. Something I am in favor of when a course doesn’t have good bunkers. I think it is an easy way to have a hazard that doesn’t need much upkeep to be a functional, playable hazard.

***Back 9 fairways were not as lush as the front 9***

The pine trees are the star attraction here. They are old, tall, and beautiful. The lower branches have been trimmed. Making escape very doable if you can keep it low. But, trying to go over them is a no-no for sure. These trees are tall. More than capable of knocking your ball out of the sky.

The Mook is a very playable course with a few elevated tee boxes that make great tee shots even better. On those holes the fairways are wide and inviting. Almost begging you to grip it and rip it. The par 3s all had great layouts that seemed to be as inviting as the elevated tees.

***Waiting to tee off – pace of play was slow throughout the round***

Even funnier for me, the short par 4s. There were a few par 4s that were either reachable or close enough that the second shot would be a short chip. Making a great driver risk reward a chance worth taking. The Mook did have a signature hole. It was hole 15. The layout was an elevated green about 60 yards up from the tee box that was a mere 110 yards away. There is no way to see the green or the flag. You just have to trust your club and go for it. It was not my favorite hole.

***Checking out the fairway from one of the elevated tees***

I liked the elevated tee boxes much better than the elevated green.

All in all, Kathy and I had a good day golfing. Based on our scorecard rating – we both would rate this course a par.

I would play this course again for the elevated greens and beautiful views. It would not be my regular course. But, this time I would know that the cost of the course is a bit more than I would like to pay for what I get. Believe it or not, I do recommend The Mook as a course to play. The views are awesome, the course is in good condition, and it is fun to play.

Just realize that there are better courses out there for the price.

Fairways and Greens – We are 18 Holes and Counting

Written By: Marc Festa

COURSE REVIEW SCORE CARD

Course: The Mook @ Alderbrook

Type: Public

Date Played: 12 July 2024


HOLE	PAR	SCORE	COMMENTS
1 – Tee Time Availability	4	4	No issues with getting our requested tee time.
2 – Cost of Green Fees	4	5	The high price didn’t match course amenities.
3 – Condition of Tee Boxes	4	5	Easily marked but sometimes hard to get to.
4 – Condition of Fairways	5	5	Well maintained, Bent Grass. Cart paths are difficult to find at times.
5 – Condition of Greens	4	4	Mostly small, with Poa Annua Grass.
6 – Length of Course	5	6	Back tees are 6071 yards; Forward tees are 5176 yards.
7 – Hazards	4	4	Obstacles and hazards on almost every hole.
8 – Starter/Marshal	3	4	There was no starter or marshal the day we played. Pace of play was very slow.
9 – High Handicap Friendly	3	4	Not suitable for average golfers.
OUT	36	41
10 – Practice Area	5	5	Driving range, putting green that is also used for pitching area.
11 – Locker Rooms	3	3	Bathrooms with small locker room area.
12 – Pro Shop	4	4	Has all the items needed to play golf.
13 – Location	4	4	Easy to find.
14 – Rental Equipment	4	4	Golf Clubs, golf carts and push carts available.
15 – Restaurant/Food Cart	4	4	No food cart the day we played.
16 – Club House	4	4	Nice and clean with outside seating.
17 – Parking	3	3	Plenty of parking spaces.
18 – Customer Service	5	5	*Dan was helpful and offered insights at check-in.*
IN	36	36
TOTAL	72	77	PLAYER: Marc F. ATTESTED BY: Kathy F.