Pros:
Apex *was* one of my favorite courses in the Triangle, but it has been knocked down a couple of notches due to a massive drainage problem and a redesign (currently incomplete) of most of the back 9.
+ Apex is one of the prettiest courses in the Triangle -- a great piece of property and a peaceful setting.
+ Apex has terrific, unique, and fast greens. Several holes are on steep elevation. Hole #2 is on a plateau with a dry creek bed around it (making roll-aways possible). Hole #3 is a raised basket. Hole #7 is perched on a hole and roll-aways are all but certain if you miss. Hole #11 is above a creek. I hit the basket and my putter rolled right into the drink. Hole #12 is on an island green (my favorite hole). #13 is on a steep hill and is the toughest putt on the course. Hole #14 is a par 4 and is a tempting birdie, but the basket, just over the creek, can force some risky putts. #15 is on a raised platform about 3-4 feet tall. Just really unique and fun greens. My favorite aspect of the course.
+ Awesome risk-reward elements (see above)
+ Good mix of left and right curve fairways, although slightly more right curves than left (a con for this RHBH player).
+ Lots of trees to contend with, but I think every hole except #5 is fair. (#5 is a poke and hope hole, in my opinion.) Challenging, but fair, overall.
+ Multiple ways to play certain holes. Examples: #8 has a flex line and a straight, slightly hyzer line. Hole 4, the dogleg par 4, has a mando. You have to decide if you want to aggressively cut the corner after the mando or play a safer shot in the landing zone before taking the dogleg turn.
+ Easy navigation and informative tee signs.
+ Nice baskets, easily visible from the tees.
+ Some legitimate par 4's where birdies are possible, but bogeys are too.
+ Three sets of tees for different skill levels (red, white, and blue).
+ The rubber mat tee pads on wooden platforms, which were a major con due to the rotting platforms and beat-up mats, are in the process of being replaced with new, concrete pads. The front 9 already has the concrete pads. This is a big improvement.
+ Nice practice basket at the first tee.
+ Amazing facilities: the nicest public park bathroom you'll ever see (complete with murals and artwork on the floor), paved and unpaved trails for walkers (watch out for pedestrians!), a dog park, a playground and athletic fields on the other side of the park.
+ Very clean and well maintained.
Cons:
The cons:
- Installing rubber tee pads on wooden structures instead of regular old concrete tee pads was a mistake. Many of the original tees have rotted out and are uneven and dangerous now. (Note: these are in the process of being replaced; the front 9 now has nice, new concrete pads.)
- This is more of a nit-pick, but I think Apex is very lefty-friendly. (I'm sure lefties have that complaint about many rightly-friendly courses!) I like the opportunity to work on anhyzer shots, but still would prefer a better balance of left-to-right and right-to-left fairways.
- #5, mentioned before, is a "poke and hope" hole in my opinion.
- Apex does not drain well AT ALL. After rain, many fairways turn into churned up, muddy messes. In fact, the course has remained a muddy mess for months at a time.
UPDATE: Holes 10-17 are closed and being redesigned. Hopefully, the back 9 will reopen again soon and be as good as the original.
Other Thoughts:
Keep an eye on the course status for Apex to see if and when the back 9 redesign is complete. Once that's done, Apex should be worth your while. Until then, there are better 18-hole options nearby (Jones, Buckhorn, Middle Creek, and the soon-to-open Diavolo).