I've played Renaissance (the name from day one) any number of times over the years, although probably not in the past three. I would not call it a zero, but then who am I to judge? It is a low-budget, relatively low cost muni. It has always suffered from maintenance and conditioning problems. The front nine was built over a landfill (the contents of which pop up from time to time), and the back nine on an adjacent wooded tract. There are spots where "tree work" has always been needed, expecially off the tee on number 17. By the way, the "weird rocks" to the right of the no. 17 fairway were originally scattered throughout the tee ball landing area in the middle of the fairway. Go figure. A redo 10 years ago or so (please don't hold me to this date) resulted in their relocation off to the right, and made a number of other badly needed "correctiions" to the original design. My guess is that the "zero" rating was assigned to the course before the redo. Still, before the redo I am not sure I'd put it as low as a zero, but it could have been a 0.8, or maybe a 1.8! Numbers one, eight, 16 and 17 were complete disasters. Fifteen was close to a disaster. Others, too, were close. Eight was a 90 degree dogleg left that required a driver over a ravine that the average player could not carry. Now the tee has been moved across the ravine, making the hole a very short par four. In my opinion the tee should have been moved up further and the hole played as a longish par three. What else? Eighteen is probably not a very good finishing hole. Note that the green is in an amphitheater setting, with a hill around the back. The original idea was that this would be a grassy hillside on which thousands of spectators could watch the finish of a major tournament(s) of some sort. That never happened. About ten or so years ago, maybe providing the opportunity for the course redo as well, the course had to be closed for a year or so because methane was seeping from the landfill into the clubhouse. I don't think the trecks to the back tees would be a problem, though I've never played them. Ron's photos are great, but of course there is no substitute for playing the course itself. I think I'll try it again this summer.
Another muni I definitely want to try is the nine hole Charles Sifford Course near downtown Charlotte. Years ago it was Bonnie Brae (18 holes), and then became nine. Somewhere in there the name changed to Revolution. The Sifford name is about a month old. Sifford was born and raished in Charlotte, learning his golf as caddie at Carolina Golf Club. I understand he has now moved back to Charlotte from the midwest. Very recently the Revolution course and practice areas were redone in connection with changing it to the home of a First Tee program, and it was officially renamed the "Dr Charles L. Sifford Golf Course at Revolution Park." Recently I took them a load of golf balls and had a quick look at holes 1 and 9. I was told the course still had serious maintenance issues. However, as a low cost, "starter course" in a lower income, mostly "minority" neighborhood, it's a golf asset to Charlotte.