The recession apparently is affecting some tee times out there.

I played Eagle Springs with one of my colleagues this past Saturday and got in a round with a cart for 30 bucks. This is the same Eagle Springs that I passed up playing several times last season because they charged more that $40 to play there. They even have a Sunday after 11 a.m. special and Monday-Thursday bargains as well between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The 18-hole, 6,583-yarder off Redman Road in St. Louis County is in nice condition. Greens in great shape. Tee boxes as well. Carts were allowed on many of the fairways.

There was a morning tournament, but the course opened up around 2 p.m. for some afternoon tee times. We got on and off in about 4 1/2 hours.

But a couple words of warning: Anything off the fairway is trouble. The rough could use a little mowing. And if you’re getting a snack at the snack shop, you might want to call ahead. It was slow goings.