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carolina golf 18 winners
gallery |
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ike my
colleagues in this endeavor, golf in the Carolinas has a very special
place in my heart. So, selecting just 18 of our favorites is unfortunately slighting dozens of
others that warrant such recognition.
Still, the beauty of this exercise is that it exposes courses to the general populace that
may otherwise go unnoticed. We all know about the great resort courses of Hilton
Head Island, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Pinehurst. What you’ll find on this un-ranked
list is a cross-section of well-known courses and some true “hidden gems” of the Carolinas.
More than anything else, it confirms that unparalleled quality and diversity that characterize
golf in the Carolinas. From the mountains to the sandhills to the coast, it doesn’t get any
better than this.
Intro by Brett Borton
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River Landing • Wallace, NC |
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River Landing, Hole 18
Why “Spectacular?” The waterfall and bridge shape this dogleg left par 4 as well as distracts the player with its beauty. The view of the lake and waterfall always disguise the challenge to the unsuspecting player.
Awards won: #1 Coastal Golf Course in NC; Top 20 Golf Courses in NC; #17 in the State by
Golf Digest; Best New Course in NC
Designing Architect: Clyde Johnston
Date course opened: June 1996
Length: 422 yards
Type of Grass: Fairways are Bermuda grass and greens are bent grass.
Hazards: A variety of water hazards including the NE Cape Fear River add to the scenery
of each player’s round
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Daniel Island • Charleston, SC |
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The Beresford Creek Course
at the Daniel Island Club, Hole 17
Why “Spectacular?” This hole provides spectacular Lowcountry scenery and dramatic interplay between saltmarsh and manicured turf. Shots from a left tee set on a small peninsula in the marsh must cross yards of needle rush and spartina grass to reach the safety of the putting surface.
Awards won: Top 40 Residential Courses, GolfWeek Magazine; Building with Trees Award, National Arbor Day Foundation
Designing Architect: Tom Fazio
Date course opened: Fall 2000
Length: 198 yards
Type of Grass: Tifeagle
Hazards: Bunkers, marsh
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Woodside Plantation • Aiken, SC |
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The Reserve, Hole 3
Why “Spectacular?” What makes this hole stand out from the crowd? There is 100 ft. elevation change, beautiful water back drop behind the green and to the left. It's a challenging but fair hole for all types of players.
Awards won: America's Top Ten Best New Private Courses 2003 - Golf Digest Magazine
Designing Architect: Steve Nicklaus
Date course opened: July 21, 2002
Length: 230 yards
Type of Grass: Tift Eagle Bermuda
Hazards: Water
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Spring Island •
Beaufort, SC |
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Old Tabby Links, Hole 17
Why “Spectacular?” This may be as beautiful and challenging as any par 3 Palmer and Seay have ever done. Multiple tees offer great variety. The entire hole is encased by natural water on three sides; on the left by one of the island's magnificent rookery ponds, and to the right and straight ahead lie spectacular marshes of the Chechessee River.
Awards won: “Ranked #11 Private Golf Course Communities in America” Golf Digest
12/03; “America's Top 50 Modern Courses by
Golf & Travel; “Best of America” by
The Golfer; “Five Best New Private Courses in America”
Golf Digest; “Ranked 18th in State of South Carolina”
Golf Digest
Designing Architect: Palmer Course Design; Ed Seay and Arnold Palmer
Length: Palmer Tees 205, Back 175, Member 150, Green 135
Type of Grass: Bermuda and overseeded in winter
Hazards: pond, marsh, bunkers
Date course opened: 1992
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Savannah Lakes Village • McCormick, SC |
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Monticello Golf Course, Hole 5
Why “Spectacular?” This beautiful par four, The Cove, offers breathtaking vistas of Lake Strom Thurmond, but don't let that distract you - with a shallow green guarded by a deceptive cove your tee shot and approach shot must be met with absolute precision. The more timid or sane golfers may elect to go around the cove to the right.
Awards won: Golf Digest - #8 Nationally in category - 2000
Designing Architect: Tom Clark
Date course opened: August 5, 1999
Length: 401 yards
Type of Grass: L93 Bent Grass
Hazards: 3 sand bunkers, Lake Strom Thurmond to the left, and a lake cove guarding the green
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Dataw Island • Beaufort, SC |
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Cotton Dike, Hole 18
Why “Spectacular?” Tom Fazio's definition of truth in golf translates perfectly in this ultimate risk vs. reward masterpiece of a hole. Protected by 18 bunkers lining the fairway and small green, the emphasis is on accuracy off the tee. The challenge is enhanced by the exquisite Lowcountry beauty of the surrounding oaks laced with Spanish Moss.
Designing Architect: Tom Fazio
Date course opened: 1985
Length: Course, 557 yards
Type of Grass: Bermuda
Hazards: Marsh and Water on left hand side
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Oldfield, LLC • Hilton Head Island, SC |
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Oldfield, Hole 12
Why “Spectacular?” A driveable par 4. As you approach the green it is 273 yards to a heavily bunkered green. Truly a gambler's delight.
Designing Architect: Greg Norman
Date course opened: November 1, 2001
Length: Course - 402 yards
Type of Grass: Tiff eagle on greens, tiff dwarf on approaching GNI, Bermuda in fairway,
Greg Norman Zoysia in rough
Hazards: Lateral water hazards
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Berkeley Hall • Bluffton, SC |
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Berkeley Hall, Hole 17
Why “Spectacular?” The 17th hole on the South course is a beautiful par five that plays out to the Okatie River and will require the player to set up the approach with two well played shots. The tee shot should be played up the left center of the fairway to avoid the bunker that awaits the misplayed tee shot down the right side. A second shot must be played away from a large oak tree that guards the right side of the fairway and past a fairway bunker down the left side. A wedge third to an undulating green and two putts for par. Only the longest hitters will challenge the right hand side in an attempt to reach the green in two shots. In the photo, the 17th hole is the one on the right side.
Designing Architect: Tom Fazio
Date course opened: The south course was opened in April of 2002.
Length: 567 yards
Type of Grass: Tif Eagle Bermuda.
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Grande Dunes • Myrtle Beach, SC |
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Grande Dunes, Hole 10
Why “Spectacular?” This straight away par 4 has a sloping right to left fairway towards the Intracoastal Waterway and also features dramatic views of the new Grande Dunes Marina Village, a gathering place in the tradition of a Mediterranean village, with quaint storefronts, an upscale inn, boutique shopping, and a waterfront boardwalk.
Awards won: Top 10 You Can Play, Golf Magazine; Best of the Beach,
The Sun News (2001 - 2003)
Designing Architect: Roger Rulewich
Date course opened: May 2001
Length: 449 yards
Type of Grass: Greens - L93 Bent; Fairways/Tees - Bermuda
Hazards: Sand and water
Available for play: Public
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18 WINNERS
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Treyburn Country Club • Durham, NC |
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Treyburn Country Club, Hole 18
Why “Spectacular?” Long, downhill dogleg left par 4 that requires a solidly stuck tee shot and a precise mid-long iron to a severely sloped green. Par is an extremely good score on this, one of the toughest closing holes of the Carolinas.
Designing Architect: Tom Fazio
Date course opened: 1988
Length: 471 yards
Type of Grass: Bermuda
Hazards: Creek in front and around left side of green
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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The Cliffs Communities • Greenville, SC |
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The Cliffs at Glassy, Hole 1
Why “Spectacular?” Visually this hole is magnificent. There is a waterfall on the right, an elevated teeing area, and with out of bounds on the left and water on the right, players are forced to use course management and focus on the middle of the fairway.
Awards won: 4th most scenic for 1994 by Golf Digest
Designing Architect: Tom Jackson
Length: 371 yards
Type of Grass: Bent tee to green-Bluegrass rough
Hazards: Water on the right, Bunkers left and right of green
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Cottages at National Golf Club • Pinehurst, NC |
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National Golf Club, Hole 10
Why “Spectacular?” This is a classic risk-reward par 5. It is reachable in two for many, but the lake that flanks the right side of the entire hole has captured numerous misplayed shots. Panoramic views and the dry stack stone wall surrounding the green are truly picturesque.
Awards won: 2004 Golf Digest 41/2 stars, NC Magazine #14 in state,
Golfweek top 100 in America, Hostal 2004 US Open qualifier, Hostal 2001, 2002 PGA Tour & School
Designing Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Date course opened: 1988
Length: 510 yards
Type of Grass: Bermuda fairways, Bent greens
Hazards: Water, sand, grass bunkers
Available for play: Public, limited
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18 WINNERS
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Mount Vintage Plantation •
near Aiken and Augusta |
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Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Club, Hole 15
Why “Spectacular?” The 15th hole is the signature hole of the golf course and one of three holes that play around Pavilion Lake. The green complex is quite a challenge requiring a perfectly placed tee shot over the lake. Being the largest green on the course, it is relatively flat, but does slope slightly from back to front. The green is well protected by a large deep bunker in the front and two bunkers in the back.
Awards won: Nominated for Golf Digest “Best New Golf Course in 2000”
Designing Architect: Tom Jackson
Date course opened: March, 2000
Length of hole: 204 yards
Type of Grass: Fairway -- 419 Bermuda; Coverd w/ winter Rye, Sept-May) Green -- Crenshaw bentgrass
Hazards: Tee shot must carry over water hazard; three green side bunkers
Available for play: Public
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18 WINNERS
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Champion Hills • Hendersonville, NC |
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Champion Hills, Hole 13
Why “Spectacular?” The par five 13th sits on a 'bench' shaped into a forested hillside where bunkers on the higher right side are balanced by greenside bunkers on the left. Golfers are rewarded with a picture-postcard view from the high tee.
Designing Architect: Tom Fazio
Date course opened: 1991
Length of hole: 531 yards
Type of Grass: Bent grass tees and fairways, bluegrass roughs
Available for play: No
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18 WINNERS
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The Reserve at Lake Keowee • Sunset, SC |
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Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, Hole 15
Why “Spectacular?” The elevated 15th teeing area sits atop a mountain ridge cascading down to Lake Keowee. The second shot offers a picturesque backdrop, as it is set along the banks of the lake.
Awards won: Best Clubhouse (The Orchard House) 2003 by Golf Inc.
Designing Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Date course opened: October 15, 2002
Length: 482 yards
Type of Grass: Bentgrass (greens); Tift Bermuda (fairways)
Hazards: Sand/water
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Ocean Ridge Plantation • Sunset Beach, NC |
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Tiger's Eye Golf Links, Hole 11
Why “Spectacular?” This #11 is an island green, surrounded by native coquina boulders - large bunker is positioned in the front of a jumbo undulating green.
Awards won: January 2004 - Myrtle Beach Golf Magazine: “Best Overall Golf Course” , “Most Picturesque Course”: March 2004 -
North Carolina Magazine: “21st on the magazine's Mighty 90”; April 2004 -
Golf Digest: “Places to Play” 4 1/2 Stars
Designing Architect: Tim Cate
Date course opened: April 2000
Length: 165 yards
Type of Grass: G2 Bent Greens
Hazards: 15 water hazards
Available for play: Public
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18 WINNERS
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Rock Barn Golf and Spa • Conover, NC |
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Rock Barn Golf Course, Hole 11
Why “Spectacular?” The eleventh hole is one of the state's most scenic and toughest par fours. Players in the annual Greater Hickory Classic call it one of the best holes on the Champions tour.
Designing Architect: Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
Date course opened: September, 2002
Length: 451 yards
Type of Grass: Greens are an A1-A4 bentgrass mixture. Fairways are a hybrid Bermuda called Tifsport
Hazards: The hole has a narrow driving area that slopes left toward a large bunker. Players usually hit a three-wood off the tee to avoid the bunker and are left with a mid to long second shot to a narrow green with a bunker on the right.
Available for play: Public
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18 WINNERS
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Mountain Air • Burnsville, NC |
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Mountain Air Country Club, Hole 1
Why “Spectacular?” Set on a stunning, 4500-foot ridgeline overlooking layers of western North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, the 1st hole at Mountain Air is one of the most visually dynamic in the country. The hole also provides plenty of challenge, with a 30-foot granite outcropping tightening the left side, and a devilish green perched 2,000 feet above the valley floor.
Awards won: Nominated Best New Private Course of 1995 (Golf Digest). Gold Medal Winner for Best Community of 2003 (National Association of Home Builders). This actual photo earned a Gold Medal in the 2003 International Network of Golf Media Awards for Photography (Photo Credit: Warren Grant).
Designing Architect: Scott Pool
Date course opened: 1995
Length: 391 yards
Type of Grass: Mix of Blue Grass and Rye
Hazards: The majority of the hazards on the course come from fairway and greenside sand bunkers, and
the contours of the framing mountain ridges. There are three water features on the course, but they don't
generally come into play.
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18 WINNERS
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Cedar Creek • Aiken, SC
HONORABLE MENTION |
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The Golf Club at Cedar Creek, Hole 2
Why "Spectacular?"
A long dogleg left measuring 581 yards. The fairway runs down hill from 180 yards out and the front of this green is guarded by five generous sand bunkers. A lightning fast green sloping back to front challenges all balls landing above the hole. Precision shot making pays off.
Awards won: Golf Digest 4-Star - Places to Play;
Golf Digest 3-1/2-Star - Best Places to Play; Augusta Chronicle Community Choice Award for Best Golf Course
Designing Architect: Arthur Hills
Date course opened: 1991
Length: 581 yards
Type of Grass: Bermuda - Fairways; TifDwarf - Greens
Hazards: Water, Waste Bunkers and Sand Bunkers
Available for Play: Public
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18 WINNERS
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Del Webb's Sun City Hilton Head • Bluffton, SC
HONORABLE MENTION |
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Hidden Cypress Golf Club, Hole 17
Why "Spectacular?" One of the best Par 3's in the Lowcountry, with a back tee distance of 231 yards. The water feature running down the entire left side forces play to the right, but it's no easy shot from there either. Hidden Cypress is a "Must Play" in Hilton Head.
Awards won: It has appeared in several areas publications along with the book, Golf in the Lowcountry by Joel Zuckerman. Nominated for best new course in 2000.
Designing Architect: Mark McCumber, 10-time PGA Tour winner
Date course opened: January, 2000
Length: 6,946 from the back with 5 sets of tees to accommodate players of all levels.
Type of Grass: Bermuda Tees, Fairways and Roughs with Tifeagle greens
Hazards: Water comes into play on 10 of the 18 holes and has approx. 55 bunkers.
Available for Play: Public
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18 WINNERS
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Thistle • Calabash, NC
HONORABLE MENTION |
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Thistle, Hole 4
Why "Spectacular?"
The number 4 hole on the North Course at Thistle is a unique hole for this Links Style course. This par 3 with an island green offers golfers a risk/reward shot. The surrounding environment rewards golfers in a different sense - delivering scenic beauty and rolling terrain as far as the eye can see.
Awards won: 2004-2005 4 ½ Stars
Golf Digest, 3 ½ Stars
Golf Magazine, Top 100 Course by
Golf for Women, Top new Course by
North Carolina Magazine
Designing Architect: Tim Cate
Date course opened: March 1999
Length: 168 yards
Type of Grass: L-93 bentgrass greens
Hazards: Water, sand traps that cascade into the water
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18 WINNERS
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Anderson Creek Club • Spring Lake, NC
HONORABLE MENTION |
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Anderson Creek Golf Club, Hole 4
Why "Spectacular?" Picturesque par 3 over water with multi-level green. Demands accuracy as well as distance control.
Awards won: Best new course in North Carolina for 2001
Designing Architect: Davis Love, III
Date course opened: July, 2001
Length: 7,180 (course), 205 yards (hole)
Type of Grass: 419 Bermuda Fairways, Cato Bent Greens
Hazards: Several
Available for Play: Public
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18 WINNERS
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Dunes Golf & Beach Club • Myrtle Beach, SC
HONORABLE MENTION |
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Dunes Golf & Beach Club, Hole 13
Why "Spectacular?" Waterloo, as the Dunes Club’s famed 13th is affectionately known is widely regarded as golf’s first signature hole. With a severe dog leg left, the 13th, Singleton Lake lurks, making this a true three-shotter for all but the longest of players. Golf Digest ranked Waterloo among America’s 18 Greatest Holes and Golf Magazine ranked it among the nation’s Top 100.
Awards won: 2003 – The Dunes Golf & Beach Club was ranked 78th on
Golf Digest’s list of “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses.” 2003 – The Dunes Golf & Beach was ranked 15th on
Golf Digest’s inaugural list of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses.” 2003 –
Golfweek magazine ranked The Dunes No. 91 on its list of “America’s Best Classical Courses.” 2002 –
Golf Magazine ranked the Dunes Club No. 36 on its biennial ranking of the “Top 100 You Can Play.” 2000 – In an article published in the Feb. 2000 edition of
Golf Digest, legendary writer Dan Jenkins named Waterloo one of ”America’s Best 18 Holes.” 2000 –
Golf Magazine named Waterloo one of the “100 Best Holes In The World.” 1999 – In a featured titled “America’s 99 Greatest Golf Holes,” the famed 13th hole at The Dunes, known as Waterloo, was ranked as the fourth best par 5 in America.
Designing Architect: Robert Trent Jones
Date course opened: 1948
Length: 590 yards
Type of Grass: bent grass
Hazards: Water – Singleton Lake; Sand
Available for Play: Public
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The Point • Mooresville, NC
HONORABLE MENTION |
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The Point Lake and Golf Club, Hole 16
Why "Spectacular?" This is a classic risk/reward par 5. A long shot will tempt you to go for the green in two from a slightly downhill lie. the other option is to play left and be challenged by playing over Lake Norman twice. A well-placed shot over the lake to this semi-island fairway will leave a short iron to the green. Greg Norman says it's "one of the best Par 5 holes I've ever designed."
Awards won: ULI finalist two years in a row
Designing Architect: Greg Norman
Date course opened: September, 1999
Length: 552 yards
Type of grass: Unique combination of five different grasses
Hazards: Bunkers and water
Available for play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Keowee Key • Salem, SC
HONORABLE MENTION |
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Keowee Key Golf Course, Hole 16
Why "Spectacular?" The 16th hole is representative of the entire Keowee Key Golf Course. Designed by George Cobb to take advantage of the natural terrain, this particular hole, like others, has a gentle slope from the tee box, down to a small pond that reflects the blue sky, and then a short chip shot up to the putting green. What can be distracting is to the left of the hole: an open, unhampered view of Lake Keowee
Awards won: One of the 20 Best Retirement Communities in America -
New Choices Magazine 1994
Designing Architect: George Cobb
Date course opened: 1973
Length: Par 3 and 144' from the men's white tee box or 172' total
Type of Grass: Bermuda fairways and bent grass greens
Hazards: water and sand traps
Available for Play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Heritage Wake Forest • Raleigh, NC
HONORABLE MENTION |
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Heritage Golf Club, Hole 12
Why "Spectacular?" Proper club selection is imperative in order to carry the pond and stone wall on this Par 3. The right side of this green is the deepest and most receptive target. The left side is influenced by both the pond and an intimidating pot bunker behind. A great hole for a Hole in One!
Awards won: Best New Course of NC/ 2002 - Rated 4 1/2 stars in 2004 by
NC Magazine
Designing Architect: Bob Moore of JMP Golf Design
Date course opened: October 2001
Length: 12th hole is 154 yards, par 3
Type of Grass: Bent Grass and Bermuda Grass
Hazards: Water hazards and 100 pot bunkers
Available for Play: Public
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18 WINNERS
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Sea Trail Golf Resort & Conference Center • Sunset Beach, NC
HONORABLE MENTION |
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Jones, Hole 10
Why "Spectacular?"
#10 is an elbow shaped dog leg to the right. It is the perfect example of a risk reward hole. Long players may attempt to drive the green but it is all carry. Conservative players must avoid the fairways bunkers leaving a short iron to an ungellated green.
Awards won: 4 stars
Golf Digest Places to Play
Designing Architect: Rees Jones
Date course opened: 1990
Length of hole and course: 345 yards
Type of Grass: Bermuda tees, fairway, approach, bentgrass greens
Hazards: Pond along the length of hole on the right side
Available for Play: Public
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18 WINNERS
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Grand Harbor • Greenwood, SC
HONORABLE MENTION |
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The Patriot Golf Club, Hole
18
Why "Spectacular?" At the center of The Patriot is the Star Fort. Using 100-year-old brick, the Star Fort has been reconstructed as an integral part of the golf course. It provides a modern-day reminder of the first major southern land battle of the Revolutionary War.
Designing Architect: Davis Love III
Date course opened: July 4, 2004
Length of hole: 502 Yards
Type of Grass: Bermuda Fairways, Mini-Verdae Greens
Hazards: Grass Faced Slopes, Brick Ruins and Bunkers
Available for Play: Private
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18 WINNERS
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Wakefield Plantation
HONORABLE MENTION |
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Tournament Players Club, Hole 18
Why "Spectacular?" This 564 yard par 5 is a wonderful finishing hole. A long tee shot down the right side will determine whether you attempt to go for the green in two. If not, a well placed lay up requires a perfect pitch over a creek to a green surrounded by sand traps.
Awards won: Home to the Nationwide SAS Carolina Classic
Designing Architect: Hale Irwin
Date course opened: 7/15/2000
Length of hole and course:
Blue Tee 564
Type of Grass: On the tees and fairways-Tiff Sport Bermuda, On the greens-Bent L93
Hazards: Creek in front, 3 traps around green, 4 traps on fairway
Available for Play: Private
BACK TO GALLERY OF CAROLINA GOLF
18 WINNERS
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