 |
 |
Triangle Area CoursesCaswell Pines
Golf Club Caswell Pines, a Gene Hamm design, opened in 1993. The course is primarily open, but woods and homesites border some holes. In the fairways, you'll find 419 bermudagrass; on the greens, you'll find bentgrass. Built on what was previously a tobacco farm, Caswell Pines is an exciting and challenging course with a fine design in a pleasant setting. Most of the Gene Hamm courses we've seen tend toward the traditional; this one leans toward the modern: earth-worked and mounded. Hamm is one of the most respected figures in North Carolina golf, having won several tournaments on courses he designed. Caswell Pines offers excellent variety and some truly outstanding holes, including a number with significant elevation changes. Off the tee, you'll have a decent amount of room: Big hitters will want to play from the back tees and use the driver. The great thing about Caswell Pines is that it makes you think. You'll need to keep your golfing wits about you if you plan to score well. The greens here are typically large, with plenty of subtle and not-so-subtle breaks; two-putting is quite a feat on many holes. Large bunkers around a number of greens make life even more difficult. And did we mention the significant amount of water? Anyway, it's well worth the visit to Yanceyville to play this course. The most tempting hole might be the par 4 13th. At 337 yards from the tips and water to the left, it requires a heroic decision. With firm course conditions, it might be fun to draw the ball to the hole, but disaster lurks in the tree to the right for the rope hook. Prudence dictates a long iron and wedge, but how often does true sense enter our heads when there's a driveable green right in front of our noses? Amenities include a practice green, range, snack bar, restaurant, rental clubs and a beverage cart. The course is walkable for the very fit, but walking is restricted; call for daily details. Approximate cost, including cart, is $23 weekdays and $30 on weekends. Cheviot Hills Golf Club Cheviot Hills Golf Club opened in 1930. Architects of Golf lists Harold Long as the original designer. Gene Hamm came along later to remodel and redesign. The course is set in rolling wooded terrain without a house in sight. In the fairways, you'll find bermudagrass; on the greens, bentgrass. As you walk up to the 19th-century clubhouse, you'll be greeted by the pro-shop attendant who expertly combines friendliness with brusqueness. You'll feel like you're at a country club, standing among people who have been friends for 50 years. The course itself is a masterpiece of understatement and traditionalism. There's nothing tricked up, nothing silly. Mounds are uncommon, and the only house you might see belongs to the couple that owns the course. The only thing missing here is a knowledgeable caddie to carry and clean your clubs and help you read putts. The staff here at Cheviot Hills is justifiably proud of the course--and woe betide you should your cart stray from the path. The aforementioned pro-shop attendant, equipped with binoculars and a sound system that can probably be heard in Virginia, will let you know that "CARTS MUST BE KEPT ON PATHS AT ALL TIMES!" You'll find some short par 5s and some long par 4s, most with plenty of room off the tee. The staff informs us that you'll be using all your clubs and hitting all your shots. The course offers particularly good value if you walk. After the tough 2nd hole, the par 5 3rd arrives as a chance to regain a stroke. At 525 yards, it requires a big drive and solid second to a green that's tucked away behind a small pond. It's safest to lay up to 100 yards and wedge into the shallow green and hopefully putt for birdie, but the big hitter will undoubtedly want to go for it if the fairway is firm. If you're thinking about skipping Sunday morning services at your chosen house of worship and sneaking onto the course while you should be singing Hymn 315, think again. The course doesn't open until 12:30 PM on Sundays. Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room, snack bar, rental clubs and a pro shop. The course is walkable and you can walk almost anytime. Approximate cost, including cart, is $26 Monday to Thursday, $29 on Friday and $33 on weekends. Crooked Creek Chuck Smith designed Crooked Creek, which opened in late 1995. Fairways are 419 bermudagrass, and greens are bentgrass. Crooked Creek offers a traditional design that demands accuracy off the tee. The greens are midsize and undulating, with a few bunkers to catch those wayward iron shots you thought you had cured. The course also boasts a number of interesting and well-designed dogleg holes. The greens, on the back nine especially, are rolling. Crooked Creek (have you ever seen a straight one?) is a good addition to the portfolio of courses in the eastern section of the Triangle and is worth a reconnaissance mission if you're in Raleigh and you're interested in surveying a new course. The par 4 3rd should hold your interest. It's only 378 from the back tees and is everything you'd expect from a hole where precision is more important than power. Water runs down the entire left-hand side. Your drive or three wood needs to play to a narrow landing area. From there, it's a short iron completely over water to a mid-sized green. For those fearful of the water, there's ample bail-out space to the right of the hole, where a crisp half-wedge and good putt could still yield par. Consider the 3rd good test early in the round and a par gratefully accepted. Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room, snack bar, rental clubs and a pro shop. Walking is permitted Monday through Friday. Approximate cost, including cart, is $16 Monday through Thursday, $20 on Friday and $28 on weekends. Devil's Ridge Golf Club This John LaFoy design at Devil's Ridge, which opened in 1991, is set on undulating terrain, and houses border many holes. In the fairways, you'll find bermudagrass; on the greens, you'll putt on bentgrass. John LaFoy is a well-known architect and former associate of George Cobb. LaFoy made frequent trips to Augusta National with Cobb, and when illness slowed Cobb in his later years, LaFoy took over a number of the design responsibilities. In fact, he was most responsible for Linville Ridge Country Club in the mountains of North Carolina. LaFoy began his own design business in 1986. Here at Devil's Ridge, LaFoy created a tough track with all the trappings of a modern course: mounds, severely undulating greens, tough tee shots, extensive bunkering, elevation changes, more mounds, backbreaking length from the back tees and still more mounds. It's interesting to see how different this course is from many Cobb designs. You'll certainly want to spend a couple of dollars for the excellent yardage book, especially if you're playing this course for the first time. Keep your cart speed down on the front nine, as a state trooper lives next to one of the greens. Excessive velocity aside, the course is well designed, greatly varied and interesting. However, if you're not a fan of modern courses, steer toward something more traditional than Devil's Ridge. A good score requires hitting just about every club in your bag--and hitting it crisply. Particularly interesting are the shapes of the greens: Many look like amoebae on steroids. Par is a great score on the pre-hot dog 9th, a muscular par 5 at 567 yards from the back tees. The tee shot must avoid two large bunkers to the right, while the second must skirt a large bunker on the left. The huge green is 42 yards deep but quite narrow. A shallow bunker in front of the green provides the final barrier to those who think they can reach in two. Par is a great score here. We think Devil's Ridge is a must-play course in the Raleigh area, even if you only play it once. Perhaps this description of the 17th hole from the yardage book best summarizes the course: "This is the hole for which Devil's Ridge got its name. Not too long, not too narrow, not too hard. However, don't miss any shot or you'll post a BIG [their caps] number. Favor the left on your tee shot. If you miss the green to the right and look for your ball, you may never be heard from again." Enough said. Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, snack bar, rental clubs, a beverage cart and a pro shop. Walking is restricted, although we wouldn't recommend it anyway. Approximate cost, including cart, is $40 Monday to Thursday, $45 on Fridays and $49 on weekends. Duke University Golf Club The golf course at Washington Duke Golf and Country Club opened in 1957. Robert Trent Jones designed the original course; Rees Jones redesigned and renovated it in 1993. At the time of the renovation, Jones' daughter was a student at Duke, and she persuaded her dad to perform the work for free. This picturesque track has 419 bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens. This is Duke University's golf course, and it's one of the most magnificent courses in the Triangle. Robert Trent Jones routed the course by cutting it out of Duke Forest; thus, just about every hole is bordered by wonderfully pretty woods replete with towering trees. Rees Jones must have kept the original routing; however, he blew up the tee boxes and green complexes, and the result is nothing short of stunning. The targets are wonderfully defined, and some of the holes are breathtaking. A lot of money was poured into this course, and it shows. However, the lack of air circulation caused by all the trees coupled with the huge number of rounds pumped through here means that conditioning can be an issue, particularly in the summer. There's subtle mounding in the fairways and quite a few gaping fairway bunkers. You won't always have an even stance in the fairway. And water comes into play on a few holes. But it's the attention to detail around the green complexes that makes the course so spectacular. You'll see large, tiered greens, undulations and obvious slopes. Two-putting any green on this course is an achievement. Embankments flank many greens; but, more importantly, each green complex features a dizzying array of bunkers--some large, some small, but all potentially difficult and score-destroying. And as if the challenge wasn't great enough, the course finishes with two long and difficult uphill par 4s; you'll have to bust the ball off the tee if you want any chance of reaching the green in regulation. Make sure you play this course before you lose your swing. We're not sure you'll want to play the course often if you're a high-handicapper. If you get into trouble, particularly around the greens, then you'll be faced with some difficult short-game challenges. Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room, bar, snack bar, restaurant, rental clubs, a beverage cart and a pro shop. You can also spend a night at the well-appointed Washington Duke Inn (see this chapter's subsequent "Where to Stay" section) adjacent to the course. There are lots of great holes, but the most picturesque might be the par 3 12th, just 180 from the tips all over water to a peninsula green where a forward pin placement demands accuracy. Bunkers back and left add to the potential problems. The course is walkable for the physically fit, but walking is restricted; call ahead for daily details. (You'll see lots of students walking out here.) If you're neither a Duke student nor a member of the university's faculty or staff, the approximate cost, including cart, is $55 weekdays and $65 on weekends. Eagle Crest Eagle Crest opened in 1968. This John Baucom design is set on rolling and primarily open terrain, with bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens. We found a fun, straightforward, relaxing and soundly designed country course at Eagle Crest. You won't encounter any sand traps, so if you hate the beach, you'll love it here all the more. Water comes into play on four holes. Fairways are predominantly wide, although approach shots must hit small greens, some of which are crowned. If the ground is hard, you might be able to run the ball up to the hole with a low running hook. Feel free to use your Texas wedge. You'll find mounds, swales and grass bunkers around some of the greens. If you enjoy a no-frills course with a minimum of fuss and tricks, you'll enjoy the laid-back setting we found here. With the game almost over, the par 4 350-yard 17th is a hole where par will be welcome. It's a short drive to a landing area then a short iron or wedge over water to the green. The presence of water and nerves makes this one of the most demanding holes on the course. Amenities include a range, snack bar and rental clubs. You can walk this course anytime. Approximate cost, including cart, is $30 weekdays and $33 on weekends. Finley Golf Course The University of North Carolina's Finley Golf Course, designed by George Cobb, opened in 1950. Perhaps the biggest golf course news in the Triangle is the $8 million redesign of Finley, completed in late 1999 by the architect considered by many the best in the world--Tom Fazio. The work is remarkable. The redesign added some undulation to the course, but it's still a relatively flat course. In the fairways, you'll find 419 bermudagrass; on the greens, L93 bentgrass. Even though the Chapel Hill area is hilly (duh), Finley sits adjacent to Siler's Bog, a swamp/nature reserve that's actually the subject of quite a good book. Since Finley's opening in 1950, parts of it have become Finley's Bog, especially during winter rains and summer downpours. The flatness of the course detracted significantly from what was a pretty decent overall design. Fazio and his team faced two major challenges. One: drainage. Two: producing an interesting design that would challenge a serious college golfer while still serving the students of PE28: Introduction to Golf. While long carries are fun for the accomplished player, they're disheartening for the beginner. To meet the needs of the University's golfing community, Fazio completely blew up the old George Cobb design. Much of the work is high-tech, employing lasers to grade fairways and pipes underneath the greens to control the flow of air and water. Fazio also completely rebuilt the practice area, which is now one of the finest in North Carolina. Finley provides a thrilling strategic test. Fazio deftly employs bunkers, water hazards and rolling greens to produce a course that boasts interest from the 1st tee to the 18th green. Two of the tougher holes come late in the round, when pars always seem that much more valuable. The 15th measures 451 yards, a par 4, downhill off the tee with a lake to the left of the green. The 16th is no easier, 423 uphill with a tee shot that must clear a hazard. Perhaps the next, a 540-yard par 5, will provide a respite, but the 18th, at 453, could leave a bad taste in the mouth. It's a stirring finishing stretch. All the little details are here, from walk mowing the greens every day to the employment of a Border Collie to control the propensity of geese to leave ordure around greensites. With $8 mill to spend, it's no wonder that Finley is now one of the nation's premiere golf facilities. That was the goal. UNC is a competitive university that wants to be better than its local rivals, Duke and N.C. State, and wants to be recognized around the country for its outstanding physical plants. You have to keep up with the Joneses these days in college golf and with the work at Finley, UNC has done that and then some. Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, snack bar, rental clubs and a pro shop. You can walk anytime. Approximate cost, including cart, is $40 weekdays (including Fridays) and $55 on weekends. Hedingham Golf Club Hedingham Golf Club opened in 1992. David Postlethwait designed a track that's primarily open, although the course is part of a residential community, and houses border some holes. Fairways are bermudagrass, and greens are bentgrass. We're not familiar with David Postlethwait, but based on the evidence here at this popular Raleigh course, he is in the modern architecture camp. Locals tell us the course is fair--not overly demanding. It's tight off the tee, with out-of-bounds lurking on many holes, so keep the ball in play. Let's say that again. Keep the ball in play. The greens are medium-size to large, not overly undulating, and boast some potentially difficult subtleties. A few small changes are being made to the course to make it more playable. And as with most modern courses, you'll find plenty of mounds in the fairways and around the green complexes. The course opens with a bang: a 432-yard par 4 downhill. After a solid drive it's a mid- to long iron over a creek to a green that's only 25 yards deep. It's difficult to be unhappy with a five. Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room, snack bar, rental clubs and a pro shop. You can walk only at the end of the day. Approximate cost, including cart, is $29 Monday through Thursday, $32 on Friday and $38 on weekends. Hillandale Golf Course Hillandale opened in the early 1900s. Architects of Golf lists Donald Ross as the original designer and Perry Maxwell and George Cobb as redesigners. You'll find information about Ross and Cobb throughout this book. Maxwell was a former banker who took to golf course architecture after World War I. We'll wager you're unaware that he built the first grass greens in the state of Oklahoma. He was known for designing wildly undulating greens and has rebuilt the putting surfaces at such mega-famous courses as Augusta National, Pine Valley and the National Golf Links. Maxwell eventually designed about 70 courses and remodeled 50 others. Thus, Hillandale boasts a fine architectural heritage. The terrain varies between flat and rolling. Bermudagrass covers the fairways, and bentgrass blankets the greens. The 15th is a wonderful par 3, 190 yards downhill to a large green. It's not an overly difficult hole, but simply demands a straight shot. It's one of the more picturesque on the course. With more than 50,000 rounds of golf played here every year, Hillandale is probably one of the most popular golf courses in North Carolina. The track is owned and operated by The Durham Foundation, Durham's Community Trust and the Central Carolina Bank and Trust Company. So you might refer to Hillandale as Durham's muni. With so many round being played, you might also refer to it as a golf factory. The course is fun and relatively straightforward and has the ambiance of an Old World course. Maxwell didn't get too wild with the greens--crowned and midsize to large. On the back nine, three holes have dual greens to accommodate the sheer volume of play. The fairways are relatively wide and open, but water comes into play on a few holes. The course is not overly bunkered, and chipping areas are mowed around the greens, so your ball might roll off if it hits the edge. The golf shop at Hillandale is one of the best-stocked and largest of any golf course in North Carolina. In 1993, the golf shop was voted the Nation's Most Outstanding by the PGA of America. If you're looking for new or used equipment, stop by Hillandale. Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room, snack bar, rental clubs and a pro shop. You can--and should--walk this course anytime. Approximate cost, including cart, is $28 Monday through Thursday, $29 on Friday and $33 on weekends. Kerr Lake Country Club The golf course at Kerr Lake Country Club, which opened in the 1960s, is an example of design-by-committee. A group of agricultural types created this open layout, with bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens. Here at Kerr Lake you'll find a fun, entertaining and relaxed course. This well-designed track follows the lay of the land faithfully, and its challenge is due in part to the decent length from the back tees. Locals feel Kerr Lake appears easier than it plays. There isn't a great deal of trouble off the tee, but you'll rarely have an even lie in the fairway. The recent installation of a sprinkler system increased the length of the course. The greens are medium-size and undulating, and their designs mandate good club selection. Kerr Lake added its first-ever bunker in the spring of 1995! Curiously, the clubhouse at this popular country course resembles a bomb shelter. But, so what? You don't play golf in the snack bar, right? Amenities include a practice green, range, snack bar, rental clubs and a pro shop. The course is walkable and you can walk anytime. Approximate cost, including cart, is $27 weekdays and $31 on weekends. Lake Winds Golf Course Lake Winds, a Don Mason design characterized by rolling terrain, with bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens, opened in 1982. A few miles north of Durham, Lake Winds is an example of how good a family-owned, operated and maintained country course can be; it's a tremendously friendly place. The layout meanders around and through tranquil, rolling wooded terrain. The fairways offer decent width, and the greens vary in size and shape. There are some good driving holes. Most of the greens are protected by bunkers whose influence will vary greatly depending on pin placement. You'll find some surprisingly wonderful golf holes here. Senior PGA Tour professional Jim Thorpe holds his annual charity golf tournament at Lake Winds. Thorpe also holds the course record: 61. The closing three holes are exciting--perfect for those who like to wager while they play, which, of course, is against the law and not condoned by the authors, Insiders' Guides Inc., etc. We're told that the amount of postgame money exchanged will be greatly influenced by these three holes. This might particularly be the case on the last hole, a short par 4 of just 317 yards. The only obstacle between you and birdie is the water you must shoot over to reach the green on the approach. A fun finishing hole. Amenities include a practice green, rental clubs and a pro shop. The course is walkable, and you can walk anytime. Approximate cost, including cart, is $24 weekdays and $28 on weekends. Lochmere Golf Club The golf course at Lochmere Golf Club is predominantly flat and laid out in woodlands, with 419 bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens. This Gene Hamm-designed track opened in 1985. Lochmere offers a fun and challenging round in a picturesque setting, even though some holes are bordered by homes. For a modern course, the track is a little short, but don't think that makes it any easier. Many holes are tight off the tee. Once you've banged your ball down the middle of the fairway with your titanium super-mama driver, you'll have to deal with water, bunkers, mounds, embankments and swales. And once you've hit the green, you'll face a sloping putt with all sorts of subtle breaks. Lochmere definitely will test your accuracy and short-game prowess. The opening hole is a tester, a 506-yard par 5 that will tempt the bold to reach in two and start with birdie or eagle. However, it's a tight hole where a wayward drive could result in a huge number. Cary is a booming and trendy suburb of Raleigh and is quite busy with traffic and construction. Amid the trendiness and bustle, Lochmere is amazingly peaceful and relaxed--part of what makes it so attractive. It's a commanding but fair track that we recommend you try. It's also host to a couple of minor professional tournaments. Amenities include a practice green, range, locker room, snack bar, rental clubs, a beverage cart and pro shop. The course is walkable for the dedicated, and you can walk anytime except before 2 PM on weekends. Approximate cost, including cart, is $33 Monday through Thursday, $40 on Friday and $45 on weekends. The Neuse Golf Club John LaFoy designed the Neuse Golf Club, which opened in 1994. The course is set in rolling terrain, with houses bordering the fairways. In the fairways, you'll find 419 bermudagrass; on the greens, bentgrass. The Neuse is a sister club to Devil's Ridge and, like its sister, is owned by Carolinas Golf Group. You can read about LaFoy in the Devil's Ridge write-up above. Golf Digest rated the course as one of the best new tracks in the country when it opened, and it's also rated by the same magazine as one of the top 75 public-access courses in the country where you can play for less than $50 a round. Yes, you might want to think about this course as "The Noose"--and after a round here, you might want to bind, gag and tie Mr. LaFoy to the nearest flagstick. This course appears to be more difficult than Devil's Ridge. The mounds seemed bigger, the elevation changes larger, the undulations on the greens more severe, the bunkers steeper and deeper and the green complexes more menacing. The Neuse River flanks the course and comes into play on the 4th and 17th holes. The difficulties are easily visible from the tee boxes and fairways. The most amazing hole is, in fact, called "The Noose," a tortuous 192-yard par 3, with water and bunkers to the right of the green and a rock the size of a basketball court on the left. It's quite unlike any golf hole in the Triangle or perhaps the entire southeast. Other holes offer just as much challenge and difficulty. Here's what could happen: Your slightly pushed tee shot ricochets off a mound and ends up out-of-bounds next to the Smiths' Weber grill on their large back deck. Or it might land in one of the deep bunkers. Plop your ball in the middle of the fairway and you might have a lengthy walk from the cart path down a slope only to find that your lie is half a foot above your feet. Your approach shot might hit a mound next to the green and bounce into a grass swale or down an embankment or into a pot bunker. Your first putt might have a three-foot break--or it might end up rolling down a slope to the base of the green. Or you might bang it down the middle of the fairway, hit the middle of the green, one-putt and tell your friends that the course is not as difficult as it looks. Just remember that throwing clubs or smashing them on the cart path won't improve your score. The Neuse provides an excellent example of an architect strutting his heroic and penal stuff. It's certainly a statement: "I'm going to make this course a challenge. But if you have a good round here and you conquer the challenge, you should feel extremely pleased with yourself." And that's the point of a modern and challenging golf course. A lot of locals like The Neuse and rate it as the best option in the area. We highly recommend you play this course for the experience--even if you play just once. Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room, snack bar, rental clubs, a beverage cart and pro shop. The course is not walkable. Approximate cost, including cart, is $40 Monday through Thursday, $45 on Friday and $50 on weekends. Occoneechee Golf Club Occoneechee Golf Club opened in 1963. Marvin Ray designed the course, and James Ray renovated it. Set on rolling terrain, you'll find bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens. What a great name for a golf course! Too many tracks have mundane natural or town-oriented names. Nomenclature aside, Occoneechee is a fine and fair track laid out in a pleasant country setting. Frankly, there are more challenging courses out there, but there are less challenging courses as well. This one is set up to provide some interest to the big hitting flat-belly. But it's best suited for the mid-level golfer who wants to play on a good course without losing numerous balls in the woods, without having to hit it 275 yards over water or without carrying it over a morass of bunkers and/or mounds. The family-run atmosphere is no accident: the Rays have run the course since its inception. The fairways are medium-width, although out-of-bounds areas make a couple of holes play a bit narrower. The greens are slightly raised and crowned--harder to hit than they appear. There are plenty of pretty trees, some of which might come into play--especially if you're wayward off the tee. Water comes into play on some holes and will affect your strategy if not your shot--ample proof that you don't have to hire a big-name architect to produce a fine and playable golf course. Dare we say the course has an Ellis Maples feel to it? An ongoing course renovation is almost complete. Overall, Occoneechee provides good value for your golfing dollar and boasts a pleasant and relaxed setting that's free of the houses and condos that have turned modern golf courses into the domain of Realtors rather than golfers. The course opens gently with a birdie hole, a 294-yard par 4 that the big hitter will be tempted to reach in one. All that's required is a big fade. It's a hole that's designed to suit the slicer, which is not a bad thing for an opening hole. Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room, bar, snack bar, beverage cart and pro shop. The course is walkable, you should walk, and you can walk anytime (hooray!). Approximate cost, including cart, is $26 weekdays and $29 on weekends. The River Golf and Country Club The golf course at the River Golf and Country Club opened in 1990. We tried to find out who designed the course, but no one knows. Most of the holes are bordered by woods. Fairways are bermudagrass; greens, bentgrass. The River Golf and Country Club is a serious "find." Bunn is not as remote as you might think, and the course is well worth the drive. For our money, this is one of the best courses in the Triangle. Each hole is well designed and thought out. The setting is both peaceful and magnificent. The fairways vary in width, and there are some fun tee shots from a couple of the elevated tees. The green complexes feature bunkers of various sizes and shapes plus some large undulating greens. There's even a double green on the back nine. Water comes into play on a number of holes in the form of streams and ponds. There's a distinct lack of housing--rare for a newer course. Perhaps the most tempting hole on this relatively short golf course might be the par 4 seventh, just 260 yards, all downhill to a shallow green that's steeply banked on the far side. Any shot that rolls over the green is instantly a huge number. Although recently built, the River possesses a traditional feel well beyond its years. Students of golf course architecture might leave the course wondering who is responsible for this outstanding track. The course is also a good value. Amenities include a practice green, range, snack bar and pro shop. Walk anytime except weekends before 2 PM. Approximate cost, including cart, is $25 weekdays and $35 on weekends. Roxboro Country Club Roxboro Country Club opened in 1945. Ellis Maples rerouted the course and added nine holes in 1969. The course is set amid rolling, slightly wooded terrain, with fairways of bermudagrass and bentgrass greens. Roxboro Country Club is a fine country club course. It's not the longest course in the world, but it might rate as one of the prettiest in the area. There are plenty of super holes, although those around the turn, which might have been part of the original nine, are not as attractive as some others. As with many Ellis Maples courses, you'll find beautiful sweeping doglegs, excellent use of the land, plenty of room off the tee, deep undulating greens and large bunkers protecting half or two-thirds of the green. You'll find plenty of examples of how Maples matches design elements with the length and pitch of the hole: Long holes have big greens; short holes have smaller greens with more protection. Water comes into play on a few holes, adding a great deal visually to the course. The first hole is certainly one of Roxboro's most inviting. It's a par 4 of just 292 yards with water along the entire left side. The safest play is to the right side of the fairway, which brings into play two bunkers immediately in front of the green. A duck hook off the tee may hit a duck--and place a big early number on your scorecard. Amenities include a practice green, range, snack bar and pro shop. You can walk anytime. You won't need a tee time during the week; call Thursday for a weekend tee time. Approximate cost, including cart, is $20 weekdays and $27 on weekends. Sourwood Golf Club Sourwood Golf Course was designed by Elmo Cobb (no relation to George) and opened in 1991 with a mix of open and wooded terrain. In the fairways, you'll find bermudagrass; on the greens, bentgrass. We found Sourwood to be a fine owner-designed country course; Cobb easily could have made a good golf course architect based on the soundness of this layout. The course is named after the sourwood tree that still shows up in places but, sadly, is disappearing. Most holes are relatively straightforward--neither too easy nor overly difficult, just very playable. There's decent enough room off the tee, so use your driver liberally. The greens are sloped and midsize. Even though the course is somewhat remote, it's worth the drive for a break from the city and a fun round of golf in a pleasant country setting on a playable track. Elmo Cobb is reputedly one of the better greenskeepers around, and many area golfers cite Sourwood as a course with good greens. Amenities include a practice green and snack bar. You can walk anytime except before 1 PM on weekends. Book a tee time whenever you choose. Approximate cost, including cart, is $20 weekdays and $25 on weekends. Wake Forest Country Club Wake Forest Country Club opened in 1968. Gene Hamm designed this course on undulating wooded terrain, with bermudagrass fairways and bentgrass greens. Wake Forest Country Club is unrelated to Wake Forest University, which is more than an hour's drive to the west. The course is well-known for its opening "world's longest par 5," a 711-yard behemoth on which you'll be happy to reach the ladies' tees on your first shot. If you don't reach the ladies' tees, the normal penalty (whatever yours is) does not apply. Play it from the white tees and it's still an ample 526 yards. And to make matters more difficult, the stream that bisects the hole close to the green easily could destroy your early-round confidence if you're not careful. The absurd length of the 1st hole aside, Wake Forest should be better-known for the quality of the layout. You'll find an excellent example here of a fine and playable traditional track that provides plenty of visual attraction and challenge. Attack this course and you'll be rewarded for sound execution, but realize that you'll be penalized proportionally for poor and wayward shots. Occasional trouble off the tee is augmented if the rough has grown up above an inch or two. The greens vary in size, shape, slope and undulation, but we're told that they are true and can get wonderfully fast. Water provides a hazard on a few holes. If you prefer mature, challenging courses, make the trip to Wake Forest Country Club. Amenities include a practice green, range, chipping green, locker room, bar, snack bar, rental clubs, a beverage cart and pro shop. Walking is restricted to after 2 PM on weekends; the course is walkable though hilly in places. Approximate cost, including cart, is $30 Monday through Thursday, $32 on Friday and $40 on weekends. Wildwood Green Country Club Wildwood Green opened in 1986. Jerry Turner designed the course, which was remodeled entirely in 1996. In the fairways, you'll find bermudagrass; on the greens, G2 bentgrass. A popular Raleigh course, Wildwood Green benefited from an extensive renovation supervised by the very capable John LaFoy. The course is undulating and, unlike a number of modern courses, the fairways are narrow. The course boasts a number of tricky short par 4s where the driver is best left in the bag, but the most demanding hole has to be the 5th, a 440-yard par 4 with a pond adjacent to the green. Reaching any green and two-putting is not automatic due to the undulations in the putting surfaces; the new G2 bentgrass means that green speeds can be quick even in the summer. The greenside bunkers are deep and require a deft touch with the sand wedge; a 60-degree wedge might be useful here in certain situations. Overall, this solid course might remind you of an older and more mature track. Amenities include a practice green, range, snack bar, rental clubs and a pro shop. Walk anytime except weekends before 2 PM. Approximate cost, including cart, is $38 weekdays and $48 on weekends. Willowhaven Country Club The golf course at Willowhaven Country Club opened in 1957. George Cobb designed the course on rolling wooded terrain. In the fairways, you'll find bermudagrass; on the greens, bentgrass. The course is well over 40 years old, so it's definitely a mature track. It's one of Cobb's earlier efforts, one that clearly demonstrates his skill in taking a pretty piece of land and turning it into a playable and attractive course. At Willowhaven, Cobb has created variety and challenge without anything tricked-up or fancy. There isn't a lot of trouble off the tee, although it helps to be in the right sector on many of the doglegs. Trouble around the greens comes in the form of large sloped putting surfaces, swales, embankments and basic bunkers. The better golfer won't think that the course offers a huge amount of challenge, but there's easily enough from the back tees. If you're fond of traditional courses, you should make your way to Willowhaven. Amenities include a practice green, range, snack bar, rental clubs and a pro shop. Walk anytime. Approximate cost, including cart, is $31.50 weekdays and $36.50 on weekends.
|