Mount Vintage Plantation & Golf Club

Guest (cart not included), played on Saturday, August 2019 at 7:00 AM

Mount Vintage Golf Club – A One of a Kind Golf Experience

Mount Vintage Golf Club is part of the Mount Vintage community, a well-established, private community which encompasses 2,000 acres of gently rolling terrain, with centuries of history that can be traced back to Native American tribes. Careful planning has gone into the community in an effort to enhance the natural beauty and tranquility of the surrounding area.

Mount Vintage is home to discerning people who appreciate a quiet, yet fun-filled lifestyle. The Town Center and Athletic Club complex is the heartbeat of the community.; it’s a place where well-being and social engagement work hand in hand as residents taking part in a plethora of social and physical activities. A Junior Olympic sized pool, 6 Har-Tru lighted tennis courts, two bocce courts and a fitness center provide residents with plenty of options. Inside, you’ll find a plethora of clublike activities: Book Club, Garden Club and a Bridge Club just to name a few.

As far as golf is concerned, Mount Vintage Golf Club is a semi-private club that will rival any club in the area. With 27 holes, Mount Vintage can be played as three distinctly different 18-hole courses. Mount Vintage offers golfers a superior golfing experience, due in part to the club’s high maintenance standards and an extreme attention to detail. The course originally opened in 2000 and was designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Jackson. Jackson was able to use the unique topography of the area and the lush tree cover to create a golf course that can be enjoyed by players of all abilities. With five sets of tees, each hole is challenging and memorable, from your opening tee shot to your final putt. You’ll find lush Bermuda fairways and roughs and Champion Bermuda greens accented by stacked stone bridges and walls reminiscent of Augusta National. Golf legend Byron Nelson once referred to Mount Vintage Golf Club as a “magnificent layout.”

The Chester nine was the front nine of the original 18-hole layout that opened in 2000. Chester is the highest rated of the three nines, primarily because each hole is a challenge on its own. Chester greets you with rolling fairways, well bunkered green complexes, and putting surfaces that will test the best of putters. As you play the Chester nine you can’t help but be taken aback by the beauty of the golf course; not only in the elevation changes but the sheer design of each hole. But don’t let its good looks fool you; this course has some bite. The 9th hole is a par 5 that plays downhill off the tee, with a creek that runs through the fairway that has to be dealt with at some point. Once you clear the creek, it’s all uphill to a large, well-protected green. Consider taking an extra club on your approach shot to compensate. As you walk off the green, you’ll understand why this nine is the favorite!

The Vintage nine also opened in 2000 and was back nine on the original 18 hole layout. Of the three nine-hole layouts, Vintage plays the longest. Although you’ll experience elevation changes on all three courses, those on Vintage are the most dramatic. Eight of the 9 holes have either a downhill or uphill shot of at least 30 feet - a couple have both – which forces you to give a little more thought to your club selection. A rangefinder with a slope feature can be a valuable tool! The three holes that make their way around Pavilion Lake - holes 5, 6, and 7- could all be categorized as signature holes on the Vintage Nine and have been referred to as the “Amen Corner” of Mount Vintage. Number 5 is a par 4 that plays 387 yards, with a downhill tee shot. From there, you’ll have an uphill approach shot across a finger of the lake to a large green fronted by large, deep bunkers on either side. Number 6 is a par 3 that requires a carry back over the same lake. It plays slightly downhill to an elevated green with bunkers in front and back and a large tree shadowing the far-left side. You’ll have to cross the lake one last time with your tee shot on the par 5, 7th hole. The fairway slopes right to left and the farther up the top of the fairway you can hit your tee shot, the farther you’ll be away from the water and the more roll you’ll get. Large trees on the right start to come into play on your layup shot but if you favor the left side, you’ll take them out of play and leave a clear path into a well undulated green protected in front by bunkers. As you make your way back to the clubhouse after playing the Vintage Nine, you’ll look back upon your round as quite memorable, hopefully for all the right reasons!

The Independent nine was the last nine to be built at the Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Club and opened in 2008. Although the course has many of the same characteristics of the original 18 holes, it is still a course all its own. Elevation changes are evident from the moment you step on the 1st tee, a dogleg left par 4 that plays downhill off the tee with a lake on the left side of the landing area. Water comes into play on 8 of the 9 holes, creating many risk/reward opportunities. The 8th hole is a gorgeous par 3 that plays slightly downhill, over a small lake to a triangular green. Locals refer to it as the “Million Dollar Hole” and PGA.com has recognized #8 as part of South Carolina’s Dream 18: Hidden Gems. Nine is another favorite, a long par 5 hole that requires an uphill layup shot followed by an uphill approach into a green that is well guarded and extremely undulated. The green has two tiers and is separated by a four ft. ridge, so it is imperative to hit your approach to the right level.

Mount Vintage Golf Club has one of the most unique clubhouses in the country. The center portion of the clubhouse is a fully restored piedmont plantation house that dates back to around 1840. It is flanked by two matching wings. In its entirety, the complex includes a professionally staffed pro shop, locker rooms and The Grille restaurant. Just out the back door of the clubhouse is a state-of-the-art practice facility with a full-length driving range and practice green.

The apparel selection in the Mount Vintage pro shop includes a wide range of companies including Turtleson, Tail, Straight Down, Foot-Joy, Titleist, Bridgestone, Callaway and TaylorMade for both men and women. They also have a good selection of hats, shoes, balls and accessories; everything you’ll need to look and play your best.

The Grille at Mount Vintage is a great place to grab some good food and drink. And it’s not just for those that are just coming off the course; it’s not unusual to see locals and businessmen from N. Augusta and Edgefield County enjoying all that The Grille has to offer. The décor could be classified as “rural elegance,” a beautiful glass lined dining terrace loaded with Southern charm that promotes a relaxed atmosphere and a unique dining experience. The furnishings are comfortable and let you take the weight off your feet after a busy day. Menus are updated monthly and offer a casual twist on traditional American and Southern fares. Residents of Mount Vintage as well as the public are invited to dine for lunch and Sunday Breakfast. Popular events include “Thirsty Thursdays,” which features weekly “spirit” specials from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The Grille is also available for private intimate lunches, dinners, and parties and can accommodate up to 75 guests. For larger events, there’s the Mount Vintage Town Center which accommodates 150 guests.

With Mount Vintage Golf Club, what you see is what you get. No pretentious members or glitterati trying to be something they’re not. Just good, down to earth members that realize that their country club is something special. The camaraderie between members is evident once you set foot inside the pro shop. David Usry and his staff are knowledgeable, professional and know how to strike up a conversation that focusses on you, the member. And, after playing the course, you’ll see that Mount Vintage Golf Club is the kind of country club you’d want to be a part of, with modern facilities, great dining and fantastic golf.

Mount Vintage offers several membership classifications for families and singles including Full Memberships with unlimited golf privileges, Associate Membership, Social and Corporate Memberships are also available. Regardless of the membership plan you choose, you’ll receive unlimited range balls, access to clubhouse facilities for family and accompanied guests, access to the men’s and women’s locker rooms, full charging privileges and advanced tee time reservations. And, if you join now, there is no initiation fee!

(cart included), played on Sunday, January 2011 at 6am

This course was definitely worthy of LPGA competition a few years back. The rough is "rough" but overall it is a challenging course.