Off the Fringe, “Golf’s best short read.” The award winning newsletter, sent twice monthly, that provides an unconventional perspective on the golf world.
Brian Clark
Williamston
2020-11-12
$21 (cart included), played on Monday, November 2020 at 8:30 AM
I've been putting off playing this shorter 1996 eighteen (18) hole layout because the tips at 5,747yds / 67.4 / 120 Par 34/36 seemed kinda lame.......I was wrong. Every course no matter how long or short can show you a weakness in your game. With four (4) tee boxes going down to 4,479yd / 65.9 / 114 it would be a great for a young family's afternoon outing on the Link's. They had great yardage blocks in the fairway and also the Par 3's........which is a big plus in my book. The fairways are very fair in landing areas, full grass that's tightly mowed, playable 2" rough with scattered trees framing your way to the green. Greens were smooth and average to smaller in size, but very firm no matter what approach shot I hit.
The #1 starts you out with a easy 467yd uphill Par 5 with a big green to get you warmed up and work out those kinks. The #2 is a nice 156-127yd downhill Par 3 with a pond for those that eat their Wheaties this morning. The #3 is a 342yd dogleg right Par 4 but missing the narrow green left or long is O.B. The #4 is a narrow tee chute on this 324yd Hcp 4 Par 4 with O.B. down the righthand side. The #6 has a 180yd carry to the narrow fairway, with O.B. left on this 362yd Par 4 straightaway hole to a long narrow green. Finishing up with a 408yd Hcp 2 Par 4 with trees O.B. right and sand trap left at 210yds to carry.
The Back 9 starts out with another uphill, wide open 453yd Par 5 that scores easy so enjoy it. The #11 is a downhill 336yd Par 4 with a greens that feeds to the back, so play to the front end here. The #12 is a uphill climb 414yd Hcp 1 Par 4 that plays better from the lefthand side of the fairway, to the narrow green. The #13 is a real dogleg right 360yd Par 4 with 240yd drive going through the corner. The #14 a 317yd Par 4 dogleg right, sets up great for a 210yd cut shot that puts you short of the RH trap from the Blue tees. The #15 is one tough 182yd Par 3 from the Blue tees on this Hcp 3 hole. The pond stops 10yds from the green and O.B. left if missing the narrow green by 10yds with RH side not much better. The #17 Par 5 at 506yds is the longest hole with water down the RH side the last 180yds so stay left. Ending #18 on a 201-166yd Par 3 with a elevated green, sand trap RH side is great for throwing down some "Skin" money to end a friendly game. Was very surprised by the good conditions and rolling but challenging layout for such a short yardage layout. I ended up shooting 36/39 w/36putts on this sunny but 55 degree day in November.
Would travel: 10-20 Miles, Not Vacation Worthy
Bottom line: I would play again, Bargain priced based on quality and competitive area pricing, Fair priced based on quality and competitive area pricing
Condition of Course, Price, Pace of Play, Staff, Layout, No Houses on Course
$21 (cart included), played on Monday, November 2020 at 8:30 AM
I've been putting off playing this shorter 1996 eighteen (18) hole layout because the tips at 5,747yds / 67.4 / 120 Par 34/36 seemed kinda lame.......I was wrong. Every course no matter how long or short can show you a weakness in your game. With four (4) tee boxes going down to 4,479yd / 65.9 / 114 it would be a great for a young family's afternoon outing on the Link's. They had great yardage blocks in the fairway and also the Par 3's........which is a big plus in my book. The fairways are very fair in landing areas, full grass that's tightly mowed, playable 2" rough with scattered trees framing your way to the green. Greens were smooth and average to smaller in size, but very firm no matter what approach shot I hit. The #1 starts you out with a easy 467yd uphill Par 5 with a big green to get you warmed up and work out those kinks. The #2 is a nice 156-127yd downhill Par 3 with a pond for those that eat their Wheaties this morning. The #3 is a 342yd dogleg right Par 4 but missing the narrow green left or long is O.B. The #4 is a narrow tee chute on this 324yd Hcp 4 Par 4 with O.B. down the righthand side. The #6 has a 180yd carry to the narrow fairway, with O.B. left on this 362yd Par 4 straightaway hole to a long narrow green. Finishing up with a 408yd Hcp 2 Par 4 with trees O.B. right and sand trap left at 210yds to carry. The Back 9 starts out with another uphill, wide open 453yd Par 5 that scores easy so enjoy it. The #11 is a downhill 336yd Par 4 with a greens that feeds to the back, so play to the front end here. The #12 is a uphill climb 414yd Hcp 1 Par 4 that plays better from the lefthand side of the fairway, to the narrow green. The #13 is a real dogleg right 360yd Par 4 with 240yd drive going through the corner. The #14 a 317yd Par 4 dogleg right, sets up great for a 210yd cut shot that puts you short of the RH trap from the Blue tees. The #15 is one tough 182yd Par 3 from the Blue tees on this Hcp 3 hole. The pond stops 10yds from the green and O.B. left if missing the narrow green by 10yds with RH side not much better. The #17 Par 5 at 506yds is the longest hole with water down the RH side the last 180yds so stay left. Ending #18 on a 201-166yd Par 3 with a elevated green, sand trap RH side is great for throwing down some "Skin" money to end a friendly game. Was very surprised by the good conditions and rolling but challenging layout for such a short yardage layout. I ended up shooting 36/39 w/36putts on this sunny but 55 degree day in November.