Par 4

458 Yards

No. 12 Handicap

With a 30-foot drop from tee to green, No. 3 plays shorter than its scorecard yardage. Especially if long hitters reach the downhill “power chute” approximately 270 yards from the black tees beyond the bunker on the right. Center-right is the optimal landing spot for the approach, which will often be from a slightly downhill lie. The green angles left-to-right, so a baby draw leaves more putting surface to work with. 

Par 3

143 Yards

No. 18 Handicap

This relatively short one-shotter features a peaceful, idyllic setting and a realistic shot at birdie. With only one bunker just short of the green, there’s not much trouble to be had. The ideal tee shot is to the right side of the green, leaving an uphill putt. Too far, right, however, will lead to a ball that rolls off the putting surface and down the hill. The forward tees are conveniently situated just off the cart path and require only a wedge to get-on.

Par 5

479 Yards

No. 6 Handicap

The black and blue tee boxes are on the far side of the Pinerock Dr., creating a cool effect as one drives over the road out to one of the course’s most beautiful landing areas. The tee shot should favor the left center of the fairway, avoiding the hidden hazards to the right. The hole changes character midway, featuring a downhill second shot and uphill third shot. The undulating green, with a severe back-to-front slope, No. 3’s protection again eagles and birdies.  

Par 4

365 Yards

No. 8 Handicap

If there was ever a hole to favor the left side of the fairway, this is the one. The par-4 fourth plays just 10 feet upfill but slopes subtly from left to right as it narrows toward the green. The first fairway bunker on the left is a good line if playing a slight cut. This is the first in a series of “don’t be long” approach shots, as the diminutive green sports a severe drop behind it down to the brush bordering Pinerock Dr.

Par 5

500 Yards

No. 2 Handicap

Golfers cross the road and make their way to The Summit section of the Cherokee Valley community as they tee off on No. 5. Climbing nearly 60 feet from tee to green, the fifth plays as a true three-shot par-5. The “A” position on the tee shot is the center of the fairway even with the second fairway bunker on the right. 

This is a brute of a hole from the forward tees as well, and short hitters and beginners should employ as much course management as they can muster. There’s room to bail slightly left and right of the green on the approach shot, with thin strips of grass between the flanking bunkers and green. Again, “long is wrong,” here, as the green complex slopes severely down the backside.

Par 3

226 Yards

No. 10 Handicap

One of the most scenic holes in the Upstate, the par-3 sixth offers a panoramic view of Glassy Mountain an even glimpse of its famous chapel on a clear day. The drop from tee-to-green is nearly 70 feet, yet the prevailing wind is typically green-to-tee. 

Club selection is everything, here. The forward tees don’t offer much of a reprieve in terms of distance, but golfers do get the benefit of the downhill slope. One of the largest greens on the course, center or center-right sets up the best chance at par or birdie. 

Par 4

387 Yards

No. 4 Handicap

The fun factor on this short par-4 rivals No. 6, with yet another 70-foot drop from the black tees to the fairway landing area below. From the blue and gray tees, a mid-iron is the prudent club off the tee, favoring the right side. Golfers playing the forward tees are again faced with a challenging tee shot over thick-rough. The small, plateau-style green’s best defense is its perch about 40-feet above Club Cart Road behind it. 

Par 4

363 Yards

No. 16 Handicap

This vintage P.B. Dye hole replete with fairway and greenside mounding is one of the shortest holes on the course and plays just slightly uphill. The safe play is an iron or hybrid off the tee, leaving a full-second shot with a short iron. Anything short and right on the approach can end up in the deep, cavernous bunker, rendering par all but impossible. 

Par 4

410 yards

No. 14 Handicap

Featuring one of the most pleasing visual corridors on the property, the 9th plays slightly downhill and features an unobstructed view of Core 450. The ideal tee shot is down the center or right side of the fairway. The second shot should be played to the front center of the green to avoid the steep incline to the right. This placement leaves an uphill birdie putt to finish the hole. 

Par 4

410 yards

No. 15 Handicap

This dogleg left two-shotter plays like a different hole from the black tees, where it calls for a driver and tee shot down the center of a beautiful, flat fairway. From the blue and gray tees, a fairway wood or hybrid will suffice off the tee. A well-placed drive down the center of the fairway leaves a clear shot into the green. The green slopes from right to left, so play your ball below the hole. While it’s hard to detect, No. 10 features 31-feet of uphill elevation change from tee to green; a harbinger of what’s to come. 

Par 5

540 yards

No. 1 Handicap

Simply put, No. 11 is one of the most challenging holes in the Upstate and must be seen (and played) to be believed as it rises 120-feet from tee-to-green. Position is everything on both the drive and second shot. The fairway widens on the right and a tee shot to this side allows for a clear path to the 150-yard marker. Allow for an extra club or two on the approach shot and breathe a sigh of relief once you’re putting.

Par 3

190 yards

No. 13 Handicap

This narrow, mid-length par 3 has out-of-bounds stakes down the left, right and behind the green. The ideal tee shot is slightly right and short of the flagstick. The slope of the green will allow the ball to release and feed to the back and left. Playing slightly downhill and between 158 and 170 yards from the blue and gray tees, No. 12 is a brief respite from the rigors of the 11th. 

Par 4

378 yards

No. 11 Handicap

The Dye family is known for sprinkling in a few blind shots, and the tee ball at No. 13 is a case in point. This “one-of-a-kind” hole with 115-feet of drop has a range of 140-220 yards on the tee shot. A drive down the left side of the fairway is the ideal landing spot for a short iron into a green that slopes away from players. 

Par 4

343 yards

No. 7 Handicap

As P.B. says, No 14 just has a different feel about it. This stunning par 4 features a collection of streams and rocks not found anywhere else on the course. With only nine feet of slope, it is a flat hole amid a sea of hills. Water runs down both sides of the fairway and fronts the green. A mid-iron tee shot to the right of the bridge is “A-Position” leaving a nice 100-yard wedge into the green.

Par 3

166 yards

No. 17 Handicap

This manageable one-shotter is the best remaining chance of birdie, especially from the 120-yard gray and 156-yard blue tees. Play left of the flagstick for the best putt at birdie on this sloping green. At 97 yards from the green tees, No. 15 is well-designed for beginners and short hitters who can run the ball up the front of the green onto the putting surface. 

Par 5

521 yards

No. 9 Handicap

What goes up, must come down, and the 16th sends players back down the hill they came up on No. 11. Long hitters can take a gamble on getting home in two, but patient players willing to layup often end up with better scores on this unforgettable three-shotter. A tee shot to the left side of the fairway leaves a mid-iron shot to a narrow, dangerous landing area. The approach to the green must be precise and keep to the same side as the flagstick. 

Par 4

461 Yards

No. 5 Handicap

This stout par 4 continues the formidable closing stretch that can either make or break a promising round. The black, blue, and gray tees require a carry over the lake, while the forward green tees are on the other side, providing a more enjoyable experience for shorter hitters playing to 274 yards. The idea tee shot is center cut, as is the approach on this often speedy green.

Par 4

422 Yards

No. 3 handicap

No. 18 is a classic cape-style finishing hole and a brute of a par 4, just as it should be. The ideal line off the tee is down the left side over the ravine, providing the best angle of approach to the green and avoiding the stately oak tree on the right. The forward tees are on the far side of the forced carry to keep it fun for all at 237 yards. Hold the second shot on the front section of the green for the best shot at two-putting.