[Donal Breasail]

I have got an invitation to cherokee plantation next week.I will be at the masters for the whole week and am wondering is it worth taking the 3 hour drive to play it.I have heard alot about the place especially the exclusivity of the club but not alot about the golf course.any insight?

[jim_lewis]

Don:

Cherokee Plantation is certainly worth the trip. It should not take 3 hours.  I am a big fan of the course. The greeens are very demanding. They will remind you of Pinehurst #2, except smaller. There are only about 26 bunkers, but everyone seems to have a purpose. Most have stacked sod walls and are below the fairway surface level, similar to St. Andrews. Unfortunately, it is an experience that few get to enjoy. Don't miss it.

Jim Lewis

[Michael Whitaker]

Don - Cherokee Plantation is a wonderful experience that shouldn't be missed. As Jim mentions, it really does have a UK feel to it. The course should be in perfect condition for your visit. The superintendent is a real believer in "firm & fast." Cherokee only has 15 members (Ernie Els is one) and sees fewer than 500 rounds a year (1/2 of those are the pro!), so you are in a small minority of golfers who will ever get to play it. Enjoy!

[Adam_Messix]

I'll echo what the others have said about Cherokee Plantation.  It's a wonderful golf course with some really cool greens.  The nines have been switched since the Shell's match of a few years ago.  The pro there, Mark Tomoldowsky, is a great guy and an excellent player.  The course gets about 900 rounds a year and is shows from a condition standpoint, not a blade of grass out of place.  The greens and their surrounds are awesome, like Jim said, a real Pinehurst fee.

 To get the whole experience though, you need to stay there and have the plantation breakfast, go bird hunting, horseback riding, the big lunch and dinner.  

[Anthony_Nysse]

Here is an article about Cherokee Plantation. It was published this month in one of our trade magazines. Charlie Spears, golf Course Superintendent, is a protege of my boss, Ashley Davis, CGCS. IT's always interesting hear Charlie talk about the course and how no one is out there or hear him talk about who's going to be out there. It's my understanding that Ernie was turned down for membership, will be there for several days prior to the masters practicing, as he usually does before the masters. Charlie will have his greens running in the 13-13.5 range for his visit. Enjoy the article.

http://cgcsa.org/uploadedFiles/Home/Feature%20Mrch%2007.pdf

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club
HHI, SC

[Tim Gavrich]

Which course is more immaculate: Cherokee Plantation or Augusta National?  Seems like a toss-up in a golf world where Augusta seems to be king in that department.  Very cool looking place--does it stay pretty firm and fast even after heavy rains?

Donald Steel seems to be quite popular among developers of exclusive enclaves.  In addition to Cherokee Plantation, he has designed the very high-end Carnegie Abbey out in Rhode Island and the ultra-exclusive (so I've heard) Vineyard Golf Club on Martha's Vineyard, I believe.  Not to mention the Abaco Club out in the Bahamas and that new course on the hunting preserve in the Virginia mountains (though I think they do allow outside play).

[Anthony_Nysse]

Tim,
  Augusta Natl is more immaculate. Now, don't take that as Cherokee ever being in poor shape, in fact it's as good as most get. Charlie is a great superintendent, good golfer also and understands the game. Charlie cannot get anymore out his budget that what he does-I'd be surprised if it's a 4th of what Augusta's is. Cherokee is unlike most course in the US and there was so much though put into the greens and their surrounds...it's really awesome. Cherokee is such a special place and there is usually a VERY good chance you will have the plantation to yourself...good hunting, too!

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club
HHI, SC

[SPDB]

Tim:

With respect to your point about Steel being popular with high end developers. He is popular with one high end developer - Peter de Savary, who developed each of the clubs you cite (excepting the Vineyard Club). You can also add to that list the Carnegie Club and Stapleford Park, which were also designed by Steel for de Savary.

I think, with the exception of Abaco, de Savary has exited each of these developments.

[Tim Gavrich]

That's extremely interesting that de Savary doesn't play golf himself.  One would think that seeing his visions made real would inspire him to take up the game.  Ah well, he seems to know his audience pretty well.

Upon which island is Abaco situated?

[Tom Roewer]

Tim:  Was that a "whose buried in grant's tomb question"?

[Tim Gavrich]

Tom--

Evidently it was.  What a stupid I am!  I have never been to the Bahamas, and my Caribbean geography is pretty rusty.  But thanks for the answer to the question and the chuckle .

[SPDB]

Don - I have not played the Abaco Club; your question seems to imply that I indicated I didn't like it.

Tim/Tom -
For not having been to the Bahamas, Tim's question was quite insightful. The Abacos are a collection of islands in the Bahamas. There is not an "Abaco Island," the Abaco Club is on Great Abaco, I believe.

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