Charleston Municipal - Pictorial Review

[Richard Hetzel]

I ventured down to Charleston, SC this past weekend to escape Ohio winter weather and sneak a few rounds of golf in. I chose Charleston Municipal (AKA Jenkins Links) and Wild Dunes Links course to play this weekend (Bulls Bay next time I am in town!). I was more excited to play the muni and I played 18 there on Saturday with the wife, which meant cart golf and no walking for me. I can’t compare the muni  to it’s previous iteration as this was my first time playing here. I liked it a lot, although I would not rank it a better municipal golf course than say Keney Park in Hartford, Connecticut, or even Fort Myers CC in Fort Myers, Florida (both are great municipal golf courses IMO). Charleston Municipal was maybe slightly better than Bacon Park GC in Savannah, Georgia. I say this only because I did not really care for the holes that ran alongside the busy road that intersects the back 9 here. Number 10 has you saying, “please no snap hook here!” Maybe if I played here a lot, I would "get used" to this artificial hazard? If you play the tips here, the number 12 tee box basically puts you literally, right next to this busy street. Overall, the course was super fun, the greens were really fast, especially for late February. Also, these greens are not very receptive to holding shots all that well. Charleston Municipal is a very busy place, chock full of friendly people and it is a place where I felt immediately comfortable hanging out. So that being said, I could play here a lot and be quite happy. Even happier to eat at the Swig and Swine which is pretty darn close to the course! Don’t expect a 4 hour round here either, their tee sheet was booked solid. We teed off number 1 at 1:45 pm and I was worried that we may not get all 18 in, but luckily, we did. Play appeared to be slower on the front as compared to the back nine. I would definitely play here again. I have seen quite a bit of discussion about "The Muni", but no pictures of all 18 holes.Hole Number 1:
Hole Number 2:


Hole Number 3:



Hole Number 4:
Hole Number 5:

Hole Number 6:


Hole Number 7:
Hole Number 8:
Hole Number 9:


I'll post the back 9 later on today.

[Cal Seifert]

Great photos. It seems like Raynor style courses work great on flat properties.


Hole 6’s green complex caught my attention immediately. Looks like great fun.

[DFarron]

Was in Charleston last week too and drove by Muni on the way to Kiawah Island.


After I saw it I was sad I didn't have time to play.


We loved Charleston and plan to go back, what a charming city !

[Richard Hetzel]

The back nine:Number 10:






Number 11:






Number 12:







Number 13:




Number 14:




Number 15:





Number 16:


Number 17:






Number 18:

[Andrew Harvie]

It's a very good municipal golf course but I'm afraid it'll fall into the social media darling category where people overdramatize how good it is and people will be let down by expectations. There are some fun holes and some good templates, but others than are no good and too small of greens to realize the potential of such exciting concepts. Overall, I wish I had the golf course in my city.

[Criss Titschinger]

I just got back from the Charleston area, where I played Charleston Municipal Golf Course. I had played it before the renovation, and thought it was a good muni, with good bones, that just needed a little TLC.


My post-renovation round just blew me away. A lot of work was done with the irrigation of the course. I remember my first round being a bit soggy in places despite a lack of rain. The whole course was plenty firm when I played it.


I think the green sizes are just fine, and I loved the undulations. Perhaps they existed before, but in my first playthrough, only the 7th green stood out to me. Now, I can recall quite a number of them. If you know the Raynor templates, you'll have an absolute blast playing this course. I posted the picture of the Redan on social media, and my non-golfing friends individually liked that picture more than any other.


I'd be interested to hear how people would split 10 rounds between Charleston Municipal (post-renovation) and CC of Charleston. I've played both, and I probably go somewhere around 6-4 or 7-3 CCofC. Before, it might have been 9-1.

[Rob Marshall]

I’ll be there Thanksgiving. I played it pre, so I’m really looking forward seeing the results of the renovation.

[Steve Kennedy]

I played there this past May, and for a city/municipal, it's an excellent track that has great bones and some very architecturally sound holes and green complexes.  I think the more casual golfer might fall into the trap of comping the conditioning to a private course, and Charleston Muni obviously lacks the budget required for exceptional greens and run-up areas that might be a but patchy, but for a $50 round of 18, it's excellent.  There are some very interesting greens on the front, but I think my favorite stretch on the course is from holes 11-16.  Enjoy the course for what it is: fun, architecturally interesting, and exceptional value.

[Peter Sayegh]

It's a very good municipal golf course but I'm afraid it'll fall into the social media darling category where people overdramatize how good it is and people will be let down by expectations. There are some fun holes and some good templates, but others than are no good and too small of greens to realize the potential of such exciting concepts. Overall, I wish I had the golf course in my city.

My impression-exactly. Thanks Drew.