Wade Hampton

[Jim Franklin]

I recently played Wade Hampton and wondered what other folks thought of this Fazio layout.

I thought it was terrific and not your typical Fazio course. I have played a vast number of Fazio courses (not as many as Matt, but a lot) and thought this one was in the top 2 that I have seen (Victoria National being the other).

The par 3s were excellent, with #17 being the best of the bunch. The par 4s were strong and the par 5s offered some interesting risk/reward options.

And by the way, since it is close to their closing, they were out of logo balls so if anyone has an extra Wade Hampton ball, I would be very appreciative.

[SteveC]

Jim,

Were the greens still lightning fast? I played there about 5-6 years ago the week before they closed for the winter. Superb course, a real challenge, where you'll use every club in the bag. The greens were brutally hard to hold and faster than any I have ever played on.

Steve

[Tim Copeland]

I have played it twice and loved it.  I hit one of the workers there off of the ~12th tee(short par 4...elevated green).  He was parked ona  tractor beside the ladies tee and i pulled one straight into him.......shook me up for a few holes but I recovered to drink a few beers after that......

It has been a while but the holes that sttod out to me were....#5....along the road...elevated green complex and the green was crazy fast.  The bunkering was the one feature that got my attention quickly.....knew I didnt want to be in those

Funny golf shop story....we were checking in and the shirt folder that was checking us in(we were there as guests of Melnyk) told us to take some of the shiny pennies in the bowl on the counter....we asked what the signifiganance of the pennies were and he told us that they were in honor of Tom Weiskopf....this was around the time of the Shiny ball marker incident in a golf tournament and the golfer that Weiskopf had belittled was a Wade Hampton member.  The shirt folder looked down his nose and told us that Mr Weiskopf was not welcome at Wade hampton any longer.

[cary lichtenstein]

I was told that Mike Strantz was given a pretty free hand on the back nine there.

[Jim Franklin]

The greens were very quick and firm, but not as fast as Grandfather G&CC. Those greens were borderline Oakmontish. My host at Wade Hampton said they were discussing redoing the greens as they have been there 20 years and it might be time to change them. They experimented with the practice green with some of the newer hybrid grasses, but were still undecided about which way to go. I thought they were great.

[Jim Franklin]

Cary -

You are correct in that Mike Strantz did most of the shaping on the back nine.

[Phil_the_Author]

I don't know Jim... first 5 Farms, then mentioning on another thread playing Fisher's Island, now Wade Hampton; and looking for a logo ball to boot!

Confess Jim, you just want to make us jealous, don't you...  

Still, if you're nice, I may be able to help you out...

[Tim Copeland]

The greens were very quick and firm, but not as fast as Grandfather G&CC. Those greens were borderline Oakmontish. My host at Wade Hampton said they were discussing redoing the greens as they have been there 20 years and it might be time to change them. They experimented with the practice green with some of the newer hybrid grasses, but were still undecided about which way to go. I thought they were great.

I have never played Grandfather MTn but Wade's greens are in the top three of the fastest I have ever putted on.

[Jim Franklin]

Philip, I am nice. How do you think my wife lets me play all of these great courses with three little ones at home ? I have to be nice, don't I ? I would certainly appreciate the help though.

[Jim Franklin]

Tim, Wade's were great, but Grandfather's were better. Both are in the top 10 greens I have played though.

[bill_k]

Tim,
What is a "shirt folder"?
Were you referencing one of the golf professionals at Wade Hampton?

[Andrew Cunningham]

Jim,

Are you suggesting that Wade Hampton is "better" than Forest Creek North???

Andrew

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

And by the way, since it is close to their closing, they were out of logo balls so if anyone has an extra Wade Hampton ball, I would be very appreciative.

Jim,

Shoot me an IM here if you havent gotten a logo ball anywhere else in a few weeks.  I may have an extra WH one but all of my logo balls are packed away in my basement, which I am finishing.  This winter when I unpack some of those items into my newly finished office (I hope) I may likely have one.  Send me the IM and I will just leave it in there to remind myself of it.

And most importanly next time you come within an hour of Greenville dont be a stranger.

[Tim Copeland]

Tim,
What is a "shirt folder"?
Were you referencing one of the golf professionals at Wade Hampton?

The maintenance crews that I have been a part of have called the pro shop staff "shirt folders"....all in good fun of course

[Jim Franklin]

Andrew -

In my opinion, Wade Hampton is in the top two Fazio's with Victoria National. Forest Creek is a fantastic club as well, but it is only my opinion. That is what makes the world go around, different people with different opinions. I certainly could not argue with you "liking" Forest Creek more than Wade Hampton, but I liked WH better. One man's opinion.

Jim

[james soper]

jim, wade hampton is a fantastic track. very demanding mountain course without the quirkeness usually associated with mountain layouts. some drainage problems on a couple of holes. overall a real challenge. jjs