Congaree Golf Club - Is this golf's best kept secret?

[Tommy Williamsen]

Played it today. It might be the best new design I've played in many years.

What other new courses have you played over past several years? What makes it so good?

Let me say it another way. It is the best new course I've played since Streamsong Red and Blue. Will get Black later this spring. When I looked at the brand new courses I've played in the last few years only a few come to mind. Mossy Oak is another good one.

Congaree is wide off the tee but it puts a premium on placement. There were times I had to hit a low cut or a high draw into a green because of where I was. The course allows a run-up shot most of the time. It is firm and fast fast fast. The greens were pretty large but had a lot of slope and movement in them. Be on the wrong side of the pin and three putts are hard to avoid. The shots around the green are treacherous. It is the tightest mown Bermuda I've ever played. I bet the fairways ran at 9. No joke. From the photo it is easy to see the bunkering. All of it is waste area, although the sand around the greens are raked. If you did not know who the architect was, you'd never guess Fazio. C&C or TD might be your guess. The routing I thought was excellent. I never quite new where I was, to be honest. I only knew that the wind, which was considerable, was always coming from a different direction. The only complaint I might have is that the par fives, except for number two, lacked the quality I'd have hoped. I think par fives have to be the most difficult holes to design.

Jim a player of your caliber will do well there. You going down?

[Mike_Young]

If you did not know who the architect was, you'd never guess Fazio. C&C or TD might be your guess.

Tommy,
No disrespect intended here but I have played it and I would have guessed Fazio.  IMHO not even close to the same type of shaping as TD or CC etc...and for the record I'm not one of the butt boys either...my favorite is me...  It is a nice place and an interesting concept...will be interesting to see what deal McNeely does next time...

[Terry Lavin]

If you did not know who the architect was, you'd never guess Fazio. C&C or TD might be your guess.

Tommy,


my favorite is me...

Honesty won’t get you anywhere on this site!  😅

[Brock Peyer]

Only in America would this be considered anything other than a bit pompous

I have a Special Needs son and I have seen a bunch of pompous charities over the years. Honestly, this seems very cool and I am genuinely inspired by it.I have been wrong before, but hope I am right here about the intent.

I just learned about it today and read the few articles that I could find.  The course is intriguing but the overall concept is much more to me.  I'd love to learn more about their work and efforts.

[Jim Franklin]

TW -

I am trying to get down there before season ends. I am hoping for a return call.

[Jim Franklin]

Finally got my opportunity to play Congaree and loved it. While I have not played Royal Melbourne, the crisply cut bunker edges going right up to the greens made think of RM at first. Firm, fast, and fun was the theme of the day. Everything was first class. I have played over 70 Fazio courses and this did not remind me of any of them. Lots of shot variety. Very tight so if you're not confident in your chipping, good luck.

[JC Jones]

It is interesting to read that one of the positives of the course is that it doesn't remind one of Fazio. 


I recently made a similar observation re Trinity Forest in that it isn't obviously a Coore/Crenshaw.

[Jim Franklin]

It is interesting to read that one of the positives of the course is that it doesn't remind one of Fazio. 


I recently made a similar observation re Trinity Forest in that it isn't obviously a Coore/Crenshaw.

Trinity is closer to C&C's work than Congaree to Fazio. Loved them both. And Trinity is so much better in person than it showed on TV.

[JC Jones]

I was blown away by Trinity Forest.  In my opinion, it is really awesome.

[Kirk Gill]

Interesting mission for a golf course, to have philanthropy at it's core.


Any reports on the good works for kids coming out of this?

[Jeff Schley]

RIP to Bob McNair one of the two founders.  Love this model and it really sounds like this is something the founders can leave behind that will manifest into good for those that need it for decades to come.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25357571/bob-mcnair-owner-houston-texans-dead-81

[Chris Mavros]

I played Congaree recently and thought it was fantastic.  Sweeping dunes and expansive bunkers, along with full grown oak trees, creating lots of decisions on each shot. Very firm and fast, which made it a lot of fun.  With the wind, it's even more fun, all the while very challenging.  The routing, the lines to the green; the surroundings, I was impressed by it all. 


The bunkers reminded me of Royal Melbourne and I may be alone on this, but the greens reminded a little of Sweeten's.  The only other place I've seen putts roll off the green and into bunkers or water.  Lots of undulations and quick, figuring out how to get your ball close to the pin was a lot more than simply hitting it close.  Very tough to lose a ball as well (although I managed to find several ways!).
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[Adam T]

It appears this video detailing the course's mission has not yet been posted: https://youtu.be/JWI58AF7zTM.

[Anthony_Nysse]

Congaree just was awarded Golf Digest's Best New Private, also.

[Jim Franklin]

Congaree just was awarded Golf Digest's Best New Private, also.

Well deserved. Trinity came in second. Also well deserved.

[Paul Rudovsky]

Played it day after T-giving in 2017.  Simply fabulous and very un-Fazio.  I also thought Gozzer is very un-Fazio...and loved that as well (you can figure out my thoughts on Fazio from those statements).  Yes very high end...but these guys are to be congratulated for what they are trying to accomplish with this.


Firm and fast is an understatement...and the overall condition is amazing.  I tell people you can eat off the fairways without a napkin or tablecloth!  And there are whole bunch of brilliant holes.  Wide fairways that absolutely require proper angles into greens. 


Only question in my mind is which is better...Congaree or Ohoopee (which I played 2 weeks ago)