I got the chance to play Raleigh CC this past September. It is the last course that Donald Ross designed and opened in 1948, I believe. It fell on hard times and was close to closing until it was purchased by McConnell golf. The course underwent extensive renovations. The strength of the course is from 150 yards in. It is not a very demanding course off the tee, but the shots into and around the greens require precise shot making. I wish I had posted this earlier because I cannot quite remember the course as well as I would have liked.
The first hole is a nice par five. The tee shot is downhill to a small pond. The second shot is uphill to a very receptive green. The hole is about 500 yards long and is reachable for most players.
Hole #2 Par 4
Gold: 411 Blue: 354 White: 308 Red: 271
The tee shot here is pretty important. The second shot is uphill on this dogleg right. There is a pond on the inside of the dogleg so a shot to the left center is desirable.
Hole #3 Par 3
Gold: 195 Blue: 177 White: 141 Red: 134
The third hole is with bunkers protecting the green on the right and front left. The green has a pretty severe slope from back to front. Anything above the hole makes for a tough two putt.
I love how the bunkers fit into the land and green site. Bunker shots require some imagination because of the slope and undulations of the greens.
Many of the bunkers are quite deep.
As you can see from this next photos, it is possible to run up a shot onto the green. But you have to read the slope correctly.
The course ends with a brute of a par four. You need a good tee shot to get to the green that is uphill. The second shot however, is off a slightly downhill lie. There are two fairway bunkers that can catch a tee shot and two deep bunkers green side. Again keep the ball below the hole.
Gold: 445 Blue: 427 White: 403 Red: 352
I played the course twice on one day. The second time around it was easier to know where not to hit the ball. I think it is one of the better second shot courses in the area and worth a visit if you can arrange to play it.