MAY RIVER

[Mark McKeever]

Whoa.  Good luck hitting a draw into that green!

Mark

[Matt MacIver]

With respect to discussing Jack's greatest courses is it worth understanding who the design associates were for each? 

Jack built two courses in Charlotte around the same time: Longview is a Nicklaus- signature course where he evidently spend more time on the topos and on-sight; and The Palisades, which was a Nicklaus design.  I believe his firm was paid differently (i.e. more) for the "signature" designation.  I think two different lead associates worked on each.  Lastly and IMHO the ground is better, and the golf is better, at the less expensive one. 

[Bruce Wellmon]

According to a January/February 2009 "Travel + Leisure Golf" article, the design team for May River included Jack, Jim Lipe, and Kurt Bowman.

[ward peyronnin]

Bruce
glad you liked MRGC. I am an ODG/Doak/Coore fan but May River seems to borrow from these guys. It is a wonderful overall experience and I hoped some of the Dixie Cuppers would add commentary as the pro was excited to have us here and anticipating what would be said as he is a lurker

What I can add is an observation of the sublime 13 th two shotter( plz reference Ran's writeup of this hole). I realized recently that this masterfully flowing fairway and green platform was not here originally but it is so well integrated to the surroundings and that is right in front of us. What is not is the borrow lake tucked back right right around and behind the treeline and I bet you a c note you didn't even see it. How tempting for so many GCA's to use this borrow pit as a tension inducing hazard but here the harmony and flow of the playing corridors is instead emphasized to great effect.

[Brock Peyer]

I played May River about 4 years ago and just loved it, probably in my personal top 5.

[Bruce Wellmon]

What I can add is an observation of the sublime 13 th two shotter( plz reference Ran's writeup of this hole). I realized recently that this masterfully flowing fairway and green platform was not here originally but it is so well integrated to the surroundings and that is right in front of us. What is not is the borrow lake tucked back right right around and behind the treeline and I bet you a c note you didn't even see it. How tempting for so many GCA's to use this borrow pit as a tension inducing hazard but here the harmony and flow of the playing corridors is instead emphasized to great effect.

Ward,
         I am in fact quite familar with the lake on the right. Aside from that, what I liked alot on the 13th, after pitching my 3rd out into the fairway, was the contour of the green allowing use of the slope on the right to funnel the ball down to the center pin position.
          I did fail to mention the center line traps in play on several holes in the fairway. The par 5 4th, 10th and 12th I believe.   
          In short, creativity abounds at May River.

[Eric Smith]

I think May River is terrific. One of the most memorable designs I have played. The course is almost certainly the widest golf course in the area. Tons of room off the tee, and with it, some really cool shots to be played.

This one for example was my approach at the twelfth, a 400 yard par 4. I took an aggressive line off the tee and was rewarded with a favorable angle of approach to one of the smaller greens on the course, guarded by deep bunkers. I wish I had snapped a picture from the the middle right side of the fairway where the others in my group played from. Very intimidating.


Center line bunker at the eighth.


The eleventh is a beautiful par 3. Around 170 from here.




18 green with the clubhouse behind...


...where relaxing before or after the round takes very little effort. [I recommend the butternut squash soup.] As one who used to call the lowcountry home, Palmetto Bluff to me is idyllic as it gets. Great place, great food, great people.


In summary, our friend and brother, the Big Wardo, is living the life o' Riley.

[Sean_A]

Cha ching!


I saw the pic from the tee and thought...could it be...no fake beach? 

There is a god.

Ciao

[Greg Tallman]

I think May River is terrific. One of the most memorable designs I have played. The course is almost certainly the widest golf course in the area. Tons of room off the tee, and with it, some really cool shots to be played.

This one for example was my approach at the twelfth, a 400 yard par 4. I took an aggressive line off the tee and was rewarded with a favorable angle of approach to one of the smaller greens on the course, guarded by deep bunkers. I wish I had snapped a picture from the the middle right side of the fairway where the others in my group played from. Very intimidating.



Best hole on the course IMO

[ward peyronnin]

My memory may be a bit faulty but i swear the green plays like and resembles no 8 at PV?

[Bill Gayne]

May River is a treat to play and would encourage all to make the effort. The Palmetto Bluff Resort (next door) is pretty sweet.

One of my more dramatic shots happened at May River. I hit a high wedge from about 70 yards and hit the top of the pin perfectly square. The ball bounced about 15 feet straight up in the air and bounced off the green.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Any news on the C&C course?

[Cliff Walston]

My understanding is that it is dead. I believe they built a rice field in the middle of a section of the course.

[ward peyronnin]

Whittaker and I were reconnoitering there last month

The rice fields were a pipe dream and are going nowhere. There are divergent reports that no golf course is on the horizon but others , from some fairly direct sources, who say Crenshaw has said they were told to dust em off

They are beginning an additional 150 room addition to the Inn and have filed permitting to create a second village south by Moreland landing on the New River side of the property. With this much development another course may be in order