I recently returned to Wade Hampton for the first time in about 3 years. On my previous visits, I don’t think I was ever quite able to get past the course’s extremely high ranking by Golf Digest. My initial impression was that the course just didn’t pass the sniff test for what I’d expect of a place occupying such a lofty perch in the food chain. This time around, I wasn’t thinking so much about the course or my expectations, but rather just having fun playing a few rounds with friends. And what I found out is that I was letting my initial impression of unfulfilled expectations obscure the fact that Wade is one fine course. Is it the 17th best course in America? Perhaps not. But who cares? Wade is a top notch design by any measure, especially tee to green. Here is a quick tour with commentary that will hopefully show some of the meat on the bone.
#1 544 yard par 5 – As par 5 openers go, this may be the best one I have seen. Strategic in every sense of the word. The safe play from the tee is to the fat of the fairway, often with less than driver to stay short of the tall fescue beyond. But that line makes it a 3 shot hole with a tough partially blind layup over the crest of the hill on the left side. The aggressive line brings into play the right side fairway bunkers and thick rough.
Finding the fairway on the aggressive line affords an opportunity to go for the green in two. But its no easy shot since it requires hitting a fairway wood or long iron from a downhill lie. And if the decision is to layup, you must decide whether to carry the berm on the left side…
…in order to get the best angle of approach into the green…
…or to play it safe on the right side layup, which brings the bunkers into play for the approach.
#2 456 yard par 4 – This is a very demanding tee shot. A big drive between the left fairway bunker and the left side of the fairway will catch a turbo boost that substantially shortens the hole. But the fairway bunkers are death and a stream guards the left side. Playing safe short of the bunkers leaves a very long approach.
Finding the speed slot leaves a relatively simple approach to a green guarded by bunkers right, a grass depression left and thick fescue long.
#3 219 yard par 3 – The other one shotters seem to get more attention. But this one is, in my opinion, clearly the best of the bunch. Tucked back into a corner of the property where winds swirl, this hole’s beauty is matched by its difficulty.
#4 581 yard par 5 – Another very solid par 5, although lacking the strategic options of the 1st. It is more difficult though, with a creek running the length of the hole on the left. From the tee…
…the second…
..and the third…
#5 419 yard par 4 – I really like this hole. The fairway bunkers on the right must be avoided at all cost. Not much chance for par from there or the rough. But there is plenty of room on the left side beyond the trees. So there is no need to challenge bunkers.
Finding the fairway means a real shot at birdie with a short iron approach to a significantly elevated green.
#6 158 yard par 3 – This short hole plays even shorter since it is downhill. Another birdie opportunity. But, again, the winds can be tricky. I’ve seen a lot of shots that look good in the air end up short or long. Although they don’t impact play, I think cutting back the trees and vegetation a bit would make the hole stunning.
#7 420 yard par 4 – Wade Hampton is full of terrific tee shots. Unfortunately, #7 isn’t one of them. Hands down, my least favorite tee shot on the course.
But any lack of interest from the tee is made up for by this great approach shot.
#8 401 yard par 4 – From the tee, it is tempting to challenge the left side where a big ball can carry the bunkers and leave just a lob wedge in to the green. But it’s a sucker’s bet. The better play is to the safe right side.
Either way, it’s a fantastic uphill approach to a partially blind green…
#9 442 yard par 4 – Another very solid tee shot where it is imperative to find the fairway.
Failure to do so likely means laying up short of the creek fronting the green.
#10 564 yard par 5 – This is the least compelling of the par 5s in my mind. The aggressive line is over the hill on the right side. Pulling it off means a chance to reach in two. And I don’t see much risk since, absent a complete block into the trees, the worst that happens is your ball hangs in the rough. But that just makes the hole into the same three shotter you’d get if you play the safe route short and center off the tee.
The calm flow of the approach …
…fits well with an unpretentious green site…
#11 172 yard par 3 – Now things start to really heat up. A beautiful downhill par 3 that plays shorter than the yardage. Missing the green in any direction means a tough par.
And the green is one of the best on the course…
#12 317 yard par 4 – A terrific hole that plays equally well as a drivable par 4 from the front tee or a layup and wedge from the back tee.
If the latter, the approach is partially blind…
#13 446 yard par 4 – One of the most demanding tee shots on the course. But anything in the left half of the fairway will roll down the hill substantially shortening the hole.
The approach just fits my eye. It reminds me of #15 at Baltimore Five Farms. The green is severely sloped from back to front.
#14 410 yard par 4 – From the tee, you need to decide whether to challenge or play short of the bunkers.
In either case, the approach is a beauty …
…and the bunker fronting the green must be avoided.
#15 429 yard par 4 – Possibly the best hole on the course and one of the few that plays longer than the yardage…a lot longer. Again, virtually no chance to reach the green except from the fairway. While it may appear from the tee that the left side offers a better angle of attack to the green…
…the left side actually leads to a partially blind shot over the short left bunker …
…whereas right side opens up the view and allows you to play to the left side of the green away from the hollow guarding the right side of the green (which is dead) and use the bank in the left side of the green to feed the ball to right pin positions.
#16 489 yard par 4 – Given the length, I suppose it is understandable there is a bit less to deal with mentally from the tee. Still, this is one of the least interesting drives on the course.
But like the 7th hole, a lackluster tee shot is followed by a really nice approach. I particularly like the fact that plenty of width is given to allow an easy layup for those who chose to play the hole as a three shotter.
#17 196 yard par 3 – I believe this hole is generally considered to be the top par 3 at Wade. Not in my book, at least as long as the front left (and perhaps the front right) tree is there. On the other hand, I love the green, which may be the best on the course. It is very large, provides numerous pin positions (even with the blocking trees) and deceivingly difficult contours. Being on the green is no guarantee of a two putt. Question: Why is it so hard to get the ball close to the hole on large greens?
#18 555 yard par 5 – A nice finisher just a notch below the fantastic 1st hole. In order to reach the green in two, you need to challenge the creek on the left side. Otherwise, play it safe to the right side as a three shot hole.
But playing it as a three shotter doesn’t necessarily leave the easiest layup with bunkers right and the hazard left.
Although it pays to skirt close to the hazard as the angle of approach is much better from the left…
…than from the right.
Tee to green, Wade Hampton is an outstanding course. Where it falls short (at least with regard to its ranking) is on the greens. You may have noticed that I hardly mentioned them. That is because, in my opinion, while they are in perfect condition and a joy to putt, for the most part, they are also shy on character. But at the end of the day, any lack of boldness in the greens can’t conceal the quality of the course as a whole.
Ed