Dixie Cup 2010 - The Best Dixie Cup To Date?

[Bill_McBride]

More commentary from Carl Johnson:

From Bill McBride: "I'm not sure what needs to be done to #11, it may be just a case of playing it enough to know how to deal with the wetland.  There needs to be some sort of hazard down there, or the flat bellies would just bash it the bottom and flip a wedge up to the green."  In my experience this is not going to happen.  The "wetlands," although not wet now, is still a hazard (various wetland plants).  I do not know anyone who would intentionally try to hit to bottom and risk going into the hazard.  Long hitters, including the Quail Hollow qualifiers that I saw, try to lay up at the top of the hill, from which spot they still have relatively short shot to the green.

Carl, I was actually thinking more of the shorter hitters who CAN'T consistently drive to the end of the flat fairway, before the steep drop off.  The seemingly irreconcilable challenges are to (1) challenge the bomb and gouge crowd who want to drive to the bottom, and (2) provide the short knockers a lay up that isn't going to typically run down the hill into trouble.

Bill, I think that the trick is to play from the "correct" set of tees.  Early in the restoration process I remarked to Roger that I thought this hole would be very difficult off the tee, for the reasons you point out.  However, Roger's response was that he did not think it would be if you played from the "correct" set of tees.  Having played the hole for two years now, I agree with Roger.  The principal difficulty off the tee is that the safe driving (tee-ball) lane is very narrow, given the trees on the far left and and the slope of the fairway left to right.  Obviously, you have to play this hole a number of times to get the feel for it.  Once is certainly not enough.  Carl  

We played the blue tees.  Any idea how far it is to that best layup place.

The whites at under 5900 are a bit shortish for the old ego.  The blues were maybe a bit longish.  Aha, ya'll need a set of aqua tees!

[Michael Whitaker]

I tried to warn everyone that CGC's walk was great for exercise aficionados only.  As perfect as the walk is at Gaston, Charlotte
and Mimosa... CGC can be tough due to the fact #4, #5, #6, #7, #17, #18 all play back and forth across a valley.  #11 and #13 share a creek while #3 and #18 share low spots as well.  Probably the evilest feature is the walk up the hill from #18.  The clubhouse sits high on the hill and you can see parts of every single hole except for #9 when the leaves are down.

So... when I read Hutto and McBride's comments... this might be one of few examples where walking actually hindered everyone's ability to enjoy the architecture.  Next time you play we will ride... I promise not to tell anyone!

Roger - Although you are the GM at CGC, I have to respectfully disagree with you on this point. I found CGC to be a very pleasant walk and not too taxing. Sure, climbing the hill after 18 will make you breathe hard, but the course is NOT a tough walk. I hate to agree with Melvyn too often, but Americans are getting soft when it comes to walking these courses. I found CGC to be a pleasure to walk.

I'm looking forward to a return visit to play (and walk) CGC! 

[Brent Hutto]

The whites at under 5900 are a bit shortish for the old ego.  The blues were maybe a bit longish.  Aha, ya'll need a set of aqua tees!

I'm glad I played the whites as I was hitting it short and crooked off the tee. Also a couple of the Par 3's would have been a bit daunting from even the blues. My ideal tees on that course would basically be the blues if I could shorten up a handful of the tee shots by maybe 20-30 yards. But the whites were great fun!

My own home course has a hard time holding my interest at 5,800-ish yards (Par 72) when I occasionally play up there with someone. Definitely feels like less than the "real" course. Given that Carolina is Par 71 it does not have that same sort of feeling played from the whites even though it is in the dreaded under-6,000 category.

[Roger Wolfe]

I tried to warn everyone that CGC's walk was great for exercise aficionados only.  As perfect as the walk is at Gaston, Charlotte
and Mimosa... CGC can be tough due to the fact #4, #5, #6, #7, #17, #18 all play back and forth across a valley.  #11 and #13 share a creek while #3 and #18 share low spots as well.  Probably the evilest feature is the walk up the hill from #18.  The clubhouse sits high on the hill and you can see parts of every single hole except for #9 when the leaves are down.

So... when I read Hutto and McBride's comments... this might be one of few examples where walking actually hindered everyone's ability to enjoy the architecture.  Next time you play we will ride... I promise not to tell anyone!

Roger - Although you are the GM at CGC, I have to respectfully disagree with you on this point. I found CGC to be a very pleasant walk and not too taxing. Sure, climbing the hill after 18 will make you breathe hard, but the course is NOT a tough walk. I hate to agree with Melvyn too often, but Americans are getting soft when it comes to walking these courses. I found CGC to be a pleasure to walk.

I'm looking forward to a return visit to play (and walk) CGC! 

But remember you are a thin, fit flatbelly.  Its one thing to tackle CGC on fresh legs.  Its another for us endomorphs to walk it after walking 18 a day for the past three days!  .  

Dormie Club was a great walk, too.  There is nothing better than wandering through the pine trees searching for the next tee box.  I really liked the way the greens surrounds extended to the next tee box.  We do it from #3 green to #4 tee box.  The walk from #7 green to #8 at Dormie was about 100 yards of fairway cut.  Very cool and very special and another example why not having to have cart paths is a wonderful thing.

[Carl Johnson]

More commentary from Carl Johnson:

From Bill McBride: "I'm not sure what needs to be done to #11, it may be just a case of playing it enough to know how to deal with the wetland.  There needs to be some sort of hazard down there, or the flat bellies would just bash it the bottom and flip a wedge up to the green."  In my experience this is not going to happen.  The "wetlands," although not wet now, is still a hazard (various wetland plants).  I do not know anyone who would intentionally try to hit to bottom and risk going into the hazard.  Long hitters, including the Quail Hollow qualifiers that I saw, try to lay up at the top of the hill, from which spot they still have relatively short shot to the green.

Carl, I was actually thinking more of the shorter hitters who CAN'T consistently drive to the end of the flat fairway, before the steep drop off.  The seemingly irreconcilable challenges are to (1) challenge the bomb and gouge crowd who want to drive to the bottom, and (2) provide the short knockers a lay up that isn't going to typically run down the hill into trouble.

Bill, I think that the trick is to play from the "correct" set of tees.  Early in the restoration process I remarked to Roger that I thought this hole would be very difficult off the tee, for the reasons you point out.  However, Roger's response was that he did not think it would be if you played from the "correct" set of tees.  Having played the hole for two years now, I agree with Roger.  The principal difficulty off the tee is that the safe driving (tee-ball) lane is very narrow, given the trees on the far left and and the slope of the fairway left to right.  Obviously, you have to play this hole a number of times to get the feel for it.  Once is certainly not enough.  Carl  

We played the blue tees.  Any idea how far it is to that best layup place.

The whites at under 5900 are a bit shortish for the old ego.  The blues were maybe a bit longish.  Aha, ya'll need a set of aqua tees!

Well, in fact we do have a rated and sloped Blue-White hybrid course that might suit you and Brent:

Carolina Golf Club
Blue/White Hybrid Course
Front 9: 3,168 yds., par 36; Back 9: 3,001 yds., par 35; Total: 6,169 yds., par 71
Rating: 69.2     Slope: 130

Hole 1   473   White            Hole 10   371   White   
Hole 2   321   White            Hole 11   376   BLUE
Hole 3   201   BLUE                         Hole 12   125   BLUE
Hole 4   382   White            Hole 13   470   BLUE
Hole 5   377   BLUE                         Hole 14   351   BLUE
Hole 6   388   BLUE                         Hole 15   403   White
Hole 7   368   White            Hole 16   166   White
Hole 8   505   BLUE                         Hole 17   357   White
Hole 9   153   White            Hole 18   382   BLUE

[When I posted the spacing did not come out well on the card above, but I think you can figure it out.]  Also, we have a rated and sloped green/white hybrid course to suit others for whom green (forward) might be too short overall, and white a little two long.  For the most part, we shortened from blue to white and white to green to accommodate relatively shorter hitters off the tees, if you get what I mean.  With the Ross tees being a blue/black hybrid, we have seven rated and sloped "tees" off of four sets of tee markers.

Off hand I do not know how far it is from any of the tees to the "best lay-up place" on 11. I'd guess 220 from the blues, but it would play shorter because you are downhill off the tee.  I play it from the whites with a three wood, which works out fine for me, although sometimes I'll roll part way down the hill.

[Brent Hutto]

Carl,

Thanks for posting the hybrid-course specs. Almost exactly what I'd been thinking of in terms of which holes it makes sense to move back (from the whites I played) and which holes it does not. For instance the third hole is tricky enough trying to play with an iron, moving back to 201 yards makes it tougher but it's incrementally tougher rather than bringing a high chance of disaster into play (which for instance would be true on sixteen from the blues). And so forth.

Roger,

I'd probably walk it again left to myself but could easily be talked into a cart ride, too. And now that Carl has identified the hybrid course for me I'm itching to give it go.

[rjsimper]

Having played with Brent, I think the 11th hole worked out well for all of us based on the tees played. Brad and I played the tips, Brent played white.

We contemplated Driver and 3w, and in the end concluded that 3w was the proper club. We each hit average shots, a bit too far right, and both ended up around the crest of the hill with 140 yards to the green.

Brent was faced with a similar decision and opted for Driver, which he hit very well and ended up much further down toward the bottom of the hill. I am sure he had a much shorter club in.

For both tees, the option was to lay back or to hit over the hill. And in both cases, I think there is some possibility that a well hit Driver might run through the fairway.

[Bill_McBride]

More commentary from Carl Johnson:

From Bill McBride: "I'm not sure what needs to be done to #11, it may be just a case of playing it enough to know how to deal with the wetland.  There needs to be some sort of hazard down there, or the flat bellies would just bash it the bottom and flip a wedge up to the green."  In my experience this is not going to happen.  The "wetlands," although not wet now, is still a hazard (various wetland plants).  I do not know anyone who would intentionally try to hit to bottom and risk going into the hazard.  Long hitters, including the Quail Hollow qualifiers that I saw, try to lay up at the top of the hill, from which spot they still have relatively short shot to the green.

Carl, I was actually thinking more of the shorter hitters who CAN'T consistently drive to the end of the flat fairway, before the steep drop off.  The seemingly irreconcilable challenges are to (1) challenge the bomb and gouge crowd who want to drive to the bottom, and (2) provide the short knockers a lay up that isn't going to typically run down the hill into trouble.

Bill, I think that the trick is to play from the "correct" set of tees.  Early in the restoration process I remarked to Roger that I thought this hole would be very difficult off the tee, for the reasons you point out.  However, Roger's response was that he did not think it would be if you played from the "correct" set of tees.  Having played the hole for two years now, I agree with Roger.  The principal difficulty off the tee is that the safe driving (tee-ball) lane is very narrow, given the trees on the far left and and the slope of the fairway left to right.  Obviously, you have to play this hole a number of times to get the feel for it.  Once is certainly not enough.  Carl  

We played the blue tees.  Any idea how far it is to that best layup place.

The whites at under 5900 are a bit shortish for the old ego.  The blues were maybe a bit longish.  Aha, ya'll need a set of aqua tees!

Well, in fact we do have a rated and sloped Blue-White hybrid course that might suit you and Brent:

Carolina Golf Club
Blue/White Hybrid Course
Front 9: 3,168 yds., par 36; Back 9: 3,001 yds., par 35; Total: 6,169 yds., par 71
Rating: 69.2     Slope: 130

Hole 1   473   White            Hole 10   371   White   
Hole 2   321   White            Hole 11   376   BLUE
Hole 3   201   BLUE                         Hole 12   125   BLUE
Hole 4   382   White            Hole 13   470   BLUE
Hole 5   377   BLUE                         Hole 14   351   BLUE
Hole 6   388   BLUE                         Hole 15   403   White
Hole 7   368   White            Hole 16   166   White
Hole 8   505   BLUE                         Hole 17   357   White
Hole 9   153   White            Hole 18   382   BLUE

[When I posted the spacing did not come out well on the card above, but I think you can figure it out.]  Also, we have a rated and sloped green/white hybrid course to suit others for whom green (forward) might be too short overall, and white a little two long.  For the most part, we shortened from blue to white and white to green to accommodate relatively shorter hitters off the tees, if you get what I mean.  With the Ross tees being a blue/black hybrid, we have seven rated and sloped "tees" off of four sets of tee markers.

Off hand I do not know how far it is from any of the tees to the "best lay-up place" on 11. I'd guess 220 from the blues, but it would play shorter because you are downhill off the tee.  I play it from the whites with a three wood, which works out fine for me, although sometimes I'll roll part way down the hill.

The blue/white hybrid with a 130 slope sounds perfect!  Next time.......

[Brent Hutto]

Having played with Brent, I think the 11th hole worked out well for all of us based on the tees played. Brad and I played the tips, Brent played white.

We contemplated Driver and 3w, and in the end concluded that 3w was the proper club. We each hit average shots, a bit too far right, and both ended up around the crest of the hill with 140 yards to the green.

Brent was faced with a similar decision and opted for Driver, which he hit very well and ended up much further down toward the bottom of the hill. I am sure he had a much shorter club in.

For both tees, the option was to lay back or to hit over the hill. And in both cases, I think there is some possibility that a well hit Driver might run through the fairway.

I had a bit less than pitching wedge distance (97 yards) off the downslope so I probably could have hit sand wedge. I tried a choked down PW and pulled it into the right bunker. My impression was if I had really nailed the driver it had a slight chance of rolling into trouble but probably not. That's as a lefty, if I had it pushed it left where the trouble was closer, that shot tends not to go as far. And if I pulled it a bit it might have gone further but there was a bit more room over there on the line you and Brad hit. For a righty I think driver from the whites might be risky. At my home course where the turf tends to be slightly heavier (wetter) I would always lay back to the ridge to avoid the dread downhill wedge off a damp lie. Not an issue at CGC.

[Carl Johnson]

Having played with Brent, I think the 11th hole worked out well for all of us based on the tees played. Brad and I played the tips, Brent played white.

We contemplated Driver and 3w, and in the end concluded that 3w was the proper club. We each hit average shots, a bit too far right, and both ended up around the crest of the hill with 140 yards to the green.

Brent was faced with a similar decision and opted for Driver, which he hit very well and ended up much further down toward the bottom of the hill. I am sure he had a much shorter club in.

For both tees, the option was to lay back or to hit over the hill. And in both cases, I think there is some possibility that a well hit Driver might run through the fairway.

. . . At my home course where the turf tends to be slightly heavier (wetter) I would always lay back to the ridge to avoid the dread downhill wedge off a damp lie. Not an issue at CGC.

Brent, I believe that honesty is always the best policy.  A "damp lie" was not an issue at Carolina Sunday.  When we have rain, it's probably just the same as at your club.  We are human (and the ground is clay).  Carl

[Bruce Wellmon]

From Bill McBride:  "I admired the nest of bunkers that separated the 6th and 7th fairways and were in play on both holes, sort of like the famous Church Pew bunkers at Oakmont."  Interesting how, from the 6th tee, you can see all of these bunkers and point them out to visitors, tell them that on the 7th tee they will not be able to see them, again on the 7th tee remind them that they are still there, and yet the visitors still hit into the bunkers.

The more I play Carolina (thru recriprical of my home club and Dixie Cup), the more I am intrigued with hole #7. The visible and hidden bunkers off the tee. AND dealing with the false front on the approach. I think the appraoch to 7 green is the most difficult shot on the course. And then the green. On 6 tee, I showed Jamey the false front on 7. And as I did on my last round, I again made as mess of the approach, with a subsequent chip from well down the hill. To a pin placement that beat me like a drum.

[rjsimper]

That sounds about right - you hit driver, hit a great shot, and were rewarded with a shorter approach to the green. We played slightly more conservatively and were faced with a slightly tougher shot to the green.

Had we hit drivers and you hit 3w, I think it's safe to say our positions would have been reversed...which is a good thing.

Having played with Brent, I think the 11th hole worked out well for all of us based on the tees played. Brad and I played the tips, Brent played white.

We contemplated Driver and 3w, and in the end concluded that 3w was the proper club. We each hit average shots, a bit too far right, and both ended up around the crest of the hill with 140 yards to the green.

Brent was faced with a similar decision and opted for Driver, which he hit very well and ended up much further down toward the bottom of the hill. I am sure he had a much shorter club in.

For both tees, the option was to lay back or to hit over the hill. And in both cases, I think there is some possibility that a well hit Driver might run through the fairway.

I had a bit less than pitching wedge distance (97 yards) off the downslope so I probably could have hit sand wedge. I tried a choked down PW and pulled it into the right bunker. My impression was if I had really nailed the driver it had a slight chance of rolling into trouble but probably not. That's as a lefty, if I had it pushed it left where the trouble was closer, that shot tends not to go as far. And if I pulled it a bit it might have gone further but there was a bit more room over there on the line you and Brad hit. For a righty I think driver from the whites might be risky. At my home course where the turf tends to be slightly heavier (wetter) I would always lay back to the ridge to avoid the dread downhill wedge off a damp lie. Not an issue at CGC.

[Ed Oden]

Some very interesting comments on Carolina.  I'll add my thoughts on a few things that have been brought up.

I think Carolina is a fantastic walking course.  I never take a cart unless required to in a tournament.  There are some hills but, in my opinion, they are no big deal except for walking back up to the clubhouse after #18 on a hot summer day.  And the proximity of greens/tees makes for a short walk other than from #2 green to #3 tee.

The front left pin position on #7 Sunday was tough if you missed in the wrong spot (i.e., above the hole or off the green to the left).  And even then, you could play safe with your chip or lag putt.  But if you were aggressive and misjudged, you were toast.  I almost always play my approach to the middle of that green no matter where the pin is located.

I really like #11.  Part of that is the perspective of knowing that it was a mess from both an agronomic and playability standpoint before the restoration.  Only a very small percentage of members that I know intentionally try to hit their tee shots beyond the crest of the hill.  Rather, the smart play is to get your ball on the flat part of the fairway at the top of the hill.  From there, you will have a longer approach shot, but most likely avoid a big number.  I should add that the 11th green is easily the most deceptive on the course.  Certain putts there will appear to defy the laws of gravity.  You have to trust your experience rather than what your eyes see.

Here are a couple of other things I love about Carolina that I have probably mentioned before:  

My favorite spot on the course is area where the 14th and 18th tees are located.  From that location you can catch at least a glimpse of every hole on the course other than #9, which is hidden by the clubhouse.  And sometimes you can see as many as 15 flags from there.  That spot connects you with the whole course like few other places I have seen anywhere.  

If you are observant and thinking in advance, you can come pretty close to determining the pin position for almost every hole by combining what you see from the fairway or tee with what you can see from an earlier point on the course.  

Thanks again to everyone for a great event!  I thought Kris' talk at Belle Acres Saturday night was particularly interesting.  

Ed

[Roger Wolfe]

Some very interesting comments on Carolina.  I'll add my thoughts on a few things that have been brought up.

I think Carolina is a fantastic walking course.  I never take a cart unless required to in a tournament.  There are some hills but, in my opinion, they are no big deal except for walking back up to the clubhouse after #18 on a hot summer day.  And the proximity of greens/tees makes for a short walk other than from #2 green to #3 tee.

I am going to disagree with my good friend (and member) Mr. Oden regarding the walk at CGC.  Yes… the tees are close to the greens.  Yes… the vistas are beautiful.  But it is in no way an easy walk and anyone “unfit” should not attempt to make the trek.  This fact, however, shouldn’t be held against the quality and design of the golf course!

#1… delightful
#2… you have to walk around the lake to get from the green to the fairway
#2 green to #3 tee… 300 yards up hill
#3… down a steep hill then up a steep hill to the green
#4… down a hill then up a steep hill to get to the fairway
#5… down a hill then up a steep hill to get to the green
#6… down a hill then up a hill to get to the fairway
#7… up a steep hill to get from the fairway to the green
#8… down a steep hill off the tee then up a hill to get to the fairway
#10… down a steep hill then up a hill to get to the green
#11…  down a steep hill then up a hill to get to the green
#12… delightful
#13… down a steep hill then up a steep hill to the fairway
#14… delightful
#15… down a steep hill then up a steep hill to the green
#16… down a steep hill to the green
#17… up a hill to the fairway
#18… down hill all the way… brutal walk up a steep hill to the clubhouse

As a two hundred plus pounder with destroyed soccer/marathon knees… it’s tough.
It’s great exercise and a joy to walk… but it is in no way what I would call “easy.”
Mimosa and Gaston might as well be salt flats compared to CGC.

[Bruce Wellmon]

Some very interesting comments on Carolina.  I'll add my thoughts on a few things that have been brought up.

I think Carolina is a fantastic walking course.  I never take a cart unless required to in a tournament.  There are some hills but, in my opinion, they are no big deal except for walking back up to the clubhouse after #18 on a hot summer day.  And the proximity of greens/tees makes for a short walk other than from #2 green to #3 tee.

I am going to disagree with my good friend (and member) Mr. Oden regarding the walk at CGC.  Yes… the tees are close to the greens.  Yes… the vistas are beautiful.  But it is in no way an easy walk and anyone “unfit” should not attempt to make the trek.  This fact, however, shouldn’t be held against the quality and design of the golf course!

#1… delightful
#2… you have to walk around the lake to get from the green to the fairway
#2 green to #3 tee… 300 yards up hill
#3… down a steep hill then up a steep hill to the green
#4… down a hill then up a steep hill to get to the fairway
#5… down a hill then up a steep hill to get to the green
#6… down a hill then up a hill to get to the fairway
#7… up a steep hill to get from the fairway to the green
#8… down a steep hill off the tee then up a hill to get to the fairway
#10… down a steep hill then up a hill to get to the green
#11…  down a steep hill then up a hill to get to the green
#12… delightful
#13… down a steep hill then up a steep hill to the fairway
#14… delightful
#15… down a steep hill then up a steep hill to the green
#16… down a steep hill to the green
#17… up a hill to the fairway
#18… down hill all the way… brutal walk up a steep hill to the clubhouse

As a two hundred plus pounder with destroyed soccer/marathon knees… it’s tough.
It’s great exercise and a joy to walk… but it is in no way what I would call “easy.”
Mimosa and Gaston might as well be salt flats compared to CGC.

And that's only 17 holes.....................

[JC Jones]

Some very interesting comments on Carolina.  I'll add my thoughts on a few things that have been brought up.

I think Carolina is a fantastic walking course.  I never take a cart unless required to in a tournament.  There are some hills but, in my opinion, they are no big deal except for walking back up to the clubhouse after #18 on a hot summer day.  And the proximity of greens/tees makes for a short walk other than from #2 green to #3 tee.

I am going to disagree with my good friend (and member) Mr. Oden regarding the walk at CGC.  Yes… the tees are close to the greens.  Yes… the vistas are beautiful.  But it is in no way an easy walk and anyone “unfit” should not attempt to make the trek.  This fact, however, shouldn’t be held against the quality and design of the golf course!

#1… delightful
#2… you have to walk around the lake to get from the green to the fairway
#2 green to #3 tee… 300 yards up hill
#3… down a steep hill then up a steep hill to the green
#4… down a hill then up a steep hill to get to the fairway
#5… down a hill then up a steep hill to get to the green
#6… down a hill then up a hill to get to the fairway
#7… up a steep hill to get from the fairway to the green
#8… down a steep hill off the tee then up a hill to get to the fairway
#10… down a steep hill then up a hill to get to the green
#11…  down a steep hill then up a hill to get to the green
#12… delightful
#13… down a steep hill then up a steep hill to the fairway
#14… delightful
#15… down a steep hill then up a steep hill to the green
#16… down a steep hill to the green
#17… up a hill to the fairway
#18… down hill all the way… brutal walk up a steep hill to the clubhouse

As a two hundred plus pounder with destroyed soccer/marathon knees… it’s tough.
It’s great exercise and a joy to walk… but it is in no way what I would call “easy.”
Mimosa and Gaston might as well be salt flats compared to CGC.

And that's only 17 holes.....................

That is funny

Also, consider Ed is in great shape, better shape than me and I am half his age.

[rjsimper]

I'd call it 18 walkable, but not 36 walkable

Sure it can be done....but if you put me on that back porch with a drink and a group of friends after playing 18, and someone says "LET'S GO WALK 18 MORE!" I might punt.

I can see why, if the old 11-14 were not great, people would just skip from 10 to 15 if playing casually or poorly.

I also think some fun cross-country golf could be played at Carolina.

[Roger Wolfe]

I'd call it 18 walkable, but not 36 walkable

Sure it can be done....but if you put me on that back porch with a drink and a group of friends after playing 18, and someone says "LET'S GO WALK 18 MORE!" I might punt.

I can see why, if the old 11-14 were not great, people would just skip from 10 to 15 if playing casually or poorly.

I also think some fun cross-country golf could be played at Carolina.

We actually considered a rerouting when we reopened to get the tees
even closer to the greens.

#1 - #1
#2 - #2
#3 - #10
#4 - #14
#5 - #5
#6 - #6
#7 - #7
#8 - #8
#9 - #9
#10 - #3
#11 - #4
#12 - #15
#13 - #16
#14 - #17
#15 - #11
#16 - #12
#17 - #13
#18 - #18

It eliminates the long walk from current #2 to #3 and it eliminates
the current #15 crossover getting from #4 green to to #5 tee.  We
would be par 37… par 34.  Other than that it seems reasonable.

[Bill_McBride]

I'd call it 18 walkable, but not 36 walkable

Sure it can be done....but if you put me on that back porch with a drink and a group of friends after playing 18, and someone says "LET'S GO WALK 18 MORE!" I might punt.

I can see why, if the old 11-14 were not great, people would just skip from 10 to 15 if playing casually or poorly.

I also think some fun cross-country golf could be played at Carolina.

We actually considered a rerouting when we reopened to get the tees
even closer to the greens.

#1 - #1
#2 - #2
#3 - #10
#4 - #14
#5 - #5
#6 - #6
#7 - #7
#8 - #8
#9 - #9
#10 - #3
#11 - #4
#12 - #15
#13 - #16
#14 - #17
#15 - #11
#16 - #12
#17 - #13
#18 - #18

It eliminates the long walk from current #2 to #3 and it eliminates
the current #15 crossover getting from #4 green to to #5 tee.  We
would be par 37… par 34.  Other than that it seems reasonable.

The only problem looks to be the 250 yard hike from current 17th green to current 11th tee.  Since Pacific Dunes opened, back to back par 3's are no longer a problem (current #9 and #3 become #9 and #10).

[Carl Johnson]

I'd call it 18 walkable, but not 36 walkable

. . .

Since Pacific Dunes opened, back to back par 3's are no longer a problem (current #9 and #3 become #9 and #10).

It is also not a problem because no. 3 is really a par 4 anyway!

[Greg Ross]

As a CGC member, I hate that I couldn't participate. Not to take anything away from Roger and Ed and all the work they did in making this Dixie Cup the one to set the bar, but let's not forget Matthew Wharton who makes all the grass and sand at CGC the amazing place that we all appreciate. He is a rock star in the superintendent world. We are fortunate to have he, Roger and members like Ed to make our home course special. Hope to see you all out there again soon.
Greg

[Matt Wharton]

Gee Greg, I guess all I can say is thanks for the wonderful vote of confidence.  Seriously, I wanted to take a moment and say I am pleased all the Dixie Cup participants enjoyed themselves in our little slice of paradise.  I took the opportunity to have breakfast with the group Sunday morning at CGC and it was nice to get the opportunity to meet some of the guys and talk a little golf.  I spent a bit of time last night reviewing some of the earlier posts in this thread out of curiosity to see how CGC and the other great courses in this year's Dixie Cup were received.  Obviously it makes one tremendously proud to hear others find their course to be so favorable.  Looking at Ed's pics from June when the fescue was unbelievalbe almost made me cry again over this summer from hell we had this year.  To see where CGC is today compared to when I first saw the golf course over 5 years ago is truly an unbelievable transformation.  I really don't think it is possible for anyone to appreciate it fully without having seen the transformation first hand. 

[Michael Whitaker]

Matt,

Glad to see you posting here. I was very impressed with the firm conditions of your course... especially the collars and surrounds. It is so much fun to play a course when the ball bounces, as it opens up an array of possible shots that cannot even be considered on other courses.

Congratulations on creating a nearly ideal playing surface!

[Matt Wharton]

Michael,

Thanks for the kind words.  The firmness of the golf course is something I take very seriously.  Of course we are blessed at CGC with a variety of factors that assist including great surface drainage and these Piedmont clay soils.  They can get very hard when there is little rain.  When we topdress greens we do so through the entire "fill pad" and we only irrigate when absolutely necessary.  I always tell the members if we are not firm it is because of something Mother Nature did.  Funny thing is we received over an inch of rain last night and are restricted to the paths for the day 

[Bill_McBride]

As a CGC member, I hate that I couldn't participate. Not to take anything away from Roger and Ed and all the work they did in making this Dixie Cup the one to set the bar, but let's not forget Matthew Wharton who makes all the grass and sand at CGC the amazing place that we all appreciate. He is a rock star in the superintendent world. We are fortunate to have he, Roger and members like Ed to make our home course special. Hope to see you all out there again soon.
Greg

Greg, glad to see you (and other members) being so supportive of Matthew and the fine work he and his crew do maintaining your golf course.  It is truly a prize!

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