CC of Spartanburg Photo Tour (hole #18 posted)

[Bruce Wellmon]

Bruce,

#11 looks like a feast or famine sort of a hole.  I would guess that there may have been some discussions about removing the "left goalpost" tree.  What's your thought on it?  I'm an inveterate chopper, but it's hard to tell from a photo.

I need to add a photo from the center and/or the right side of the fairway to illustrate more clearly. Next round. 
On a hole of this distance, I am not opposed to the tree.
The more I play the hole (and I can't drive the green by any stretch) I hit to the center of the green regardless of where the pin is. The green is that tricky.
It is a strategic choice of what club to hit, that you can realistically get it to the center or right side of the fairway.
Or bomb it to the green.

[Bruce Wellmon]

#12, par 4, 339 yards.
I  just love what Kris Spence did here with the green complex.
Another risk/reward hole.
The tee shot. Note the "valley" between the left side of the fariway and the green. It is deep.
The line for most is the white flowering tree in the distance right center as the fairway slopes right to left.

The approach from the fairway.

Get left and anything rolls to a severe sidehill lie. From the bottom of the valley it is a blind but short shot from the rough.

Side view.

From the back of the green. The pin in the picture is my favorite hole location. A back tongue of the green. Hit the center of the green and just feed it back to this small area.

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

Bruce -

Great thread!  I'm constantly logging back in to see your updates.  Not sure if anyone asked, but are there any before photos?  How about any historical photos of specific holes (e.g. photos from originaly layout)?  It would provide a neat insight into what was there before.  Either way, this is another example of what makes this site so special and unique... thanks again!

Wayne

[Bruce Wellmon]

Bruce -

Great thread!  I'm constantly logging back in to see your updates.  Not sure if anyone asked, but are there any before photos?  How about any historical photos of specific holes (e.g. photos from originaly layout)?  It would provide a neat insight into what was there before.  Either way, this is another example of what makes this site so special and unique... thanks again!

Wayne

I personally do not have before pictures and have asked the pro if he does. Perhaps Kris Spence does.
There is a great aerial photo from way back when in the clubhouse. I will try to take a picture of the picture.
Interestingly enough, google maps satellite version shows the course BEFORE the redo. If you care to look, the physical address is
2500 Country Club Road
Spartanburg, South Carolina, 29302

Can someone educate me how to "copy"  what you see on google maps?

[Ed Oden]

Can someone educate me how to "copy"  what you see on google maps?

Bruce, once you have the google maps image on your screen the way you want it, save it to your hard drive as a jpg (this will differ a little depending on which browser you use), then upload it to your photobucket page just like you would any other picture you want to post.  You can do the same thing with google earth if you have downloaded that program.

By the way, CCofS looks fantastic.  Hopefully I can make it down sometime this year to see for myself.

Best wishes,

Ed

[Bruce Wellmon]

The run of shorter holes is over. This one is a brute.
#13, par 4, 472 yards on essentially flat land.
The tee shot.

From the fairway. Note the large tree on the left and another further up on the right.

The problem is if your tee shot strays too far left. Then a hook around the tree is required.

But there is a bunker about 60 -70 yards short of the green to catch that shot. As GCA member Brent Hutto put it, "I think Spence is telling you not to hit it there." To a well bunkered slightly elevated green.

The green.

[Bruce Wellmon]

#14,par 3, 162 yards.
If you are going to score well, the next 3 holes give you that chance.

View from short and left. Note the collection areas long and left.

From the right side of the green.

From behind.

[Bruce Wellmon]

Hole 15, par 5, 508 yards.
The tee shot.

Second shot from the right side of the fairway.

The center of the fairway gives a better view.

Third shot.

To a well protected green.

[Bruce Wellmon]

Hole #16, par 4, 333 yards.
A fairly straightfoward hole.
A blind tee shot.

The approach.

4 bunkers total.

From the side.

Looking back.

[Bruce Wellmon]

#17, par 5, 491 yards.
A love it or hate it hole.
The tee shot from the back tees.

The tee shot from a shorter tee allows a clearer picture of the dogleg left corner.

A view of the corner and the set of 3 cross bunkers that discourage the big hitters from hooking it around the large trees at the corner.

The play from a short and left drive is clearly dictated by the trees.

A blind second shot.

A layup second leaves this third shot.

Short of the green.

Lots of movement to this green. Love the "half punchbowl" section.

From behind the green.

[Bruce Wellmon]

318, par 4, 364 yards.
A very difficult driving hole, at least for me. A hook is simply required. A slight dogleg left over the crest of the hill.
From the tips.

From a shorter tee. Another large tree lurks.

From the bunker the correct line is visible.

A downhill lie to an uphill green is quite possible.

The fairway also slopes left to right further pushing most drives to the right rough.

From the right side, the second shot.

From the center.



A center front punchbowl is somewhat visible.

From behind.

Totals for the back nine, par 37, 3406 yards.

[Bruce Wellmon]

In summary, I think CC of Spartanburg is a classic.

I congratulate Kris Spence's design and Golf Course Superintendant Harold Burns' work.
My thanks also to Director of Golf Tom McAllister, Head Golf Professional TJ Walsh, Travis Simcheck, and Club GM Andy Gustafson.

[Jeff Shelman]

This is what I love about this site.

I knew exactly zero about CC of Spartanburg prior to a couple of days ago. But then I see all these pictures and say, "that would be a fun place to play, but it looks like a place that would be really fun to play all the time."

While there is lots of talk on here about the usual suspect courses, I really like seeing and learning about places that most people don't know much about.

[Steve Kline]

Great photos. This looks a like a really fun course to play. The 274 yard uphill par 4 reminds me a little bit of Gullane - can't remember the hole number (3 or 4 I think) or which course though.

[Chris Buie]

This is a really well done thread.  Some really interesting terrain, bunkers and greens going on there.
Does the course drain ok?

[Bruce Wellmon]

This is a really well done thread.  Some really interesting terrain, bunkers and greens going on there.
Does the course drain ok?

7 fairway has always been the low point. The fairway was raised a few feet, if I recall, and drianage there adressed during the renovation. Overall the course has been playing rather firm to me this late winter/now early spring.

[Tyler Kearns]

This is what I love about this site.

I knew exactly zero about CC of Spartanburg prior to a couple of days ago. But then I see all these pictures and say, "that would be a fun place to play, but it looks like a place that would be really fun to play all the time."

While there is lots of talk on here about the usual suspect courses, I really like seeing and learning about places that most people don't know much about.

Jeff,

My sentiments exactly, these posts are great finds.
I really like the ridges running parallel to the line of play in the greens, a feature that I don't see enough of, and there are a few good examples here.

TK

[Criss Titschinger]

This is what I love about this site.

I knew exactly zero about CC of Spartanburg prior to a couple of days ago. But then I see all these pictures and say, "that would be a fun place to play, but it looks like a place that would be really fun to play all the time."

While there is lots of talk on here about the usual suspect courses, I really like seeing and learning about places that most people don't know much about.

+1

I, too, enjoy the places you don't hear and see a lot about. This thread was a perfect example. Thanks for sharing!

[Bruce Wellmon]

Thanks Guys.
CC Spartanburg would fit in nicely if there is ever a Spartanburg/Greenville/Asheville Dixie Cup.

[Lynn_Shackelford]

Just love the dormat grass, it brings so much to the pictures.  Is this a Ross course?  The Cornish/Whitten book doesn't list it as such.

[Bruce Wellmon]

Just love the dormat grass, it brings so much to the pictures.  Is this a Ross course?  The Cornish/Whitten book doesn't list it as such.

Final thoughts on Spartanburg.
Kris Spence told me, "Bruce, I did a very exhaustive search for record of the original design at CC of Spartanburg and came up empty handed.  The club historian showed me a reference to a newspaper article mentioning Ross' involvement on 9 holes the front side.  I never saw the article and could not verify its existence at the library.  The front side routing could certainly be Ross or several other classic era GCA's."

The club has always been at the same location but was originally named Spartanburg CC. The depression of the 1920's and 1930's hit. The club apparently failed and was reborn as CC of Spartanburg.
My question is, other than the Tuft's Archive in Pinehurst, are there any other options to further research the question of who designed CC Spartanburg?

[Bruce Wellmon]

Mike Whitaker was kind enough to foward this article to me today.

http://www.thestate.com/2011/07/03/1883813/club-rediscovering-history.html

Photo slides
http://www.thestate.com/2011/07/01/1882805/the-country-club-of-spartanburg.html

[BCowan]

Bruce,

   Great photo tour and description.  The green complexes look fantastic.  Bunkers blend in well and add definition.  These are the courses I wish there were more of. 

[BCowan]

I just played CCS the other day, I thought I would add to this wonderful photo tour.  The course is very solid.  Short par 5's, really good greens with solid internal contours.  Love the 1st green, very Raynor like.  There are many great short Par 4's on both sides.  Greens were very true and running around 11, little soft.  I loved the finishing hole, 360ish from the back tee with nice elevation change in the fairway leading to uphill and down hill lies with a very narrow green with bold contours for its size.  If kept firm it would provide a very challenging finish even with a Sw-Pw 2nd shot.  17 is the only hole that I don't get.  The trees on the left block the left half of the fairway for the tee shot.  Hit a solid drive down the middle, hit the tree.  I don't mind the shaping aspect on #5, put on #17 unless your on right fairway, you are blocked by another tree to the left of the fairway.  

[Bruce Wellmon]

BC, Glad you enjoyed your visit. (Let's hope Roger Wolfe doesn't see your comments on 17. He, too, is not a fan and wants to bring out the chainsaw).
      There is a yardage marker in the fairway on 17. I can't remember if it's 210 or 220 yards from the green. If your tee shot doesn't reach that point, 17 plays driver/3 wood, 7 iron and wedge. However, I think it is a wonderful course.