Golfer's View from 17th Tee

Approaching the 17th hole, after passing through a bit of forest, the player sees a tree lined fairway that rises from the golf tee, requiring an uphill tee shot to this 5 par golf hole. Along the right side of the golf fairway, three large sequential sand traps not only frame the golf course fairway, but also guard the spiff of land that is the shortcut to the golf green. The 275 yard hitter that also hits it straight can fly these golf traps, and if the woods on the right are avoided, have a long second shot by the right side of the two trees that protect the golf green, leaving an eagle putt.

The mere mortal, however, will see the small bunker in the center of the fairway, and hit towards it, or to its left. This much safer shot then leaves a layup by the left side of the two guardian trees, resulting in a pitch into the green on stroke 3 of between 75 and 125 yards. Leaving the layup too short will bring the above mentioned trees into play, blocking the green.

The green is guarded by a large sand bunker in its front, with another to its right. A third small one, at the center rear of the green, helps frame the shot. Yet more sand, some 60 yards short of the green on the left side of the fairway, is more a directional trap than a hazard routinely found. A large green, with a bit of an hourglass shape, is highlighted by a ridge running through its center from back to front, making it important to locate the approach on the same side of the green as the cup. Failure to do so will make for a long, difficult putt.

Many of those familiar with the Carolina Colours golf course find this split fairway hole its most intriguing. Pretty, and with many different playing options, scores ranging from eagle to double bogey are all a real possibility. Played conservatively, however, par should be achievable. The long knocker, however, will have trouble resisting the temptation to shave about 40 yards off the hole, with an eagle putt the reward of success, even though failure will be costly.

Black: 509    Blue: 491    White: 480     Gold: 465     Red: 381

Golfer's View of 17th Green

View of 16th Green

As the golfer approaches the 16th tee, it is immediately apparent this little hole, the shortest on the course, sits in a unique environment.  The tee and green of this 3 par are surrounded by woods, and the tees and greens are almost islands within the wetland complex of Brice Creek.

All tees except the red require the tee ball to cross a wide tributary of the Creek, with the green sitting some 30 yards over the branch.   The green sits well above the level of the water, so any ball short of the green will likely feed back into a little ravine the architect has kindly created to keep balls from rolling back into the unplayable creek bed.  There are also collection areas both left and right of the green, so most balls missing the green will require a pitch from an area sitting sell below the green.  The green is further protected by a sand bunker just off the right center of the green, and two more bunkers to the left.

The red tee, however, is not even visible from this tee complex.  Rather, a ride through and over the woods and wetlands to the right brings the player to the red tee box, which actually approaches the green from what is the right side of the green from the primary tee complex.  This location removes the need of carrying the water for those traumatized by forced carries.  From this tee, the same bunkers mentioned above change their relevance, appearing on the left side and long.

The green itself (from the main tee complex) is about 35 paces wide, and 25 paces deep.  From the red tee, of course, the green becomes long and thin.   With a ridge running back to front near the center of the green (from the main tee complex) and with a green that generally slopes back to front, the putts are not hard to read, but putting the tee ball on the half of the green where the pin is located will greatly enhance the chance of a one putt hole.

Many players will hit wedge from this tee, which should yield plenty of birdies to those that keep the carry over water out of their swing thoughts.  However, missing the green may well change that realistic birdie to a bogey, as it will be no sure thing to get up and down from the collection areas or bunkers that surround this smallish green.

Black:  130   Blue:   114   White:  103    Gold: 83   Red:  76

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