View from 7th Tee

After again passing through and over a small, wooded wetland, the tee complex for the 7th hole, a par 4, rises to the right of of the cart path. From the tee, there is a clear view of the entire hole, including the bunker complex that surrounds the green. By now, the player is becoming accustomed to the rolling fairways of Carolina Colours. On this hole, the fairway gently rolls downward from the tee, and then back up to the landing area, while gently sloping from right towards the trees on the left.

The landing area is wide, guarded only by a sizable bunker on its right edge. Since the fairway slopes away from the bunker, the ideal tee shot is into the right side of the fairway, so the bunker can easily come into play. Driving over the bunker will not be an option for most players.

Once the tee ball is in play, the challenge of the hole becomes apparent. The right side of the green is guarded by a large bunker that extends from the edge of the center of the green at an angle away from the green, some 40 yards down the fairway. The right rear is guarded by a small bunker. Of most concern, however, is the small bunker sitting in the fairway about 25 yards short of the green. This bunker must be carried, unless one can thread a bouncing ball through a narrow opening onto the right side of the green. This bunker is why a tee ball on the right side of the fairway is advantageous.

Once the green is reached, the challenge is not over. There will be few level putts on #7. A ridge runs from the right center of the green, turning to the left front. While the green generally slopes back to front and right to left, this ridge creates some low pockets, particularly on the left central portion of the green. Many putts will require the difficult read of up, then down, with break as well. As with many of the greens at Carolina Colours, the pin placement will make a great deal of difference. I believe it is safe to say there will be more three putt than one putt rounds for the average player, as getting the approach shot close to the hole will often be a challenge.

This seemingly simple hole will likely play harder than it looks. It is long enough to require two well struck balls to reach the green in regulation; par will be difficult from any of the bunkers. Any lapse in concentration on the greens will make 3 putts a likely result. Birdies will be rare, while any player leaving this hole with a par will be content. And seniors and ladies beware, this is the longest 4 par on the course from the up tees, by far.

Black: 414 Blue: 402 White: 385 Gold: 381 Red: 327

View of 7th Green

6th Golf Hole View from Tee

After emerging from another short  ride through the woods and over a wetland area, the slightly elevated tee of the 6th hole at the Carolina Colours Golf Club is immediately before you. The tee complex, with a pond to its left and  front , gives a straighforward view of this long 3 par. The pond is not generally in play, and the fairway, with its rolling berm on the right and a gentle slope inward on its left, creates a bowl like effect, funnelling balls landing short of the green but a bit off line toward the center of the fairway.

The green, one of the widest on the course, offers an inviting target. A sizable bunker on the right front provides the only hazard, but there are steep inclines away from the green right, left and rear.   The gentle slope from the front of the green to the low collection area about 40 yards short of the green is quite playable, however.

The green itself generally slopes back to front and right to left, but the right front feeds to the front right, towards the bunker. Shots into the heart of the green will tend to feed left, however, making a pin position on the right side the toughest to approach, with the bunker and the natural slope of most of the green working against the player.

A pretty hole, with no trickery at all.   Most players will hit a wood off the tee,   but even if a bit short,  par is quite feasible from the front.  A shot the proper distance that is left or right, however, will leave a much more difficult pitch, even if the bunker is avoided. The smart play is to take half a club less than may be ideal to get to the pin, realizing that just short of the green, or on its first third, keeps par clearly in sight.  Typical teeing lengths are:

Black:  219   Blue:  210   White:  194    Gold:  182   Red:  112

6th Golf Hole View of Green

5th Golf Hole View from Tee

As the player crosses Waterscape Way on the way to the 5th tee, the first man made water hazard comes immediately into view. This lake extends across the fairway in front of all tees other than the Red, making for an attractive vista, but this portion of the lake does not come into play for anything other than a topped drive. However, the lake extends the length of the fairway on the right, so a sliced drive from a right handed player will likely be wet.

A medium length par 4, accuracy, not distance, is what is required. Hole 4 is the first full dog leg on the course, as the fairway continues the front nine loop back towards the clubhouse by turning left at the landing area. A large bunker guards the left corner, discouraging one from trying to cut the corner, but only the longest of hitters will likely even reach the bunker. The fairway is generous, with some 60 yards between the water and the trees on the left, with as much as 45 yards of fairway to work with. The dog leg is framed by a rolling bern on the far side, as this hole runs down the perimeter of the Carolina Colours community.

A modest drive down the middle will leave 175 yards or less to the green, and will be 30 yards short of the corner bunker. The fairway gently rises from the landing area to the green, so an extra half club may be required. As one approaches the green, the fairway gently slopes right to left, feeding towards a large bunker on the left edge that runs with the fairway its last 40 yards. The good sized green, which also gently slopes back to front and right to left, is guarded on its right rear by another sand bunker. Grass swales collect balls on the right front and left side of the green, and there is a steep drop off behind the green.

This pretty hole should only trap the player with water phobia. Two solid shots are what is required. Be smart, hit the drive straight, aim towards the right half of the green on the approach, and two putt for par. Avoid the water off the tee and the left bunker on the second shot, and a successful finish to the hole is likely.

Black: 440 Blue: 389 White: 375 Gold: 364 Red: 262

Kenneth Kirkman, Carolina Colours Developer

5th Golf Hole View of Green

Preparing the Putting Green for Sod

Weather has continued to be unkind the past two weeks.  Two ferocious thunderstorms this past week both stopped work for most of the week, and caused wash outs that must be repaired this coming week.  It now appears unlikely that we will have sufficient grow in time to get the back 9 open this year, so we are throwing all resources into the front 9, and are also focusing on the practice facilities.

As can be seen from the photos accompanying this update, sod was laid this past week around the large putting/chipping green, following the completion of  its drainage, shaping and prepping.  The smaller warm up putting green has been shaped, and it’s construction will soon be completed, with sod to follow.

Good progress has been made on holes 10 through 12 the past weeks, with shaping, bunker work and sodding of features well advanced.  Shaping of holes 13 and 14 is nearly complete, and extensive work has been done on holes 17 and 18.  Shaping of holes 15 and 16 will now get priority attention.

Active weed control, insect control,  fertilization and mowing programs are in full swing on the front nine.  During the next few weeks some areas that are not growing in well, or which have proven erosion prone, will be sodded,  in prepartion for fall play.

We finally are hitting some hot, dry days at Carolina Colours, which should be great for grass growing.  Nothing could be better for our bermuda fairways and tees than a stretch of hot days and warm nights.

Ken M. Kirkman, Carolina Colours Developer

Sodding the Putting Green

4th Golf Hole - View from Tee

Walking to the slightly elevated tee of the 4th hole, the player sees that the golf course begins its front nine loop back to the clubhouse.  The first three holes are oriented to the southeast, while the 4th turns northward, bringing winter head winds into play as one hits down the tree lined fairway.   The wind will not be a welcome feature, as the tee ball on hole 4 is the one long, forced carry from a tee on the golf course.

By now, the player has become well acquainted with the wandering wetland that has twice been crossed.  Looking from this tee, you see it again crossing the fairway,  in some places as wide as 60 yards, with a tributary running from it, to its tee side, so that there is no lay up option.   Unless one’s tee shot is well hit, a penalty stroke is inevitable.  From the white tees, a ball need carry some 170 yards to safety.

There is a bunker guarding the right side of the fairway some 40 yards beyond the wetland crossing, but only the longest hitters will bring it into play.  For most of us, it serves as a useful visual tool to identify the right side of the fairway.

Once safely on the green side of the wetland hazard, there remains a shot of between 150 and 170 yards for most players.   The spacious green is guarded left front and center, and right front, by sand bunkers.  The green itself, some 130 feet deep and 90 feet wide near its back, poses the primary remaining challenge.  While it generally slopes from back to front, there is a ridge through the green running both side to side and front to back, so that both front corners and the left back corner of the green all have noticeable inclines feeding off the green.   Unless an approach shot is in the proper quadrant of the green,  two putts will be considered a successful navigation of the putting surface.

From the tee, this is likely to be the most intimidating hole on the course.  While fairly short in total distance,  the necessary carry from the tee will cause many an average golfer to overswing, and thus inevitably fail to make the necessary contact to hit safely into the wide available landing area.  If one can conclude play on holes 3 and 4 without incurring a penalty, a good score on the front nine becomes a real possibility.   This hole will go a long way towards determining whether the player has selected the proper teeing ground to play the Carolina Colours Golf Course.   From the gold and red tees, the intimidation factor largely fades away.

Average distances:

Black:  395     Blue:   363    White:  348   Gold:   306    Red:  257

Kenneth M. Kirkman, Carolina Colours Developer

4th Golf Hole - View of Green from Fairway