10th Hole - View from Tee

Having completed (hopefully successfully) the front nine, and having gotten refreshment at the Pavilion, the player moves to the 10th tee. This short par 4, running parallel to the 1st hole, is an intriguing hole. From the tee, extensive bunkering along both sides of the fairway frame the landing area, the highest point on the fairway, while the green is visible over the right side bunker.

A straight drive, between the two bunkers, into one of the narrowest landing areas on the course (still a generous 25 yards in width) brings into view the challenge presented by this hole, and may encourage longer hitters to go with a 3 or 5 wood off the tee. As with most short par 4’s, the green is the hole’s primary defense. For this short iron or wedge, one is hitting into a green that is about 40 yards from right to left, but presents a narrow target, with a small bunker guarding its center. Accuracy is key, as the long bunker on the right (some 80 yards in length) stretches from the fairway to the right corner of the green, and there is a significant drop-off behind the green.

The green itself has two levels, the right side high, the left side low. It also slopes back to front, and particularly on the high (and wider) side of the green, this contour is significant. Any approach that is not on the pin side of the green will leave a long and difficult putt, making three putts a real concern.

For the precise short iron player who avoids the bunkers off the tee, birdie here is a real possibility. However, par will be difficult from any of the extensive bunkers, and the green is treacherous. After a number of fairly lengthy par 4’s on the front, the shorter but accurate player clearly has the advantage here, where precision trumps strength.

Black: 335 Blue: 325 White: 310 Gold: 295 Red: 224

10th Hole - View of Green

Golf Greens are Seeded by Hand

Bill Love, the Carolina Colours Golf Course Architect, will be returning to Carolina Colours next week.  This trip will be Bill’s 3rd trip in the past month.  Why the frequent site visits?  GREENS!    Yes, we are now in the process of seeding the greens on the golf course.  The greens on the golf holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 were approved and seeded first.  These holes are already showing lots of green grass.  On Bill’s second trip, he approved the greens on golf holes 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and the two practice putting greens adjacent to the Carolina Colours Social Pavilion.  During Bill’s visit next week, September 21st-22nd, Bill will approve greens on the other side of Brice Creek for golf  holes 13, 14, 15 and 16.  This trip will conclude the greens approval process for all 18 golf holes.

Many of you might think “But I thought the greens were built many weeks ago.” and you would be correct.  Drainage, rock and greens mix installations were complete many weeks ago.  But seeding is another precise step in the greens process.  Prior to Bill’s arrival, the greens are probed to ensure proper depth of the greens mix and also also make sure the mix follows the contour of the rock layer which sits on the contour of the sub-grade. Next the green surface is “floated “to smooth the mix surface.  Upon his arrival, Bill’s inspection process will be to re-shoot (measure) all the grades on the green surface for compliance to originally approved contours.  Bill will make sure there are no spots that are too fast or too slow on the green and there are at least 8-12 pin placements  on each green with no more than a 2.5% slope.

Once “blessed” by Bill, the seeding process is quick with an application of fertilizer, followed by micro nutrients and then seed.  Our greens are seeded with a blend of A-1 & A-4 Bent grass at the rate of 2 pounds per 1000 square feet.  Once seeded, the greens are “dimpled” with a small ATV with knobby tires. Apply water (lightly and frequently) and you have a golf green that should be ready to go in 6-8 weeks.

Kip Peregoy, Carolina Colours Project Manager

Golf - 9th Hole View from Tee

As the player walks up from the cart path to the 9th tee, the first impression is again one of how extensive the tee complex is. Extending an almost continuous run of about 100 yards from the back of the championship tee to the front of the gold tee, and some 30 yards across, the variety of lengths and angles is exceptional.

Once on the tee of one of only two holes on the course that run generally southwest, the view is one of the prettiest on the course. Sitting in the distance, just behind the green of this par 5, is the Pavilion, our clubhouse, with a beer or soft drink awaiting. There is not a home in sight along the tree lined fairway, and one can catch glimpses of Carolina Lake through the trees to the right. Gently rolling mounds frame the left side of the fairway, while a large bunker highlights its right side, beside the prime landing area, as the fairway gently slopes from left to right.

From the landing area, the highest area of the fairway, the player sees for the first time the water that runs down the left last one third of the fairway, meandering around the left and rear of the green, and protruding in front of the left side of the green. Three relatively small bunkers form a line extending from the right side of the green some 50 yards. For all but the bravest, the second shot will be at those bunkers, not at the green, in order to keep well clear of the water. This layup will leave a shot of 50 to 125 yards into the green. If the player elects a second shot into the green, distance and precision will be required, with the classic risk/reward awaiting. Any ball to the left of the green or long will end up wet, short left as well, and just right is in the bunker complex.

The green is quite large, with its highest point being the back right, and the lowest point its front left, with a general back to front and right to left tilt. Without a precise approach, a long putt awaits.

This beautiful hole presents a real opportunity to finish the front nine on a positive note. A good short iron player approaching from the right side of the fairway will have an inviting target, and should have a birdie putt. Get ambitious or jittery, however, and trouble awaits. 9 will be a lot of fun for golfers of all levels, but muttered curses may be directed to the superintendent that places the flag on the left side of the green.

Black: 550 Blue: 523 White: 509 Gold: 481 Red: 404

Kenneth M Kirkman, Carolina Colours Developer

Golf - 9th Hole View from Fairway

8th Hole Under Construction

Approaching the 8th tee, the player notices that this par 4 runs perpendicular to hole 7, joining hole 4 as the two south facing holes on the front nine. From the very slightly elevated tee, one sees a fairly simple hole, with trees lining both sides of the fairway and circling the rear of the green; a pretty sight. The player also sees what appears to be a series of bunkers on the left side, beginning at the back of the green, guarding the front right of it, and extending well down the left side of the fairway. The thought from the tee is simple; avoid those bunkers and all will be well.

After a successful drive, as the player approaches his or her tee ball, it becomes apparent that what was seen from the tee as a bunker complex is actually one huge, continuous bunker, the largest by far on the course. It extends from the left rear of the green around the green, guarding more than half of its front, and then extends some 100 yards down the fairway. The gently rolling fairway is wide, its narrowest point being about 30 yards across where the bunker extends closest to the tee.

Again, pin placement is key to the second shot. The large green has a hint of a figure eight shape, but sits at an angle of about 45 degrees, from back left angling forward. A pin on the front or back right of the green makes for a simple approach, while a position in the middle or left rear requires a delicate shot over that portion of the enormous bunker that guards the left front and side of the green. Go long, and the slope away from the green will make the approach chip challenging. The contours of the green are not severe, but it has subtle breaks, and must be carefully read.

One of the shorter par 4 holes on the course, most players will be hitting mid to short irons into the green. A front or right side pin position will have the player thinking birdie. If the pin is to the left, however, the safe play will be to the heart of the green, with a realistic two putt for par. Avoid the bunker, and the player will likely feel good recording the hole 7 score.

Black: 382 Blue: 371 White: 355 Gold: 322 Red: 287

Kenneth M Kirkman, Carolina Colours Developer

8th Hole View During Grass Grow-In