I just returned from a golf trip to Pinehurst. Great Area and a cool layed back place to go on a golf trip.

Just wanted to let everyone know if you go in to the Pinehurst area play Tobacco Road. It is the hardest course I have ever played and was actually happy to shoot an 82 from the back tees. Incredible course...a must play.

+1...Tobacco Road may be my favorite course that I have played! I was there the first week of March and played it for the first and only time. I think I loved it so much just because of how different it was. My favorite hole was the hidden green 13th. All I got to say is that everyone needs to play it at least once.

Its amazing isn't it? I'll wager, if you ever venture back, you'll do better. Once you know where to hit the ball, the course isn't really that hard. Your first time out though, it's exceptionally intimidating.

You should also go play his other design in Williamsburg, VA called Royal New Kent. Super course. One of the top 3 on my list.

rblmp32 +1 on that.

You must play with a course planner 1st time out, and trust your targets. the optics are so intimidating.

I play a lot at Tot Hill Farm, so was reasonably successful on my first outing to Tobacco Road. definitely go back!

played there twice last wednesday for my first rounds there, really liked it, but I was hitting the ball TERRIBLY off the tee, and putting very poorly. Shot 90 both times from the tips. The only thing that made it salvagable was my iron play. You can get into a lot of trouble on that course hitting bad tee shots...or bad iron shots...or bad putts. Anyway, hope to play better next time out, but it is a challenge of a course, so that makes it more fun to me.

I played there back in December 2007, and we absolutely loved it. A great golfing experience!

Here are a ton of pics that I took of the course:

http://www.hetzelfamily.org/golf/Tobacco%20Road/

I haven't gotten to play Tobacco Road, but have been fortunate to play many other courses in the Pinehurst area being from NC. After looking through bend..'s pictures, looks like a must play.

I have gotten to play both Pinehurst #2 and #8 though and IMHO, I think #8 is tougher straight up; however, I didn't play #2 after being set up for a US Open either.

Lucky!!!

I would love to play that course. Looks incredibly unique. I want to go down there and play it and Tot hill farm aswell....one day

Unique is the right word for it.

I played there a couple weeks ago, thanks to an unusually good ballstriking day I was thrilled to shoot 81 (I'm a 10) - I even escaped from the gigantic pit that guards the green on #11.

I usually prefer traditional layouts, but I really liked TR. Some of it is just bizarre (like, say, the tee shot on #1). Conditioning was very good, some of the best April conditions I've seen in NC.

If you're in the area, definitely play it and make up your own mind. Trust the yardage book and if you have access to a Skycaddie or something that would be helpful too.

I usually play Tot Hill and Tobacco Road about 3 times a year. You can score really well at Tobacco after you play it once. Some of the fairways are HUGE. you just cant see it from the tee boxes. IMO Tot Hill is tougher, especially the green on 17. But both are absolutely awesome.


I am looking forward to some really good deals on green fees at each this summer.

Perfect antedote after Pinehurst, which let's face it, is a bit stuffy.

Awesome course. Rolled into a trip to Pinehurst and it's as good as you're gonna get.

"My favorite hole was the hidden green 13th. All I got to say is that everyone needs to play it at least once."

If that is the dog-leg right par 5 - I hit driver (over the trees and through the dog-leg), PW (135 yds.) to 6-feet and made the put for eagle the 1st time I ever saw the place.
There was a marshal standing on the hill in front of the green saying "hit it right over my head" (since you can't see the green...much less the hole) and I did. We didn't play from the tips though, but I will never forget those three shots!

It is a lot like Royal New Kent, same architect. There is a thread or two on here about RNK!

T.Road, is like playing a real life "Golden Tee" golf course....and I love Golden Tee! You will shoot better the second time IMO. The fairways are very generous.

If you make it a little further south sometime play Strantz's "Caledonia Golf and Fish Club."

I agree with the other posters. It is definitely easier the second time.....but it is always in great shape and always fun!

I gotta get down and play Tobacco. The late Mr. Strantz is one of my favorite architects. True Blue is a lot like Tobacco, but a lot more tame.

Just needed to make mention of who "he" is. The late, great Mike Strantz.

http://www.mikestrantzdesign.com/clubhouse.html

The fairways are massive once you know where they are. You have so much more room out there than you realize, it's whats typically kills guys the first time out. Love that place though.

I just got back from a two part trip. Stoppped in Pinehurst and played Pine Needles - which I loved.

Finished in Myrtle where I played his course - True Blue. With respect to Stranz, I have heard people who either love or DESPISE his courses. No middle ground. The haters feel his courses are unfair and target golf at its worst.

My quick take (I am tired from a 13 hour drive): True Blue is a fine resort course. I played in a horrrific wind (see last night's wildfire that caused us to leave early) that the members I played with said was their worst ever. Shot a 92 with at least 5 three putts (could not figure out the speed) and a couple"new course" bad decision strokes added to the scorecard. While not my favorite (I really like Donald Ross courses), it was not unfair. Even in the horrible winds, the fairways seemed enormous. With members to guide me a bit, I didn't feel any of the required shots were unfair.

Would I play it again with someone who really wanted to play it? Yes. Will I play Caledonian when I go back? Yes. Would I play True Blue again over exploring other courses in the area? Probably not.

My golf group plays it every year. Its our favorite course to play as a group by far. We're waiting for a friend to get from Iraq this year to go play it. We have to play it with the whole gang.....


Dan

I just moved two Morrisville. (Only been here a couple of weeks) I have nothing but good things about TR. I can't wait to get out there and play it. Sounds really tricky. I heard something about an extra long flag stick on one hole so you can see it. Need to find and play some courses out here.

If you live in Morrisville, Go play DUKE!!!!!!!! great course..

Strantz was the man. No doubt about it an artist.


Tobacco rules. I found it pretty easy first time out, though there's BIG numbers out there if you can find em.

I've played 5 of Strantz's courses so far. Tobacco Road is my solid #2 among those (Caledonia - #1).

Tobacco Road is so much fun. you can't make one lazy swing all day and every hole is a new adventure. Can't wait to play it again!!

I absolutely hated TR the first time I played it, and I fell in love with it the second time I played it. It is a must play for the road trip group. I've played Tot and it is a real hoot as well...in some ways more over the top than TR, but not quite as thrilling.

I read a post on another board about a guy that eagled 13 twice on the same day...

Duke is really fun to play, but if you can add in UNC's Fazio course, it's a fabulous layout as well.

4 for me.

1). Tobacco Road
2). Caledonia Golf and Fish Club
3). Tot Hill Farm
4). True Blue

:-)

I've been lucky enought to play a few.

True Blue, Caladonia and Royal New Kent.

Last night my buddy rehashed the story about the time he and my other buddy played Tobacco about 5 or 6 years ago. My buddy Pete used to play to about a 14, now he's down to about a 5. He used to let the game drive him nuts. Tobacco Rd got the best of him from the beginning. He almost lost it about 3 or 4 times , but managed to keep it together until the 18th. (when he used to lose it, he would yell and scream, curse, throw his club at the same time). They get to no. 18 and he's in the woods, he attempts to hit out and they hear a whack (him hitting the ball), but no ball comes out. All of a sudden they just hear him taking a nutty and see all the brush and bushes hes behind shake like crazy. Who knows what he was doing, but the rest of the guys pee'd their pants laughing. He completely lost it. When Rick tells the story, its fantastic. LOL

Every 2 years we play True Blue and its just one laugh after another the whole day.

That's wrong. I have shot in the 60's multiple times at #8, I haven't even sniffed the 60's at #2

So did you get the yardage book and try to hit where they told you to? I live close to the area, and the only way to play that course somewhat successfully. Do you like blind shots now? All of those blind shots can either make you happy, or very upset. Mike Strantz has a different idea about how to build a green. It makes you wondering where the windmill and the clowns mouth might come into play.

Glad you enjoyed Pinehurst. It truly a great place to play golf.

Been there done that. Use the following Slope/Rating. Most play from tees where they don't belong. See it all the time! WTF


Slope / Rating
150/ 73.2 - The Ripper - Used to till hard soil and break up for cultivation.

142/ 70.8 - The Disc - Used to further break up and turn soil after cultivation.

132/ 68.6 - The Plow - Used to create rows for Tobacco planting.

124/ 66.1 - The Cultivator - Used to turn soil over and prepare soil for planting of Tobacco

If you can play with and trust the yardage book it is not a difficult course. If you are easily visually intimidated it can be a bear the first time. I played the tips and hit 3 / 4 par 5's in two. 1 was playing downwind and 4 and 11 are short if you do not mind hitting into the "waste areas". Of course I played it 8 years ago in the summer and the waste areas were not full of brush or anything. I only hit driver 5 or 6 times. I could not hit it on 13, or at least I remember being scared trying to cut the corner or from the tips it was a silly proposition.

None of the par 3's are over 200 from the tips, only 4 or 5 par 4's over 4 from the tips, and the par 5's have wide open areas if you can no longer play through the waste areas. It is just difficult to look at and not be scared, best example is 16 where you hit it over the sand dunes and cannot see where it will land but only need an iron.

The most amazing thing is that if you are from NC, you can play Tot Hill and Tobacco Rd during the week for under $50 if you join their in-state maverick clubs.

I try to play Tot Hill every month, and it never gets old; the scenery, the shots, its the course that I keep wanting to play no matter how often I go.

I've only gotten out to Tobacco Rd a few times; its a way more attractive course IMO, but not as difficult as Tot Hill.