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North
Carolina - More Than Just the Crown Jewels
by
Jonathan Gibbins
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With
Pinehurst as the golfing crown jewels of North Carolina, many
people forget what it has to offer in terms of variety, price
and scenery. The state boasts wonderful rolling greenery, the
geographical backbone of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains
and historical places to visit, which for the United States
is a welcome bonus. |
A
real golf hot spot for the area is the Outer Banks, an isolated
string of sandy islands where BlackBeard the Pirate once prodded
around with his claymore and buried treasure. The area boasts an
estimated 500 shipwrecks rusting away in the rough waters and a
grand selection of lighthouses including the tallest in the United
States at Cape Hatteras.
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are many so called "musts" for golfers around here,
but top of the list is Nags Head Golf Links and the Links at
the end is well worth it’s place because all the classic seaside
ingredients are on show for the golfer. Bump and runs, worm
burning three irons and ball attracting gorse are all part of
the experience. The members tell me the characteristic shifting
winds make for a different course every day, which adds to the
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Nags Head
Golf Links |
| course’s
longevity. It is a target style layout with small greens, which
makes up for the lack of length (6,100 yards), but add a sea
breeze and you’ve got a challenge. Several holes pass by the
shores of Roanoke Sound, rather like a Firth, but all I knew
was that the chances of there not being a stiff wind were pretty
low out here. |
The
course I play next is located in the city of Kitty Hawk, which has
a National Monument at Kill Devil Hills, where the Wright Brothers
first took flight and made air travel a reality. The history doesn’t
influence the golf designers because Duck Woods Country Club is
real modern American challenge with thick woods, computer generated
good looks and water on 14 holes. The challenge lies in hitting
fairways and greens, which has led to all the greens being resurfaced
because they were too hard to hold after carrying over water most
of the time. A strange, true and obviously expensive project.
The
Currituck Club |
Other
courses to watch out for in the area are The Currituck Club,
Sea Scape Golf Links and The Pointe, three courses which are
all vying for places in America’s best courses list. |
There
is a lot of great golf to be had in North Carolina, but there is
one place that just cannot be missed. After all, if your in Las
Vegas you go to the casino and here you go to Pinehurst.
Most recently,
it is remembered for the place where Payne Stewart claimed his bittersweet
victory in the US Open in 99, but it is also recognised as probably
one of the best courses in the world. By the way, the course I am
talking in the No. 2 course, because Pinehurst boasts six other
top class courses catered for just about any golfer.
| The
No. 2 course was designed by Donald Ross over a period of many
years as he tinkered with his plot of land like Nick Faldo does
with his golf swing. The layout is described soundly by many
as a links course within a forest because of the sandy soil
which Ross had to work with. The greens are not severe and favour
subtle slopes with gentle swales and gathering areas surrounding
them. The intention was to emphasise the art of chipping and
a variety of shots for the same result – rather like a seaside
challenge. Ross described it as "the |
Pinehurst
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| fairest
challenge I have ever created" and it is hard to argue
with when you witness the naturalness of the score, which accumulates
over a pleasant few hours of play. |
This part of
the country mixes with the Myrtle Beach experience and yet remains
distinctive in what it has to offer further north- a combination
which results in a quieter atmosphere and some pristine golfing
country.
Information:
Pinehurst- 001
919 265 6811
Nags Head Golf
Links- 001 919 441 8073
Duck Woods- 001
919 261 2609
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