977: Carolinas Road Trip - Tree Farm, Camden Country Club, Broomsedge, Pinehurst No. 10 & No. 2
Mar 27, 2025
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Join the hosts on their thrilling Carolinas road trip as they explore captivating golf courses like The Tree Farm and Camden Country Club. They dive deep into the unique challenges of iconic venues, including the strategic 18th hole with its boomerang-shaped green. Discover the transformation of a tree farm into a vibrant golf community and hear personal reflections on Pinehurst No. 10 and No. 2. With a focus on course design and local golf growth, this journey makes you want to grab your clubs and hit the road!
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Quick takeaways
The Tree Farm's unique design, combining stunning landscapes and a strong local community, enhances the overall golfing experience for visitors.
Camden Country Club's rich history and challenging layout reflect classical golf design while integrating local culture, creating a memorable atmosphere.
Pinehurst No. 10 offers a fresh golfing experience with its natural feel and strategic layout, complemented by the iconic Pinehurst No. 2.
Deep dives
Highlights from the Carolinas Golf Trip
The recent golf trip to the Carolinas offered a unique opportunity to explore several notable courses, starting with the Tree Farm. Located just outside Aiken, this course is designed by a collaboration between Kai Golby, Zach Blair, and Tom Doak. It features stunning landscapes reminiscent of the Hoopy model, combining golfing with lodging and a robust culinary experience. The evolving course design showcases meticulous attention to detail, improving each visit, and the experience is enhanced by the strong sense of community among golfers and local members.
Exploring Camden Country Club
Camden Country Club provided an intriguing stop on the trip, known for its rich history and challenging layout. Originally designed by Walter Travis and later reworked by Donald Ross, the course retains elements of classical golf design with a touch of local culture. The mixture of small, challenging greens and strategic course management makes it a compelling experience for golfers at all levels. The inviting atmosphere and little quirks of the course, combined with its longstanding equestrian charm, made for a memorable round.
The Bold Design of Broom Sedge
Broom Sedge emerged as a standout course with its distinct design elements and robust character. The course, overseen by Mike Kaprowski, offers a variety of challenging landscapes, featuring dramatic elevation changes and creatively designed holes. Known for its unique flagsticks resembling broom sedge plants, the course combines visual appeal with strategic playing. The clever routing and blend of poker-faced challenge with elements of playability captured both players’ imagination and attention, ensuring it stands out as a premier destination.
Experience at Pinehurst
Pinehurst served as the final destination of the trip, allowing participants to engage with golf's rich history and challenge. Playing on Pinehurst Number 10, the new addition to the revered course family, offered a unique look at its layout and design by Tom Doak, making it a refreshing experience compared to its classic neighbors. Players praised the natural feel and the clear definition of golf holes despite being new to the scene. Wrapped up with a round on Pinehurst Number 2, players experienced an iconic American golf course, further highlighting the beauty and variety of the Pinehurst area.
Captivating Highlights of the Journey
Throughout the trip, golfers shared laughter and camaraderie, culminating in a range of memorable moments and terrific group dynamics. A standout was the Pain Stewart putt event, allowing everyone to participate in a meaningful challenge while also raising funds for a noble cause. The varied terrains, weather, and vibrant culture enhanced the entire golfing experience, creating lasting memories. This golf retreat not only satisfied desires for challenging play but also fostered connection and community among participants.
Soly and TC recently took a road trip north through the Carolinas to play several courses that have piqued our interest. We began in South Carolina with The Tree Farm, Camden Country Club (25:00), and Broomsedge (33:45) before finishing our trip in Pinehurst with The Donnybrook - an NLU Nest event - that provided us with a look at Tom Doak's Pinehurst #10 (49:30) and Pinehurst #2 (1:05:30).
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