Strantz Trail: Mapping it out

[philsRHman]

The calendar at home and at work — and miserable weather in NJ — might be breaking just right to let me try something. 
 

I started looking at my first Pinehurst trip, but the prices all just spiked, and most of the courses and lodging are quite crowded. 
 

But I’ve read so much about Mike Strantz, and the one place was dying to play near Pinehurst is Tobacco Road. Then I started reading about Tot Hill Farm. Then I start looking at the map and I basically drive right past Royal New Kent. And while I’m there, there’s also Stonehouse. 
 

Thinking about:

Friday: Leave NJ very early. 6 hours to Stonehouse, play 18 Friday afternoon.  
Saturday: 36 holes at Royal New Kent. Drive to Sanford, NC at night, 3.5 hours. 

Sunday: 18 holes at Tot Hill Farm (possibly 27 or 36 depending on stamina)

Monday: 36 at Tobacco Road

Tuesday: 9 hours drive home to NJ 

 

If I wanted to get really crazy …

Thursday: leave after work, arrive New Kent around midnight. 
Friday: Royal Kent 18 and Stonehouse 18. 
Saturday: early drive to Sanford, play Tot Hill Farm. 
Sunday: 36 holes at Tobacco Road. Drive at night to Pawleys Island 3.5 hours. 
Monday: Caledonia, True Blue combo day. 
Tuesday: 10 hours drive home to NJ

 

As I type this out, I realize I’m a lunatic. But I usually come here for my fellow lunatics to tell me it’s a great idea. 

[toypor]

Definitely think this is a great idea!

[Philfil]

YOLO 🤪

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

Strantz was definitely an Artist.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 14 by 5 O'Clock Charlie

[Drwoods2017]

Having played basically every Stranz course I think this trip might be one of the most fun golf trips you can take.  One suggestion for your trip is probably don't stay in actual Sanford lol. Hotel options aren't the best and there's not really much there.  Also Tot Hill is about an hour away.  I'd stay in Greensboro and make the trip to tot hill then continue to Southern Pines and stay or even Pinehurst. The drive from there to tobacco road is pretty easy and you'll be able to experience Pinehurst as well.  

[philsRHman]

3 hours ago, Drwoods2017 said:

Having played basically every Stranz course I think this trip might be one of the most fun golf trips you can take.  One suggestion for your trip is probably don't stay in actual Sanford lol. Hotel options aren't the best and there's not really much there.  Also Tot Hill is about an hour away.  I'd stay in Greensboro and make the trip to tot hill then continue to Southern Pines and stay or even Pinehurst. The drive from there to tobacco road is pretty easy and you'll be able to experience Pinehurst as well.  

Thanks for this. Hadn’t really started looking at lodging, so this helps. 
 

If I had to prioritize, what would you suggest? Which should be 36 holes and which are 18? Upon further reflection, adding Myrtle Beach just seems too much, maybe if I had another day or two. Unless you told me to skip Virginia instead. 

[Long Shot]

I really like this. I love his designs and have played some of them. Tru Blue, Caledonia and Tobacco Road. Would love to do a trip like this (being from NY this is a great roadmap to follow), thanks for sharing. 

[jholz]

It sounds like you are building in time for the standard 3+ hour trip between D.C. and Richmond on i-95, so I think you can probably make this happen. 

 

I-81/I-77 is a pretty drive. 

[vandyfan]

32 minutes ago, Long Shot said:

I love his designs and have played some of them. Tru Blue, Caledonia and Tobacco Road.

 

Played the exact same 3 as you have and it just makes me want to play more of them. Whereas he is not always subtle, Strantz courses are MEMORABLE. I can still see every hole at TR in my mind, probably 16 out of 18 at True Blue and probably 10 of 18 at Caledonia (the most restrained design of the 3 for me). 

[krtgolfing]

49 minutes ago, philsRHman said:

Thanks for this. Hadn’t really started looking at lodging, so this helps. 
 

If I had to prioritize, what would you suggest? Which should be 36 holes and which are 18? Upon further reflection, adding Myrtle Beach just seems too much, maybe if I had another day or two. Unless you told me to skip Virginia instead. 

Tobacco Road should be the 36 hole day.

[Drwoods2017]

1 hour ago, philsRHman said:

Thanks for this. Hadn’t really started looking at lodging, so this helps. 
 

If I had to prioritize, what would you suggest? Which should be 36 holes and which are 18? Upon further reflection, adding Myrtle Beach just seems too much, maybe if I had another day or two. Unless you told me to skip Virginia instead. 

Tobacco road should get the 36 as the second time around you'll understand more of the art he created.  Pace of play has been a bit of a problem out there but we played it last Saturday and zoomed through.  

[cer5059]

1 hour ago, philsRHman said:

Thanks for this. Hadn’t really started looking at lodging, so this helps. 
 

If I had to prioritize, what would you suggest? Which should be 36 holes and which are 18? Upon further reflection, adding Myrtle Beach just seems too much, maybe if I had another day or two. Unless you told me to skip Virginia instead. 

Having played both RNK and Stonehouse, you definitely shouldn't skip RNK. That course is a real treat. Having played Stonehouse about a year after it reopened, I wasn't really impressed with that one. We've gone to Williamsburg four times now and we've only played that course once. If you were to skip one, that'd be the one to skip.

[ChrisATL]

59 minutes ago, krtgolfing said:

Tobacco Road should be the 36 hole day.

100% agreed - its the most fun I've had on a golf course in awhile (see profile picture from the 11th bunker).

 

If you REALLY wanted to go YOLO, why not include a long drive to Caledonia & True Blue as well? 🤣

[caniac6]

Both trips look good. I just don’t get the 9 hour drive from Sanford, but only an hour more from Pawleys. 

[philsRHman]

35 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

Both trips look good. I just don’t get the 9 hour drive from Sanford, but only an hour more from Pawleys. 

Yeah. I think I did bad mapping, looks like it should be 2.5 hours longer. 

[xabia]

You gotta play 36 at Tobacco road - its like the first 18 is a warm-up then you actually know what is going on with the 2nd 18. 

 

 

[philsRHman]

Thanks for all the feedback. This didn’t work out for this weekend but it’s going into the trip list if/when i get a window sometime soon. 

[aiyyer]

Played Tot Hill yesterday. $120 vs Tobacco at $220. Very nice after the renovation but would still choose Tobacco.

https://www.lyingfour.com/conversations-blog/2021/11/23/tot-hill-farm