Recomendation - One Course to Play Between Pinehurst and Knoxville

cubuffs · February 29

Wanted to get recomendations from the Sub Forum on what course you would play if you were traveling from the Pinehurst area back to Knoxville?

Backgound: My oldest Son is a DIII golfer and will be traveling with the team to play a tournament in the Pinehust area (Forest Creek) on March 10th and 11th. I was planning on making the drive from Nashville to Pinehurst on Saturday the 9th, and then heading back to the Knoxville area where my In-Laws live on Tuesday the 12th (it is Spring Break for my younger HS age Son and him and my Wife will be there in Knoxville). Given that I have time on the 12th, I figured I would break up the 5 hour drive by finding a worthwhile course on the way back.

I know some will ask - why not play Tuesday morning in Pinehurst as that seems like the best choice. I am open to that but made a trip 3 years back with oldest and played 4,7,8,9, Mid Pines, Tobacco Road, and Lonnie Poole. I was hoping to find something that would be in the direction of TN that I haven't played before as the preferred approach.

From a quick look through - the 2 that look interesting: Tot Hill Farm (Love Strantz) or Sequohay National. I am willing to take a slight detour (30-45 minutes out of the way - I74 -> I285 -> I40) - so what are the recomendations that I am missing?

Drwoods2017 · February 29

Would recommend tot hill over sequoyah since its just gone through a renovation.

bluehose · February 29

If you play Sequoyah, here’s a coupon.

https://golfmoose.com/product/sequoyah-national-golf-club/

cubuffs · February 29

1 hour ago, bluehose said:

If you play Sequoyah, here’s a coupon.

https://golfmoose.com/product/sequoyah-national-golf-club/

Thank you!

devo1208 · March 1

Lemme know if you come into western NC. Maggie valley is always a gem!

Lithovt · March 3

The Jackson course at Rock Barn (Hickory, NC) could be a good option if weather doesn’t look good for the mountain courses.

Faucette · March 3

Tanglewood near Winston is really nice. It requires precision with your irons

Looper34 · March 3

+1 for Tot Hill Farm. It's an hour out of Pinehurst and it's right off the highway on the way to Knoxville. You played Strantz's Tobacco Road so you can compare the two. I actually liked it better and it's about a hundred dollars less to play it.

Bryan Park, just north of Greensboro is a nice place and reasonably priced as well if you wanted to give that a look.

caniac6 · March 3

Oak Valley is in Advance, NC, about 5 minutes from Tanglewood, and is usually in good shape.

cubuffs · March 8

Thanks to everyone for the responses above - so planning on hitting Tot Hill Farm on Tuesday. We may get a chacne to play Monday afternoon as well, hoping to get onto Forest Creek or Mid South Club if the college event ends in time. Will issue a trip report later in the week.

cubuffs · March 13

Played yesterday - 70 degrees and just a slight breeze. Course was in good but dormant condition and you can tell they put significant investment in. Having played other Strantz courses, RNK, Stonehouse, and Tobacco Road, I would say this was enjoyable although not sure I would go out of my way to play again. Will be curious to see how the Prism Zoysia greens are in the Summer as they were nice but very grainy (you could hear the ball and grain when putting). Very much a second shot golf course, wide off the tee but have to be precise with second shots into the green complexes.

Fun day, Strantz is missed and was ahead of his time (easy to see how he influenced the modern day of firms like King and Collins).