TC
Keg Thrower
Recently I had the chance to play the Old Edwards Club back in my hometown of Highlands, NC. The club was built in the late 90's by architect Tom Jackson and at that time is was called "Highlands Cove". The ownership has changed hands and it is now named as the title of this thread indicates.
We played there for my dad's 60th Birthday. I wanted to take my Nikon and document the golf course for the forum. I enjoy taking pictures of golf courses and I hope you guys enjoy the coverage. Unfortunately, I was only able to document holes 1 - 14 due to the weather but I figured I would put up what I have. What's great about this course is that it's a tale of two nines. The front nine, called "the valley", is called that b/c it's literally in the valley. The back nine is referred to as "the mountain" and when you see the pictures you will understand why. It's always a treat to be able to play any of the exclusive clubs back home and this one is no different. It has it all.
Hole #1
The first hole is a straight away par 5. The tee box is settled beneath the clubhouse and next to the large putting green. The Pro at the course is there to great you at the first hole, wish you luck, let you know about local rules, pin placements and he watches you tee off.
Hole #2
Difficult par 4. Mostly due to the approach shot. You will want to hit driver off the tee so you can have at most a 7iron into the green. What makes this hole difficult is the approach shot. The front and complete left side is guarded by a natural habitat and a stream. Got right and you are in the trees. Want to miss long? Think again. You either hit this GIR, or you pray for a lucky bounce.
Hole #3
My favorite hole on the golf course. I don't even know why. I think it's the epitome of Mountain golf w/ a splash of the links thrown in. Not a long hole, but you want to hit driver. There's no need not getting it over the crest in the fairway. Do that and you have a wedge in to a green with a massive ridge that runs through it. The front pin placement gives you options. Fly it past and use the slope or just go at the stick!
Hole #4
The first Par 3 and a tough one. It was playing 172 to the stick, as noted in the picture below. I've witnessed the only hole in one I've ever seen on this hole, so it has some good mojo.
Hole #5
Fun par 4. You can lay up short of the creek, which starts at 229, or you can try to fly it, which requires about a 260 carry. I always lay up because that's the smart thing to do and the hole is much wider at that point.
Hole #6
Most incredible looking par 5 ever! Well, maybe not, but I think it's amazing. Massive elevation on the tee but you must be straight. Right you're in the woods and left you're in the water. You hit a decent drive and you're faced with the decision. Around a 220yard shot to carry water or lay up?
Hole #7
Shortish par 4 that requires at least a 200 yard carry to clear the burn. Don't go left into the bunker or right into the trees. Hit one straight and you will have a scoring iron in your hand.
Hole #8
Awesome par 3. Not too long, not too short, but just right. I think it was playing 138 to the flag. Big green on this hole that has some decent break in it if you're in the wrong spot.
Hole #9
Awesome par 4 to end the Valley side. Blind tee shot that must not go left. Hit a good drive and you will have about 150-160 in. The green is guarded left, right and short so it's best to take a little more club.
Hole #10
The par 5 that kicks off the Mountain side. Right is death and the place to miss on this hole is left. Hit a good drive and you will have less than 200 yards to the elevated green.
and here's a wicked shot of the green profile!
Hole #11
The most incredible hole on the golf course. A very difficult Par 3 for a couple of reasons: first, the massive elevation on the tee, and secondly is that you must hit this green. There's no where good to miss at all. It was 192 to the stick yesterday and an 8 iron put me in the center of the green.
Hole #12
I hate this hole. It's gorgeous and it's great for pictures but it just isn't user friendly. It's not long but you have to hit the fairway. If you do you have a side hill lie, uncomfortable yardage and you must hit into a green that severely slopes left to right. Everything about this hole is penal.
Hole #13
This used to be a Par 5, but now it's a Par 4. It doglegs to the right and it's a monster. Favor the right side in order to catch the slope in the fairway so you don't have to hit a long iron or hybrid into this green.
Hole #14
Tough par 4 and the last hole I was able to document. It's a fun but difficult hole. If you are brave you can hit driver but you must put the ball in the extreme right neck of the fairway. A hybrid is the smart play, but it will leave you with a 165-175 yard approach shot to a small green that you can't miss short, left or right.
All in all, what an incredible golf course. It will challenge every bit of your golf game. You have to be creative and you have to be precise to be successful here. The staff is wonderful! The facilities are top notch, and the views can be breath taking. I'm proud to say that this course is from back home!
We played there for my dad's 60th Birthday. I wanted to take my Nikon and document the golf course for the forum. I enjoy taking pictures of golf courses and I hope you guys enjoy the coverage. Unfortunately, I was only able to document holes 1 - 14 due to the weather but I figured I would put up what I have. What's great about this course is that it's a tale of two nines. The front nine, called "the valley", is called that b/c it's literally in the valley. The back nine is referred to as "the mountain" and when you see the pictures you will understand why. It's always a treat to be able to play any of the exclusive clubs back home and this one is no different. It has it all.
Hole #1
The first hole is a straight away par 5. The tee box is settled beneath the clubhouse and next to the large putting green. The Pro at the course is there to great you at the first hole, wish you luck, let you know about local rules, pin placements and he watches you tee off.
Hole #2
Difficult par 4. Mostly due to the approach shot. You will want to hit driver off the tee so you can have at most a 7iron into the green. What makes this hole difficult is the approach shot. The front and complete left side is guarded by a natural habitat and a stream. Got right and you are in the trees. Want to miss long? Think again. You either hit this GIR, or you pray for a lucky bounce.
Hole #3
My favorite hole on the golf course. I don't even know why. I think it's the epitome of Mountain golf w/ a splash of the links thrown in. Not a long hole, but you want to hit driver. There's no need not getting it over the crest in the fairway. Do that and you have a wedge in to a green with a massive ridge that runs through it. The front pin placement gives you options. Fly it past and use the slope or just go at the stick!
Hole #4
The first Par 3 and a tough one. It was playing 172 to the stick, as noted in the picture below. I've witnessed the only hole in one I've ever seen on this hole, so it has some good mojo.
Hole #5
Fun par 4. You can lay up short of the creek, which starts at 229, or you can try to fly it, which requires about a 260 carry. I always lay up because that's the smart thing to do and the hole is much wider at that point.
Hole #6
Most incredible looking par 5 ever! Well, maybe not, but I think it's amazing. Massive elevation on the tee but you must be straight. Right you're in the woods and left you're in the water. You hit a decent drive and you're faced with the decision. Around a 220yard shot to carry water or lay up?
Hole #7
Shortish par 4 that requires at least a 200 yard carry to clear the burn. Don't go left into the bunker or right into the trees. Hit one straight and you will have a scoring iron in your hand.
Hole #8
Awesome par 3. Not too long, not too short, but just right. I think it was playing 138 to the flag. Big green on this hole that has some decent break in it if you're in the wrong spot.
Hole #9
Awesome par 4 to end the Valley side. Blind tee shot that must not go left. Hit a good drive and you will have about 150-160 in. The green is guarded left, right and short so it's best to take a little more club.
Hole #10
The par 5 that kicks off the Mountain side. Right is death and the place to miss on this hole is left. Hit a good drive and you will have less than 200 yards to the elevated green.
and here's a wicked shot of the green profile!
Hole #11
The most incredible hole on the golf course. A very difficult Par 3 for a couple of reasons: first, the massive elevation on the tee, and secondly is that you must hit this green. There's no where good to miss at all. It was 192 to the stick yesterday and an 8 iron put me in the center of the green.
Hole #12
I hate this hole. It's gorgeous and it's great for pictures but it just isn't user friendly. It's not long but you have to hit the fairway. If you do you have a side hill lie, uncomfortable yardage and you must hit into a green that severely slopes left to right. Everything about this hole is penal.
Hole #13
This used to be a Par 5, but now it's a Par 4. It doglegs to the right and it's a monster. Favor the right side in order to catch the slope in the fairway so you don't have to hit a long iron or hybrid into this green.
Hole #14
Tough par 4 and the last hole I was able to document. It's a fun but difficult hole. If you are brave you can hit driver but you must put the ball in the extreme right neck of the fairway. A hybrid is the smart play, but it will leave you with a 165-175 yard approach shot to a small green that you can't miss short, left or right.
All in all, what an incredible golf course. It will challenge every bit of your golf game. You have to be creative and you have to be precise to be successful here. The staff is wonderful! The facilities are top notch, and the views can be breath taking. I'm proud to say that this course is from back home!
