My wife & I took a quick trip to MB & Pinehurst area , first to Pinehurst area & played 2 rounds there. We stayed at the Best Western in Southern Pines & a 1 bedroom condo @ Seawatch in MB, we got out of MB Sat morning, didn't really want to stay around for the steaming temps forecast for the long weekend.
Tues May 21 Southern Pines
2nd time playing here for me, wife's first time in area. Conditions were good all the way around, we had CPO on 3 holes, ride anywhere the rest of the course. Greens rolled well, medium speed. I like the Ross design, my wife not so much with all the elevation up to a lot of the greens, especially for her first round of the year. I played pretty good except for 2 doubles that cost me a sub 80 round, shot 81
Wed May 22 Tobacco Road
My 5th visit to TR, we were first ones off that morning playing as a 2some. At the turn, the bag drop guy asked, you guys already finished 9? took us 1 hr 20 mins. I enjoyed the round again, conditions were excellent throughout. My wife after playing about 6-7 holes tells me, now I know why you always talk about this course, its beautiful. She really enjoyed herself & played pretty well, breaking 100 with a 99. mind you I gave her a few breaks ? when she got in a bad spot in a waste area .
We will definitely return, but will have to add Tot Hill Farm to compare it to. I played well on the front with a 39 & 2 birds, wheels fell off to start back 9 with doubles on 10-12, managed to get an 84
Thurs May 23 Tigers Eye
Played here as a single with a rain check, glad I didn't pay for the round, the greens are in bad shape, slow, ball bounces all over, fairways are dry & a touch brownish. I talked to a member playing in the group behind us & said the greens never recovered from the previous bad winter. I got paired with a couple from Bermuda, the wife Kathy was some player, if the greens were good, she would have had a mid 70's round but for the putting. I struggled with my wedges all day, pulling almost everyone, on top of not making 1 putt & struggling to an 89. I think the slow pace, 5 hr round ( 2.15 front & 2.45 back) didn't help my game.
Fri May 24 Possum Trot
Decided to play PT as I never played it before & wanted it off my list before it closes. I wasn't expecting much but enjoyed the round, greens were a lot better the TE, rolled good with med speed. about a 4.15 round pace was OK. I played as a single & along with another single joined a twosome that was there. The other single, Shawn was a young Penn State trooper, could really pound the ball off the tee, too bad rest of his game didn't match as every swing was as fast & hard as possible. I had a good round, shot 80 with 2 birds, coulda been better if my putter was behaving, realized I was too close to the ball too late in the round.
Frank
Thanks for the report. To bad about the condition of Tigers Eye.
Man I wish Tiger's Eye would get their act together & get that course back in shape. I love that course but conditions have kept us away for several years now.
Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle.
I have to assume the Cat neighborhood is not happy about the conditions at the 4 courses.
Golf is just an excuse to drink whiskey and smoke cigars
Thanks for taking the time to make a report. Who owns/manages the Cat courses? Why would they let them get in such bad shape?
I have to assume the Cat neighborhood is not happy about the conditions at the 4 courses.
I would be furious if I were a homeowner/member. I understand conditions will not always be perfect, but it's been several years straight now that they've been bad, and they used to be consistently above average.
I imagine it's not a cheap club to be a member at either.
Golf can best be defined as an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle.
Thanks for your trip report. I am a fan of Mike Strantz, the former golf course architect. Tobacco Road is one of his course design. You should play Tot Hill Farm. Of course, Caledonia and True Blue are other ones.
''It's just golf, let's have fun''
Thanks for the report!! Too bad about the conditions at Tigers Eye as our guys have been there about 5 times over the years. The last time was Oct/2017 and the course conditions were not up to their usual standards then.... sounds like we won't be returning anytime soon.
thanks for the update and nice scores.
Let the Big Dawg Bark!!!
Sounds like Stonehouse and Royal New Kent (two other strantz designs) are also going to be saved from the scrapheap. Stonehouse is a very good design, I'd put it up there with Tot hill, a tad below Tobacco but tobacco now asking $150 a round in the summer is beyond outrageous. We played it for years between 70-80 a round. new greens aren't worth double and theyre not in Pinehurst. I wonder how long they'll be able to command that rate as their tee sheets are empty almost daily
I agree. At 150$, during the summer, it is expensive.
''It's just golf, let's have fun''
Panthers Run was good for me in late April and is in my report.
I checked the TE putting green and saw that the turf was good, but slower than PR.
Maybe there is hope for TE later this year, after a full summer of growth.
I heard from a VA guy that Stranz's design Royal New Kent has reopened, but not
Stonehouse. Both near Richmond, VA.
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It is true. Royal New Kent has reopen at the end of March 2019. The bill for the restoration was over 2 millions.
''It's just golf, let's have fun''
Good topo my friend, thank you!
Just too bad Tiger's Eye wasn't what it should be!
Denis Gilbert
Quebec City, Canada
Thanks for the report .
Much appreciated.
TE has been in poor shape for 3 years.
Even when the greens,were decent, they had weeds growing in the fairway and near the greens.
It has gone to sh*t, as they say.
I agree with Art... Panthers Run has been good.
That's been the best of the 4 in recent years.
jw11
"King Of The Mid-tiers"
