Camden - South Carolina - USA

Camden Country Club opened during 1903 with aspirations for golf and polo grounds for residents of South Carolina’s oldest inland municipality. As polo faded from popularity, the club took its golf course much more seriously and hired Donald Ross to come in and redesign. Although the architect is much more renowned for his work in North Carolina than South Carolina, he certainly made himself home at this location northeast of Columbia.

In fact, some might easily believe they’re among the famous pine hills of North Carolina during their round, both due to the large swathes of sandy waste and Ross’s use of the relatively rolling hills to create fairways both attractive and strategic in their approach.

Architect Kris Spence came to the site during 2011 to redesign several of the holes, but even after his work the final yardage only measures 6,300 yards from the back tees. A round from these tees could be described as “southern comfort”...a relaxing distance but with enough bite to snap back at those who take too big a sip.