Candyroot Lodge

Candyroot Lodge is a new public golf retreat taking shape on a rare stretch of naturally sandy terrain in the Carolina Sandhills of South Carolina. Developed by brothers Aaron and Ethan Oberman on 1,210 acres assembled from four separate land parcels, the project is positioned to become the Southeast's most significant new publicly accessible multi-course destination.

The first layout has been designed by architect Mike Koprowski — whose previous collaboration at Broomsedge Golf Club in Rembert, South Carolina, brought national attention to the Carolina Sandhills as a serious golf destination. Koprowski discovered the Candyroot site while returning from Broomsedge, immediately recognising its potential in the sandy ridges, deep gullies, and 80–90 feet of elevation change across the descending aeolian sandhill.

The design philosophy at Candyroot is one of strict minimalism. No material has been imported; the routing rides existing sandy ridges and weaves through natural gullies without artificial reshaping. Small, steeply tilted greens create visual misdirection, while native grasses and serpentine fairway lines define the strategic framework rather than conventional bunkering. Semi-blind drives and approaches have been retained where the natural landforms were too compelling to alter.

The broader Candyroot vision extends well beyond a single course. The masterplan includes up to four full-length layouts designed by next-generation architects, a par-three course with night-play capabilities, on-site lodge accommodation, and a wellness amenity programme incorporating cold plunge therapy, sauna facilities, strength-training infrastructure, and connected walking and cycling trails.

Preview play at Candyroot is scheduled for October 2026, with day passes available for purchase on the club’s website.

Practical Planning

Preview play is expected to begin in October 28, 2026, with the course operating on a public day-pass model for $175. On-site lodge accommodation is planned but is not expected to be available at scale until approximately 2028; the initial operation is focused on daily-fee golf. Grab-and-go comfort stations are planned on course. Advance booking is strongly recommended for the preview play period.

Transport Information ✈️

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT): Approximately 80 miles (129 km), around 90 minutes via US-1 South. Major car hire facilities with direct interstate access.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE): Approximately 65 miles (105 km), around 60 minutes via US-1 North. Primary gateway for travellers arriving from the south.

Ground transport: The property is accessed via US Highway 1 in Chesterfield County, near Jefferson, SC. Private vehicle is the recommended mode of transport given the rural location.

Candyroot Lodge: The Verdict

Koprowski's debut solo design across the descending sandhills of Chesterfield County, represents one of the most architecturally considered new public golf projects in the American Southeast. The combination of genuine topographic drama, a minimalist shaping philosophy, and a publicly accessible operating model makes Candyroot Lodge worth watching closely as it moves through its preview phase and beyond. Travellers planning a golf trip to the Carolinas should monitor the opening schedule carefully — this is a destination that looks set to reshape what the Sandhills can offer the travelling golfer.