Eagle Point - North Carolina - USA

A Fazio design that has aged like a fine wine. A golfer’s club, not easy to get on, but well worth the effort.

The 1st hole is welcoming. A par 4 dogleg right, a decent drive down the right side will give you a short iron into a green that slopes back to front. The 2nd is a super birdie oppty, if you are on the correct side of the pin. A picturesque short par 3 that is slightly downhill and over a water hazard, there is a distinctive ridge in the green about 1/3 from the lefthand side. Things toughen up on the 3rd. Favor the left off thee tee to avoid the right fairway bunkers. This green has a false front, so it is best to take an extra club. I do not really understand why the par 5 dogleg right 4th is the number three handicap hole. It is the longest hole on the course, thus play it as a 3 shotter. Off the tee aim at the corner of the left fairway bunker. A good drive will get to the crest, but roll hard right. For your second shot aim just right of the left fairway bunker and this should give you a short iron into the green. The 5th is a Florida par 3, depending upon your tees, long or mid-iron. The 6th is a thinking golfer’s hole. Not that long of a par 5, it drifts left with a creek that starts on the left, crosses the fairway about 180 yards out and then trundles down the right side. The hole tilts right. Play it as a 3 shotter and have your favorite wedge in hand for the approach shot as distance control to this undulating green is critical. The7th is the shortest par four and while it may be easy to assume that is a birdie oppty, with 9 bunkers on the right side inside of 150 there still are challenges. Thus, favor the left off the tee. In my opinion, the 8th is an easier hole than the 7th, favor the left off the tee. This is a very narrow green, hitting a long iron into the green is fraught with danger, lots of undulation and moguls. The front ends with an awesome par 4 that slides left. The tee shot is through a chute. Aim at the right fairway bunker. This will still leave you with a long approach shot, to a green that is well-protected, bunker front right and left.

The back starts with a short par three that is well protected with bunkers front right and left. The green is quite narrow, it is all about hitting the right club. The 11th is a dogleg left with bunkers on the inside and outside elbows. There is also an old elm tree behind the left bunker. It is a true tree survivor. I asked how it escaped Dutch Elm disease that ravaged the elm population about 50 years ago and nobody knew. Aim just right of the tree of the tee. The 12th is a par five that tilts right at the end to a cape green. There are fairway bunkers right and left off the tee. For the 2nd shot keep it left to give you the best angle into the redan green. Not too far, lest you end up in the left fairway bunker. If the pin is back exercise caution as there is water back left and right. Solid par five. The 13th is supposed to be the easiest hole on the course. I of course mucked it up. A dogleg right, with a bunker on the inside elbow. Not a good place for your drive. I then deposited my 2nd shot in the front right greenside bunker and then hit the sand shot onto the wrong tier of the green to set up my 3-putt. The 14th is a long par 4 with a fairway bunker right and left. Favor the left off the tee. The 15th is a long par 3. Over water, that shouldn’t really come into play with large bunkers front right and left. Play for the middle of the green. The 16th is an interesting hole, no fairway bunkers. I would suggest favoring the left side off the tee. It is a 3 tiered figure eight green with bunkers middle left and right. The hole plays much easier if the pin is back. However, if it is front right, go for the middle of the green. Front right is called The Volkswagen Roof. The par 417th is probably the prettiest hole. An elevated tee, carry over water, creek left with fairway bunkers left to an elevated green. The hole tilts right to left, so favor the right off the tee. I think this gives you the best approach as there are deep bunkers front left. The 18th is a good par 5 finishing hole. Big hitters can get home in two, but there is a water hazard greenside right of the redan green with a bunker front left. Off the tee favor the left side of the fairway, from here you can choose to be a hero or select your favorite wedge yardage into the green.

Eagle Point is a golfers golf course. Top notch layout, excellent accommodating staff. If you can get on, you gotta go.

Excellent conditioning and challenging topography has identified this course on the world stage to host big championships. One of the countries high profile clubs and a great experience.