Hasentree

Located just north of Raleigh in Wake Forest, the family-friendly resort-style community at Hasentree offers its members the use of a fitness centre, three pools, six tennis courts and a golf course designed by Tom Fazio.

Opened for play in 2007, Hasentree was the architect’s 17th design project in his home state of North Carolina and the only one in Wake County. At the end of 2019, Clubcorp announced the acquisition of seven golf clubs in residential communities owned by Toll Golf, one of which was Hasentree.

The course extends to 7,074 yards and plays to a par of 71, with a total of 88 strategically-placed flash-faced bunkers positioned around the layout. Holes have been arranged as two distinct returning nines routed around a substantial residential development, with the back nine measuring 400 yards shorter than the front nine, thanks mainly to having three par threes configured on that loop.

Highlight holes include the slightly downhill par four 2nd. “The perfect drive is down the right side past the fairway bunker on the right,” according to head professional Philip Leddy. “This leaves a 130-135 yard shot to a green where you must stay right due to a false front running down the left side of the green.”

On the back nine, Philip identifies the par five 16th for comment: “You must hit your drive between flanking fairway bunkers to have an opportunity of reaching this green in two. The putting surface is very deep and rises to a back shelf. If you avoid the bunkers then you’ll have a good chance of birdie.”