Currahee Club

Currahee Club – Played August 2014

• Rankings: None of the four lists
• Location: One Currahee Club Way, Toccoa, Georgia
• Year: 2003
• Architect: Jim Fazio
• Course Access: Private
• Walking Rules: Carts Available

Score Card Information:

• Champion: 6,960 yard, Par 72, 76.1 Rating/150 Slope
• Currahee: 6,661 yards, Par 72, 75.2 Rating/148 Slope
• Member: 6,402 yards, Par 72, 73.0 Rating/140 Slope
• Alternate: 6,103 yards, Par 72, 70.1 Rating/134 Slope
• Forward: 5,508 yards, Par 72, 72.3 Rating/135 Slope
• Hartwell: 5,149 yards, Par 60, 57.1 Rating/102 Slope

Currahee meaning “stands alone” in Cherokee was about the only information I could find on this track.  I do know that it has had some financial difficulties and changed ownership a few times.  This made sense to me because it is in the middle of nowhere.

However, this remote location provides some stunning views as you can see below.  The course is hemmed in by mountains and lakes that sometimes distract you from the stellar golf course.

The clubhouse sits on one of the highest points of the property and provided the spot to take the pictures below.  It is a tremendously large clubhouse at over 48,000 square feet.

I got on Currahee through my father-in-law and we played with a friend of his and my brother-in-law.  The weather was perfect and the course was almost empty.  My brother-in-law and I played the member tees so distances will be from there.  The course provides plenty of teeing options for any level golfer to feel comfortable.

Hole 1 – 551 yards – Par 5

The first tee shot is a stunner.  It plays way down the hill providing an opportunity for a big drive.  The only trouble is right of the fairway.

The second shot bends around a few bunkers down to the green.  This also plays downhill.

The third shot plays to a large green guarded by bunkers on the right.  You don’t want to be long here.

Hole 2 – 171 yards – Par 3

This is a beautiful hole.  It is all carry over the water with nowhere to miss.  Notice the farthest bunker on the left.  I really want to see who gets in that thing.

The putting surface is pretty flat and sets up for a good birdie chance.

Hole 3 – 358 yards – Par 4

This is a gentle hole up the hill.  It doglegs right and plays slightly longer than it’s stated yardage.

The approach shot is also uphill.  The left and center bunkers are not really in play.

Here is a view of the green from the left side.  The slope is pretty apparent back to front.

Hole 4 – 189 yards – Par 3

This is the second of two solid one-shot holes.  This tee ball calls for a slight fade with a long iron.

The green angles away from the tee as you can see in this photo.

Hole 5 – 526 yards – Par 5

This one is almost a reverse of the first hole.  After the tee shot it plays exclusively uphill.  The driving area plays a little tighter than it looks.  A hazard lurks behind the trees on the right side.

The second shot plays over a hazard and must avoid the bunkers.  Any shot landing in the sand will make for a very awkward third.

On the approach shot you can only see part of the flag.  Believing in your distance is key here.

The green is pretty small with some mild undulation.  You should have a good look at birdie if you make the green.

Hole 6 – 342 yards – Par 4

This is a shorter hole made even more so by playing a bit downhill.  There is a hazard on the right so err on the left side.

The approach plays to a slope filled green.  Once again the hazard beckons on the right.

Hole 7 – 431 yards – Par 4

This shot is straightforward.  You can go a little further right than you would think.  It’s a longer hole, but you can run out of fairway.

The approach plays all over water unless you skirt the far right side of the fairway.  The green is pretty receptive.

Hole 8 – 376 yards – Par 4

The landing area here is blind.  The best line is right down the pipe here.

The approach plays up a couple tiers of fairway.  The green is guarded on the right by deep bunkers.

Here is the relatively flat green.  There is some mild sloping on the far side of the photo.

I thought it was interesting to look back at the fairway from just off the green.

Hole 9 – 360 yards – Par 4

This hole is made longer with the uphill.  I took a three wood at the stake in the middle of the fairway.

The approach shot plays over a deep dip in the fairway.  Anything short will be a tough par save with the rough and steep slope.

You can see the front of the green on the far side of this photo,  It looks like it falls off the world.

Hole 10 – 543 yards – Par 5

This a beast of a hole.  It plays uphill for most of the yardage.  This will be a three-shot hole for most people.

Luckily once you finally crest the hill the third shot plays downhill.  Short is really the only good miss.  Distance control is key here.

Hole 11 – 396 yards – Par 4

The tee shot here is best played up the left side to give yourself the best angle to the green.  If you stray too far right the water is definitely in play.

The second shot plays uphill to a green guarded on the right by a couple of bunkers.

You can see in the photo below that water lurks behind the green as well.  There is also the collection area you can see in the near portion of the photo.

Hole 12 – 170 yards – Par 3

This is an all-carry shot over the water and thick grass.  A solid middle iron should get you there.

The green, seen below from the left, has plenty of slope on the back portion.  This can either funnel balls to or away from the pin.

Hole 13 – 401 yards – Par 4

This hole reminds you that you are playing near some mountainous terrain.  This plays straight up the hill.  A power draw plays the best here.

The approach continues up the hill.  An extra club or two will be needed on this shot.

Hole 14 – 402 yards – Par 4

This hole didn’t play as long as the yardage indicates.  I hit it up the left side and ran out of fairway.  There is more room up the right side.

The approach shot is pretty cut and dry.  Avoid the bunkers and give yourself a good chance at birdie.

Here is a look back up the hole.  You can see that even if you go right to the longer part of the fairway there is a ravine you have to avoid.  It makes for a difficult driving hole.

Hole 15 – 371 yards – Par 4

This hole plays downhill but is very tight.  You must find the fairway here to have a good shot into the green.

You can see from this angle the lack of width in the fairway.  The approach is no picnic either with a smallish green.

Hole 16 – 519 yards – Par 5

This hole bends to the right.  A small cut up the middle works best here.

The approach will play up the hill.  It will be difficult to hold the green unless you can put some major air underneath your shot.  Anything short will be in the rough or bunkers making for an awkward up and down.

Once you are on the green there is some mild slope on the backside in the presence of a ridge.  Other than that putts won’t have too much break.

Hole 17 – 165 yards – Par 3

This is probably the signature hole at Currahee.  It is a behemoth from the back tees playing over 250 yards.  Almost all of that distance is carry over a deep ravine.  No place for the faint of heart!

Luckily our shots were played with middle irons!  The photo below is the view from our tee.

The green is bisected by a steep ridge.  It is important to get on the correct side of the green to have a flat putt.

Hole 18 – 394 yards – Par 4

We have another hole up the hill for the finisher.  It plays longer than the yardage.  Any drive in the fairway will give you a good angle into the green.

The approach is seen below.

Currahee was a magnificent course from a scenery perspective.  I did find it to be pretty difficult with all the elevation changes.  It would probably fall into the category of fun place to play, just not all the time.

The par three’s were strong and featured some tough carries.  I did think some holes lacked strategy because you just needed to bomb it down the middle.  Overall though Currahee was a really fun round!