Links O’Tryon

Links O’Tryon – Played 2014

• Rankings: None of the four lists
• Location: 11250 New Cut Road, Campobello, South Carolina
• Year: 1987
• Architect: Tom Jackson
• Course Access: Public
• Walking Rules: Carts Available

Score Card Information:

• Rocks: 6,877 yard, Par 72, 73.4 Rating/140 Slope
• Blue: 6,425 yards, Par 72, 71.1 Rating/137 Slope
• White: 5,772 yards, Par 72, 68.0 Rating/124 Slope
• Gold: 5,338 yards, Par 72, 65.7 Rating/116 Slope
• Red: 5,079 yards, Par 72, 69.8 Rating/128 Slope

Links O’Tryon is a public course in my area that our weekend group has played on occasion.  It is a very affordable daily-fee club that is usually in decent shape.  The architect also designed the course where our normal group plays and where I grew up playing the game.  I also happen to go to church with him and he is a wonderful guy.  I was out playing the course on this day with one of my college buddies and his father-in-law.  Other than the starter rushing us to the tee before our scheduled tee time, we were on our way smoothly.

Hole 1 – 359 yards – Par 4

The first hole starts off your round at Links O’Tryon easy.  Driver is not necessary.

The approach is played to an ample green guarded by a lone bunker.

Here is a photo of the putting surface.

Hole 2 – 370 yards – Par 4

This is the first of a few sharp doglegs on the course.  This one bends to the left.  Anything more than 210 yards needs to be drawing to avoid running out of fairway.

Once you pass the corner it is a pretty straightforward approach.

The green is narrow but deep.

Hole 3 – 505 yards – Par 5

This hole presents a good birdie opportunity with a great drive.  With the slope of the fairway you definitely want to favor the right side.

The second shot is wide open and inviting.  It plays over a dip in the fairway.

Here is a closer view of the green.  It will accept long three wood shots.

Here is the green from another angle.

Hole 4 – 172 yards – Par 3

This tee shot is challenging.  It plays uphill over a deep bunker and the green is not fully visible.

Hole 5 – 360 yards – Par 4

Here we have another dogleg left.  I wouldn’t advise going much past the 150 stake on this shot.  That provides the widest landing area.

The green features trouble on both the left and right sides.

Here is a closer look.

Hole 6 – 343 yards – Par 4

This hole plays pretty tight, but luckily you probably won’t need driver.  A draw works best from this tee.

The approach is played over flat ground to an equally flat green.

Here is a view from behind the green.

Hole 7 – 164 yards – Par 3

This hole favors a fade due to the trees on the right.  The maintenance man is working on some bee nests in the bunker.  He advised us to stay away.  No problem buddy!

The green has a bit of slope to it on the front portion which is the right side of this photo.

Hole 8 – 557 yards – Par 5

This one plays long!  It is all uphill.  It goes straight to the right at the top of the hill.

Here is the approach.  No rest for the weary.

The green is mildly contoured and surrounded only by rough.

Hole 9 – 400 yards – Par 4

This hole is another stout one especially if it plays back into the wind.  There is plenty of room out there so bombs away.

As you can see there have not been many complicated approaches.  This one is similar.

The green is quite large to accommodate longer second shots.

Hole 10 – 405 yards – Par 4

This hole aims you down the wrong section of grass.  The fairway is actually to the right of this line.  It is quite a bit downhill.

The second shot plays over the water to an elevated green.

The green has a lot of slope from the middle to the front portion.  It is flatter from this flag to the left.

Hole 11 – 387 yards – Par 4

We have another narrower hole here.  A fade starting at the bunker is a great line.

The approach plays to a tiered green with some bunkers that are more for visual effect.

You can see the two-tiered putting surface below.

Hole 12 – 168 yards – Par 3

What you see is what you get on this hole.  You just need a good middle iron shot.

Hole 13 – 350 yards – Par 4

This hole bends to the left and has a fairway that cants left as well.  Driver is absolutely a gamble.

The approach can be nerve-wracking since it demands solid contact.  The water comes right up to the green.

You can see below that the green is very shallow.  Your distance needs to be spot on to have a putt at birdie.

Hole 14 – 490 yards – Par 5

While a shorter par five, there is plenty of bend to complicate this hole.  A fade is the obvious play here.

The second shot plays up the hill to a hidden green.  You don’t want to go long.

And here is the putting surface from behind.

Hole 15 – 161 yards – Par 3 

This hole features the most water we have seen so far.  Anything left is going to a watery grave.

Here is the relatively flat putting surface from the right side.

Hole 16 – 354 yards – Par 4

A shorter hole here with not much trouble.  Tee it high and let it fly.

The approach shot is a different story.  Water surrounds the left and back of the green.  Hopefully a wedge shot is all you have and you can take dead aim at the flag.

The putting surface is a little smaller than it looks from the fairway.

Hole 17 – 375 yards – Par 4

This tee shot plays over some water, but it not a huge forced carry.  You can aim at the left cart in the distance to set up a good approach.

The approach is much easier visually since there is less water.  It does play uphill so you will want to take a little more club.

Hole 18 – 505 yards – Par 5 

The final hole at Links O’Tryon provides a birdie opportunity if you can hit a good drive.  A good line is splitting the carts in the fairway.

Here is a shot from close to the green should you not be able to get home in two.

The green provides for plenty of simple birdie putts with not too much slope.

Links O’Tryon is not spectacular, but it doesn’t break the bank.  It is a relaxing course to play since it is not overly long.  I always seem to play well here, probably because I don’t have to hit driver very much!  I wouldn’t drive out of your way to play it, but if you find yourself in the area it is a good, budget-friendly course to play.