Mimosa Hills Country Club – Played June 2021
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 611 Golf Course Road, Morganton, North Carolina
- Year: 1929
- Original Architect: Donald Ross
- Additional Work By: Kris Spence
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Black: 6,750 yards, Par 72, 72.8 Rating/137 Slope
- Blue: 6,493 yards, Par 72, 71.6 Rating/133 Slope
- White: 6,274 yards, Par 72, 70.8 Rating/131 Slope
- Gold: 5,810 yards, Par 72, 68.3 Rating/127 Slope (Men’s), 73.8 Rating/131 Slope (Women’s)
- Red: 5,008 yards, Par 72, 69.2 Rating/119 Slope
I had never heard of Mimosa Hills Country Club, which is odd. I feel pretty plugged in to golf courses around the country, but this one slipped through the cracks. It popped up on my radar when some people in one of my group text chains got memberships.
With this newfound opportunity to see the golf course, I put it on my list of places to check out. Plans fell into place when my friend Ben had some spots on a steamy Saturday morning. I got to fill out the foursome and see this Donald Ross gem.
We chose the Blue tees and all yardages are from those markers.
Hole 1 – 403 yards – Par 4
It’s no gentle handshake to start at Mimosa Hills. Tee it high and pound driver. Once you get to the green you will see the first of the great Donald Ross putting surfaces.
Hole 2 – 325 yards – Par 4
This hole is an early birdie opportunity if you stay out of the sand. The approach is semi-blind, but it is a generous target with a short club in your hand.
Hole 3 – 484 yards – Par 5
This is a serious birdie opportunity. The hole plays up and over a hill, continuing down to a green that is open in front. With the yardage it is definitely reachable.
Hole 4 – 387 yards – Par 4
Tee shots played up the right side of the fairway play well here. Hitting the fairway is relatively easily compared to dealing with the sloping green with a false front.
Hole 5 – 366 yards – Par 4
I’m sure Ross has done this before, but I had never seen it done. Take a look at the raised, volcano bunkers on the left of the fairway. I love something a little out of the ordinary.
The hole itself doglegs left with the tree on the outside corner firmly in play and waiting to block you from the green.
Hole 6 – 171 yards – Par 3
All of us hookers out there have to watch out for cars entering on this tee shot. The tree frames the hole but isn’t really in play. Missing left of the green is likely auto-bogey.
Hole 7 – 487 yards – Par 5
Like the third hole, this par five is quite gettable. The fairway is wide and heaving before giving way to an open, but small green site.
Hole 8 – 432 yards – Par 4
This is the toughest hole on the front nine. It’s long and features a pushed up green that is punishing to misses. Par is a wonderful score here.
Hole 9 – 185 yards – Par 3
This is no easy finish to the front side. Those cross bunkers are waiting for any poorly struck tee shots.
There is a ridge bisecting the green from left to right. Your distance control has to be on point to get a flat putt.
Hole 10 – 365 yards – Par 4
With a good drive you should have a short club into this dogleg left. The green is one of the tamer of the set.
Hole 11 – 380 yards – Par 4
Trees on this hole almost negate hitting a fade. The green may feel a bit clogged, but it didn’t seem that way in person as much as the photos below.
Hole 12 – 479 yards – Par 5
Just another good hole here. The landing area is blind on this dogleg right. As you make your way down the hole, you’re greeted with the reveal of the green and awesome surrounding scenery. Great stuff!
Hole 13 – 203 yards – Par 3
Long hole here that requires a very good tee shot. The bunkers and short grass around the greens can make for challenging up and downs.
Hole 14 – 477 yards – Par 5
The par fives at Mimosa Hills are really fun. This one stands out as being a little different. There is a hazard and tall grass where the others are more open. I liked the contrast.
You can see from this view that it is beneficial to stay on the fairway.
Hole 15 – 412 yards – Par 4
That tree on the right could certainly go! Other than that, Ross lets you off the hook with the green, instead asking you to excel with your longer clubs to make par.
Hole 16 – 369 yards – Par 4
The shape of this hole is begging for a fade. If you’ve been around you know I don’t have that shot. The fairway is wide enough to accommodate though.
This green has some crazy sloping that doesn’t fully show on this photo. If you’re above the hole here, good luck!
Hole 17 – 148 yards – Par 3
Ross did a great job hiding the bunkers fronting this green. What should be an easy short shot gets complicated if you miss the green.
The green is pretty tiny.
Hole 18 – 420 yards – Par 4
With a downhill slope this hole plays less than the yardage listed. A good drive sets you up to attack a generous green site for a closing birdie.
Mimosa Hills was such a fun round. I’m so happy I found out about it and made a trip to play it. It’s the surprise of 2021 so far! Any time you get a chance to see a true Donald Ross course, you do it. The green complexes are excellent and the course asks you to hit all kinds of shots. I was totally engaged for the whole round. Get here to see it!