Charlotte Country Club – Played May 2022
- Rankings: None of my four lists
- Location: 2465 Mecklenburg Avenue, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Year: 1910
- Original Architect: Donald Ross
- Additional Work By: Robert Trent Jones, Ron Prichard, & Tyler Rae
- Course Access: Private
- Walking Rules: Carts & Caddies Available
Score Card Information:
- Back: 6,763 yards, Par 71, 73.4 Rating/143 Slope
- Hybrid: 6,493 yards, Par 71, 71.8 Rating/139 Slope
- Middle: 6,159 yards, Par 71, 70.4 Rating/134 Slope
- Forward: 5,277 yards, Par 71/73, 65.2 Rating/122 Slope (Men’s), 70.5 Rating/129 Slope (Women’s)
Usually, when you have a major city in the name, the golf club is going to have some history. Charlotte Country Club is no exception. I found myself checking out this urban gem on a busy weekend afternoon. It was cool to see the course getting plenty of use.
The golf dates back to 1910, but the course today started with Donald Ross in 1926. After additional work by Robert Trent Jones, Ron Prichard came in to restore the Ross characteristics. I suggest checking out the brief history on the club’s website.
The club has hosted three USGA events in its time. They include the 1972 US Amateur (Vinny Giles), 2000 US Senior Amateur (Bill Shean Jr), and 2010 US Women’s Amateur (Danielle Kang)
Let’s get down to it and check out the holes.
Hole 1 – 349 yards – Par 4
The first is a gentle handshake to start. The fairway is a wide landing spot but the bunkers are in play.
The approach shot can cause some worry with the outward slopes on the green. You’ve got to be precise and control your spin with a short club.
Pay attention to the green contours as we go through the round.
Hole 2 – 369 yards – Par 4
The green is hidden from view on this tee. It’s best to keep it up on the right side for the best angle of approach.
Do your best to avoid the bunkers here because getting up and down is a tall order.
If you miss the bunkers, there are still steep runoffs.
Hole 3 – 163 yards – Par 3
Long is a no go on this mid-length one-shot hole. In the following photos, you can see the drop-off combined with a shaved back portion.
If you hit the green, there are portions with severe slopes that can influence your birdie attempt.
Hole 4 – 388 yards – Par 4
Take note of the left to right camber on this fairway. Power fades that end up in the right side will have you smiling.
Hole 5 – 351 yards – Par 4
Numerous bunkers draw your attention while you’re standing on this tee. The real intrigue comes on the approach of this dogleg left. A two-tiered green puts a premium on distance control.
Hole 6 – 383 yards – Par 4
This is a fairly generous fairway, but the crossing creek could be in play for big hitters. Playing up the left allows for the best angle to this elevated green.
With the trees hard behind the green, you can’t be long.
Hole 7 – 497 yards – Par 5
You can’t see the green on this shortish par five. The hole bends to the right as it goes up the hill, then flattens out a bit on the way to the green.
My second shot was completely blind, so I trusted my caddie and gave it a rip.
The angled green has some contouring that makes even short approaches full of interest.
Hole 8 – 412 yards – Par 4
Bombs away down the right side on this long one. The fairway slope should give your rollout a boost.
If your drive is down the left, the large tree will block the path to the green.
Hole 9 – 361 yards – Par 4
We’ve got another straight hole here. A good line is over the right side of the center bunker.
Missing left of the green is not advised due to a sharp drop. That being said, the bunkers right are no picnic either.
Hole 10 – 372 yards – Par 4
This hole doglegs hard to the left with a pond waiting short of the green. Properly shaped tee shots will get good roll and leave a short second shot.
The approach is a mountain of short grass, so if you spin it too much the ball can run for a while.
Be aware of the pin position, because you don’t want to have the putt I did in the photo below!
Hole 11 – 172 yards – Par 3
If water gives you fits, just close your eyes here. It’s all carry, but the green is a big target. Anything solid should be on dry land.
Hole 12 – 574 yards – Par 5
Twelve is a beast of a hole, no doubt. Most of us will need three very solid shots to get home. Keeping it in the short stuff is imperative. Play it straightaway from the tee.
The rest of the hole reveals itself once you get over the hill. Take care to stay out of the large bunker on the left.
Hole 13 – 439 yards – Par 4
Like number eight, you’ll need to keep the tee shot up the right side to avoid tree trouble. The length is mitigated a bit by the elevated tee.
Hole 14 – 331 yards – Par 4
This is a short hole, but if you get caught in the bunkers a world of hurt can befall you. The right side provides the best approach angle, but trees await if you overdo it.
Hole 15 – 358 yards – Par 4
We started to get some good light here. Precision over power works here. Keeping your tee shot between the bunkers should set up a nice approach shot.
There is some severe slope in this green. Keep an eye on the ball until it stops rolling.
Hole 16 – 391 yards – Par 4
If you’ve got a fade, this is the time to bust it out. The hole doglegs hard right with a bunker guarding the turn.
Approaches must not go long or left. Short is not a bad place to be.
Hole 17 – 159 yards – Par 3
Hitting into a low sun can be a challenge, but even more so when it’s to a perched green. You can see the sand in the front, but some devilish bunkers guard the back side as well.
Hole 18 – 424 yards – Par 4
There’s no easy finish at Charlotte Country Club. On this dogleg right, you dive down from the tee before rising back up to the green. The landing area is blind.
With the green elevated and fronted by a bunker, indifferent approach shots will be repelled quickly.
The green setting in front of the large clubhouse is a cool spot to be.
Playing Charlotte Country Club on a beautiful weekday afternoon was a great use of time. The course had challenging holes and some gettable ones. The greens provided the most interest in my eyes. Their contouring and speed made you think the entire way around. Playing those greens all the time would either make you a great putter or drive you nuts!