Zephyr Melton
For one week each April, Augusta, Ga., turns into the middle of the golf universe. That is, after all, because of the Masters. It’s probably the most prestigious match in golf — and the rendezvous for nearly each stakeholder and fan within the sport.
With so many golf nuts descending upon the city of 200,000, scoring a tee time may be robust. Augusta Nation Membership, which sits proper subsequent door to Augusta Nationwide, is a well-liked spot and its tee sheet stays jam-packed Sunday to Sunday. Augusta Municipal — a.okay.a. The Patch — has its personal allure (which can solely develop with Augusta Nationwide’s future funding), however the situations of its fairways and greens is a far cry from what may be thought-about main high quality. Palmetto Golf Membership (the house membership of Kevin Kisner) in close by Aiken, S.C., is one other in style possibility, however with out the correct connections, you’ll be SOL. Thankfully, there’s one other nice possibility for Masters week golf — and it’s open to the general public.
Enter Aiken Golf Membership. This Donal Ross-designed muni is a par-70 that measures out to only shy of 5,800 yards from the guidelines. Better of all? It prices simply $35 to stroll throughout peak instances. However don’t be fooled by the pint-sized yardage (and price ticket!), this course packs a punch.
It’s the right course for schlepping your bag with its quick yardage and compact format, nevertheless it’s in no way a stroll within the park. There’s some severe elevation change all through the property that’ll have you ever sucking wind on a few the holes. For that motive, it’s an important place to get out a Sunday bag and produce about six golf equipment.
I bought my first publicity to Aiken Golf Membership throughout this yr’s Masters week. I used to be in Augusta the week prior for the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice, and on Drive, Chip and Putt Sunday I used to be nonetheless within the Augusta space. A buddy of mine from a unique publication had simply flown in and was seeking to play a bit twilight golf.
“Ever been to Aiken?” he requested
It didn’t take lengthy for me to conform to a late-afternoon tee time. And from the second I stepped on property, I used to be hooked.
Carolina pines body nearly each gap, and sandy dunes function prominently within the routing. The course winds by means of the encircling neighborhood, however the houses on the perimeter are removed from intrusive. In the event you’re a fan of Pinehurst Resort, Aiken Golf Membership can have you smitten.
The greens are tiny and undulating, whereas the fairways have tons of tilt. In the event you’e not comfy hitting off uneven lies, this course will eat your lunch. Oh, and I hope you understand how to hit off sandy lies. In the event you stray off line, you’re all however sure to be hitting out of a waste space.
Agency-and-fast fairways are on a regular basis situations at Aiken and grainy Bermuda greens make holing putts a tall process. However on the finish of the day, there’s not far more enjoyable you possibly can have on a golf course than spending a stroll among the many lengthy shadows at Aiken Golf Membership.
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