I'm not going burden you with any overheated prose about the terrific Tanglewood Park Championship Course I played last week. Instead, I will just share a few photos I took. Suffice to say that the Championship Course, which hosted the 1974 PGA Championship, has aged wonderfully, although its less-than-monster length puts it out of contention for professional tournaments in this day and age. It is still an excellent test of golf and a challenge for the finest amateurs and juniors in the land, and an undeniable pleasure for the rest of us.
At $37, cart included, it could be the best bargain in golf as well. I showed up mid-morning one day last week and was on the first tee - actually everyone started on the 10th - in 15 minutes. Although the twosome in front of me did not dally, I took my time making sure I captured a few photos that provide a sense of the great course Robert Trent Jones crafted in 1956.
I hope you like them. By the way, real estate prices in the Winston-Salem area seemed reasonable, and 10 other daily fee courses in the area, including the second 18 at Tanglewood, are all reasonably priced as well. Local residents can join Tanglewood for a $1,000 trail fee annually. What a country!
Tanglewood Championship Course, 4061 Clemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, 336-778-6321. Designer: Robert Trent Jones (1956). www.tanglewoodpark.org. Championship tees: 7,101 yards, rating 75.4, slope 142. Mid Back tees: 6637,73.5,133. Mid Front tees: 6,014, 69.9, 127.
The 8th hole at Tanglewood was played as the 17th during the 1974 PGA Championship. During the final round, Jack Nicklaus's approach shot stopped just beyond the back edge of the green. His ball had picked up a clump of mud but because he was not on the putting surface, he could not clean it. It took him three more shots to get into the hole. He lost to Lee Trevino by a stroke.
The 9th hole was played as the 18th for the PGA Championship. The approach shot is straight uphill to a small green that slopes from left to right and is protected by three menacing bunkers.
The 18th hole bends straight uphill to the right. The large bunker at the corner protects against any short cuts.
The 7th at Tanglewood is a long par 3 (243 from the tips) whose bunkering around the green is indicative of protection for most greens on the course. The water on the left is only in play for severely pulled tee shots.