Welcome to the Two Down Press golf newsletter!

I had a blast last weekend getting some swings in at Green Man Brewing thanks to the folks at 828 Golf Sim. A simulator pop-up at a brewery! We need this in Charlotte. Check them out if you’re ever in Asheville - bonus points if you can find the 2DP stickers I placed at Burial Brewing and Asheville Music Hall…

We have a packed news and content agenda this week as golf season truly starts cranking up. We begin with a profile on a destination 90 minutes from Charlotte that, until recently, was more known for its wildlife than its golf courses. We also have updates on the 2026 Charlotte City Amateur (one of our favorite events of the year), tournament registration reminders, and course development news from one of North Carolina’s hottest destinations. All that and more in this week’s newsletter - enjoy the read.

DAY TRIPS

If you go back 5 years, its safe to say that Asheboro, NC was universally more well known as the home of the North Carolina Zoo than as a golf destination. Fast forward to 2026, and the rural town is now home to 2 intriguing golf courses that provide visitors quality experiences from both ends of the public golf spectrum.

In today’s Day Trips piece, we’re bringing you notes and perspectives on a social media darling you’ve almost definitely heard of and a historic hidden gem that might have just slipped under your radar. Located just 90 minutes from Charlotte, this pair makes for a great double-header for those looking to explore some of the most unique golf experiences our state has to offer.

By Luke Johnson, Two Down Press

Tot Hill Farm is a true public golf miracle story. If you’re frustrated about what the post-COVID golf boom has done to your local course, the flipside is that we can all be thankful that increased demand for golf, burgeoning interest in golf travel, and a timely restoration saved this course from the brink of closure.

Just 5 years ago, this Mike Strantz design was staring down the barrel of going under. Greens fees had dropped to $30, and many of Strantz’s original features were being eroded away by deferred maintenance. Fast-forward to today, and investments from new ownership have both the course and historic clubhouse humming on all cylinders, welcoming throngs of visitors each weekend happy to shell out $150+ green fees.

The obvious comp for Tot Hill is Strantz’s Tobacco Road in Sanford, NC. While both courses might be classified as “wild” by first time visitors, Tot Hill’s design and topography make Tobacco Road seem conventional in spots. While flashy bunkers and ubiquitous sand at Tobacco Road leave their mark, players will remember Tot Hill for its prominent rock features, a trait that you won’t find on many other courses.

Strantz was not afraid to tackle the rocky and severe terrain at Tot Hill - in fact, he embraced it. His work at THF pushes the boundaries in every way, from using topography in extreme ways at the 1st (looks more like a ski slope than a golf hole) and 9th (makes Augusta’s 18th look “not that uphill” by comparison), to designing concept holes you won’t find anywhere else (holes 5, 9, 12, and 15 come to mind). He did it all with the artistic flair that Strantz courses are known for, creating something that manages to both be bold and beautiful, but also functional for modern golf.

The par 3s at Tot Hill are an especially memorable set, showing off the course’s rock features and demonstrating Strantz’s ability to create golf that is both playable and visually stunning. Each hole has a totally unique character, and the playing characteristics are incredibly diverse (uphill, downhill, blind, varied greens, etc.).

The cherry on top of a trip to Tot Hill is the clubhouse, an old farmhouse that is bare-bones in a charming, “I could hang out here all day” kind of way. Visiting this course feels like a true retreat - a place to get out in the woods, explore nature, battle the elements, then return to a restful place to put your feet up on the screened-in porch. While the restored course now sits at the top of the list of Strantz designs and should be on the list of any serious golfer in the Carolinas, its the full experience of a day at Tot Hill that makes this place such a draw.

By Ryan Cummings, Palmetto & Pine

Donald Ross has his name on some of the most famous golf courses in the world, but my favorite thing about him is how he grew the game of golf in the U.S. by building easily accessible municipal golf courses. In the great state of North Carolina, he built quite a few courses that fit this description.

If you closed your eyes and pictured a muni, something like the Asheboro Municipal Golf Course might pop into your mind. It’s a place that feels like golf in its simplest form. There’s a small clubhouse that’s outdated and stuck in time, but it’s incredible. If you take a peak into the front room you’ll find the original plans and some newspaper cutouts from when the course was opened for play (1937).

The course is beautifully routed through a small piece of property that largely remains the same as it was when it was originally built (the pond in front of the 8th hole used to be just a creek). Finding a course like this is rare nowadays - to have a course remain nearly untouched, solely weathered by time and play.

If you choose to walk the course, it costs $8 for 18 holes as a resident and $10 to walk 18 holes as a non-resident. Residents can ride 18 holes for $21, and $25 for non-residents.

If you look at the newspaper clipping, $0.50 - $0.75 for 18 holes in 1937 adjusted for inflation comes out to about $11-$17 for 18 holes so if you choose to walk you’re getting a better deal than when the course originally opened. Not sure how many courses you can say that about today…

It’s a municipal course, so the conditions aren’t going to wow you, but it really is an enjoyable 9-hole course that is worth the visit. Especially if you pair it with a round at nearby Tot Hill Farm, it makes for an A-tier 27-36 hole day.

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TOURNAMENTS

The 2026 Charlotte City Amateur will take place August 14-16, with the final round set to be held at Carmel Country Club. The opening round will take place at the recently renovated Pine Lake Country Club, while the host of Saturday’s second round is still to be determined.

The tournament, which for years has been administered by the small but mighty team of Braxton McLennan and Chip Hunter, also recently formed a committee to help secure future host sites and elevate the overall playing experience for competitors. The committee is comprised of members from the various host clubs across the city, which will help ensure the availability of high quality venues for future championships.

A formal announcement about the 2026 event, including qualifying details, should be coming soon - keep an eye on the tournament website for updates.

STORIES TO TRACK

Akshay Bhatia, Doc Redman Get Big Wins on Tour: Last weekend brought about 2 more victories at the professional level for former CGA champions! Bhatia’s win at Bay Hill saw him rise to 19th in the latest world rankings, while Clemson alum and 2017 U.S. Amateur champion Redman claimed his first professional win on the Korn Ferry Tour, which has him well positioned for a return to the PGA TOUR next season.

U.S. Amateur Registration Opens Next Week: Sign-ups begin Wednesday, March 18 at 9 AM. Handicap limit of 0.4. Great local qualifier at Mid Pines - happy to see this venue on the calendar yet again.

Carolinas Four-Ball Registration Opens Monday: General Open Entry begins Monday, March 16 at 8 PM. Hosted annually at Camden Country Club, this might be the best CGA event you can register for without playing in a qualifier - grab a buddy and sign up!

Old Barnwell Selected to Host USGA Championship: The Aiken club will host the 2031 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, the USGA announced last week. This will be the first USGA event hosted at the 2023-vintage Brian Schneider and Blake Conant design, which has already hosted several major college events.

Tobacco Road Announces Plans for New Short Course: The Matchbox, a 12-hole Par 3 course that will be located near the 12th and 13th fairways, is expected to open as early as August 2026. Mark White, one of the original Tobacco Road shapers, will help bring the course to life. The layout will be primarily comprised of synthetic turf - I’m thinking something along the lines of the Bigfoot Pitch & Putt in the Cashiers/Highlands area. More information to come, but another great and unique addition to the Sandhills golf scene - great logo too!

HOUSEKEEPING

I’m planning to take a week off barring any major Charlotte golf news, so no 2DP next Thursday. It’s been a busy 2026 on the content front, but need to mix in a break here and there - it’s a small shop after all! Thanks as always for reading and we’ll catch you back here on the 26th.

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