Welcome to the Two Down Press golf newsletter!

A day late, but hopefully not a dollar short! Another delayed newsletter this week as life outside of blog land has been busy for yours truly.

In this week’s 2DP, we’re dipping out toes back into the architecture waters with a breakdown of a great hole at an unsung local venue. We also have more news out of Candyroot Lodge, the new South Carolina resort that has given us plenty to write about in recent months. Let’s dive right in.

GREAT GOLF HOLES

A 501-yard Par 5?! Put me down for a 4.

We’ve all done it - predetermining our score on a given hole based on a cursory glance at the scorecard. We see a yardage without any knowledge of the terrain, wind, or course conditions and think we know exactly how a hole will play.

I certainly made this mistake earlier this year ahead of my round at Statesville Country Club, host of the 2026 Twilight Invitational. Measuring only ~6,300 yards from the Blue tees, SCC was full of holes that played tougher than the scorecard suggested, including a set of par 5s that held up well to modern hitting distances despite their modest length.

The 4th hole was the standout of the bunch, with strong natural features, classic strategy, and the perfect blend of risk and reward. Here is our breakdown of the par 5 4th at Statesville Country Club, a reminder that Great Golf Holes aren’t only found at Top 100 private clubs!

The Tee Shot

As we’ve learned from Augusta National’s 13th hole, short par 5’s can be some of the most exiting in golf provided they challenge players in creative ways not directly tied to distance. This is absolutely the case at the 4th, where players arriving on the tee are greeted with a somewhat disorienting view. The tee shot plays up and over a hill, making the landing area blind from the teeing ground. Playing as a dogleg left, the fairway rises over the hill and bends around a fairway bunker around 230 yards. For longer hitters, the obvious temptation is to pound driver over the corner and shorten the hole significantly, but there are several factors at play that make doing so easier said than done.

The first is the angle of the tee shot, as the tee box is pushed up against the left side of the playing corridor. Trees up the left cut in closer than they may appear in the above photo, making a draw a true requirement for those that want to get up the left side. A dead-straight tee shot will also run out of room around 275 yards, forcing players to be thoughtful about both line and distance, not just one or the other. The fairway is quite generous for shorter hitters or those playing less-than-driver, but anyone looking to get aggressive with a 280+ yard drive will have to play an extremely precise shot.

The Approach

The design of the green and the dynamics at play on the approach shot reinforce the strategy from the tee. Players who successfully hug the left side realize a double reward at the 4th - not only do they have a shorter shot in, but they also enjoy a preferred angle for attempting to reach the green in 2.

The green is angled front-left to back-right and is protected by a bunker in the front-right, making the prospect of hitting a long club into the green seem much more achievable from the left side. The fairway also slopes significantly right to left in the landing zone, but there is a low, flat spot on the left side that would be classified as “position A” for anyone looking to send something at the green.

Those who bail right off the tee will have a much longer distance to the green and are likely looking to position a layup for a wedge-length approach. For shorter hitters or those looking to play conservatively, however, there are no real fairway hazards or places to get in extreme trouble. The hole allows for a relatively easy par but tempts players to get overly aggressive in search of the elusive birdie.

The Bottom Line

The reason I love this hole is that it uses creative design to challenge high-level golfers without making the hole miserable to play for the average player. Holes that offer a “technical” challenge often cross the line and become gimmicky, random, or just too hard. While those looking to overpower the 4th will need to display a high level of discipline and control, there is always an easy route to the hole for the lesser player. Contrast this with a narrow, hazard-filled design that accomplishes the same goal for low handicaps (i.e. making them think about their tee shot) but is impossible for the masses, and I think it’s easy to tell which option would be more fun to play.

PRESENTED BY TWILIGHT GOLF CLUB

TGC is a CGA member club that supports equitable access to golf in North Carolina. With an active chapter in Charlotte, it’s a great way to meet other passionate golfers in town and play some competitive golf in a casual setting. Annual dues are $60 per year giving members access to:

Want to get involved? Visit the website for more details.

LOCAL BEAT

The 2014 U.S. Women’s Open champion recently returned to the Carolina Sandhills, not to celebrate her lone major championship title town the road in Pinehurst, but to build a golf course at the region’s hottest new development. Various media outlets announced earlier this week that Wie West will be involved with the design of a par 3 course known as Sweet Tooth at Candyroot Lodge.

Sweet Tooth is the second course to be named and announced at Candyroot after Mike Koprowski’s Milkstone, which is under construction and set for preview play in late 2026. In a recent Instagram post, the resort indicated that Wie West and Koprowski will collaborate on the design for Sweet Tooth and that the final routing is still in flux.

Pinch me: I’ve read all the stories, but I still struggle to believe that there is a major golf resort in the works so close to Charlotte! The owners have clearly indicated that they have ambitious goals for Candyroot and plan to build multiple golf courses, but breaking ground on a short course before the first regulation offering opens is a clear show of strength and confidence.

Breaking the mold: Kudos for the team at Candyrooting for getting creative in terms of architect selections for their projects to date. The Big 3 of Doak, Hanse, and McKlay Kidd have been hoovering up all the major resort work for years, so seeing Koprowski, who is still lesser known despite his acclaimed work at Broomsedge, and Wie West get the nod shows a willingness on behalf of ownership to try something different.

STORIES TO TRACK

Lawrence Allan and Grady Brame Jr. Win U.S. Four-Ball: The duo from Louisiana took home the title in the desert, but several Carolinas teams had strong showings. Congratulations to 2DP subscribers and Charlotteans Paul Fitzgerald and Scott Hamel on making match play as the 15 seed! View full scoring.

CGA Stalwarts Kuehn, Brogden Claim Senior and Super Senior Titles: At High Meadows Country Club, Brenda Corrie Kuehn and Pat Brogden won their respective divisions at the North Carolina Senior Amateur Championship. Kuehn’s victory was her 10th CGA victory, while Brogden, who may be the most accomplished cross-handed player in all of golf, claimed her 20th CGA title! View full scoring.

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