Love it or Hate it!?!?
Oh boy, do I get a mixed bag of reactions when I talk about Tobacco Road Golf Club. Usually, the saying is love it or hate it, with Tobacco Road, you better love it, or I might unfriend you. Bottom line, Tobacco Road is a great golf course and a MUST play when you’re in the area, say visiting Pinehurst Resort which is only 25 minutes away.
I’m shocked how much of a hot and cold reaction I get when promoting Tobacco Road as one of the best golf courses you can play. Trust me. There is a strong legion of golfers who agree with me. If you aren’t familiar with Tobacco Road or the cult following that the late course designer Mike Strantz has developed, let me enlighten you.
Meet Mike Strantz
Mike Strantz is the Gale Sayers of golf course architects; cancer cut his career way too short. His last project before his death from cancer at the age of 50 was the renovation of the Monterey Peninsula Country Club Shore Course. Strantz was honored in 2000 by Golfweek as one of the Top 10 Greatest Golf Architects of All Time. At the time of his death, Mike Strantz was the most in-demand course designer in the world. Who doesn’t hate cancer!
Now that you know a bit of the life of Mike Strantz let me clue you in on his design philosophy. Mike was very much a hand in dirt golf architect. When he signed up to build a course, he was there on-site, walking every inch of the property. Think of it along the lines of Christian Bale, going deep into character to put something truly epic on the big screen. Unlike any other architect, Strantz only worked one job at a time, so he could be on-site to go over every detail.
Strantz is a modern-day legend, gone way before his time, and I’m telling you how amazing Tobacco Road is to play. So, you are probably asking yourself, why would anyone ever say anything different? Why is there such a hot and cold reaction to the design?
Strantz’s designs have this remarkable ability to be both unique and polarizing. Strantz appeals to the golfer’s eye in two ways; by intimidating you and stimulating your imagination. If you like a challenge, you will love Strantz’s designs.
Welcome to Tobacco Road
Tobacco Road is a perfect Strantz example, a stunning design that seems to be the most challenging golf course on earth at first glance. If you get into the wrong position, you’re going to pay for it. Some of the bunkers (such as the right-side bunker on the 11th hole) are 20 to 30 feet deep. Even getting into the bunkers (as in, getting in… literally) is challenging to manage, let alone getting your ball out of them. If you’re easily frustrated, play safe or don’t play at all.
If I could only use two words to describe Tobacco, they would be breathtaking and frustrating. The staff at Tobacco Road does a great job with the upkeep of the course. The conditions are near perfect, and so are the aesthetics. I felt as if I was on an actual tobacco farm; from the ornamental tee boxes to the abandoned farm equipment in the landscape, it completes the feel.
Tobacco Road is an experience like no other. Sure, plenty of “golf purists” don’t like it, but this is an extraordinary golf experience. It is visually stunning, and every hole is unique and memorable.
From the first tee, Tobacco Road says, “Here I am, take a good look.” Many shots will seem impossible, but it’s just a mind game. Strantz does a great job using the topology of the landscape to build illusions. There’s a lot of room, and good scores can be had if you know the course and hit shots to the right target.
Final Score
I’m honored to have had the chance to play Tobacco Road and research Mike Strantz for this article. Learning about his methods and background was an absolute pleasure, and I only wish he could have had time to build a more extensive legacy. All nine of Mike Strantz’sdesigns are wildly popular. I’ve only had the chance to play Tobacco Road and his first design, Caledonia Golf and Fish Club in Myrtle Beach. While I wasn’t as taken with Caledonia as I am with Tobacco Road, it was one of the best golf courses we played in Myrtle Beach.
In the Pinehurst area, Tobacco Road is, without a doubt, worth the time and money to play. Bring a good attitude, your imagination, and a few extra golf balls!