It’s always fun to watch PGA Tour players tackle a new course for the first time, and that opportunity presents itself this week with the Palmetto Championship at Congaree.
Opened in 2018 in Ridgeland, South Carolina, Congaree Golf Club was designed by Tom Fazio and has quickly climbed up the Golfweek’s Best course rankings. The exclusive club is tied for No. 1 in South Carolina on Golfweek’s Best Private Courses list and has climbed to No. 30 on Golfweek’s Best Modern Courses list for all layouts opened in or after 1960 in the United States.
With acres of exposed sand and towering oaks as dominant features, the course will play 7,655 yards long with a par of 71 for the championship.
An interesting note: Two of the three par 5s come in the first four holes at Nos. 2 and 4, with the third being No. 12. Also of interest: With Congaree playing firm and fast across sandy terrain, two of the par 4s are potentially drivable for Tour pros, with Nos. 3 and 15 both set up at 360 yards. There also are three par 4s on the front nine that play longer than 500 yards: Nos. 6, 8 and 9.
The course – built a 40-mile drive north of Savannah, Georgia, or 40 miles northwest of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina – was founded by two billionaires and doesn’t accept a traditional membership. Dan Friedkin and Robert C. “Bob” McNair are on a philanthropic mission to raise funds for and provide opportunities to economically challenged young golfers, and instead of members the club has ambassadors who help raise money for the cause.
Thanks to yardage books provided by Puttview – the maker of detailed yardage books for more than 30,000 courses around the world – we can see exactly the challenges that players will face this week. Check out each hole below.
More: Get to know firm, fast Congaree
from Golfweek https://ift.tt/3zit4c6