By Patrick Jones
Carolinians looking for a golf-filled escape, whether a quick weekend getaway or an extended dimpled junket, most often think of long-established destinations such as Pinehurst and Myrtle Beach. The first locality that leaps to mind as a golfing haven is normally not Fayetteville. But it is time for a re-examination. Along with its high profile role in providing our nation’s defense, Fayetteville also offers an array of cultural and recreational attractions. It has a sporting heritage –Babe Ruth slugged his first professional home run there in 1914 –that’s is heavily steeped in golf. U.S. Open and Masters champion Raymond Floyd, and his sister, former LPGA star Marlene Floyd, groomed their games growing up in Fayetteville. Their daddy, L.B., still lives in town just off the No. 6 tee box at Cypress Lakes Golf Club, the family’s home club. Chip beck, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, is native of the city.
Local Methodist College is a Division III golf juggernaut. The women’s team captured its sixth consecutive national championship in May, and the men’s team is perennial contender. The school offers a golf management degree program that furnishes some of the game’s best-prepared club professionals. Suffice it to say that Fayetteville knows golf.
Golf travelers should consider ranking the city high on their destination list for several reasons. For one, it is home to Anderson Creek Golf Club, recipient of North Carolina Magazine’s "Best New Course" in the state entitlement, along with other quality layouts that include Cypress Lakes, King’s Grant, Gates Four, Bayonet at Puppy Creek, Carolina Lakes, Baywood and Keith Hills. Unless you live to burn through your bankroll, exceptional affordability is a key component to the city’s golf allure. Packages that include a hotel stay, an 18 hole round and breakfast begin at just $74. At some better-known destinations, that will not even get you past the doorman. Greens fees at all of the courses in the Fayetteville Area, even on weekends at peek season, never reach the $50 mark.
Like a 110-yard par-3, Fayetteville is a breeze to reach. The city bugs Interstate 95 at a midpoint between New York and Florida, which has always made it an ideal stopover for travelers looking to get in a round or three. It is approximately an hour’s drive from the Triangle via U.S.1 or I-40 to I-95. Golfers in Greensboro and the rest of the Triad area can be on a Fayetteville-area tee box about two hours after doing a trunk slam in their driveway.
"Our accessibility makes us an ideal location for golfers," said John Meroski, president and chief executive officer of the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The affordability of our golf, coupled with the quality of the courses we can offer, is just what golfers are looking for. For a non-traditional market, we offer an excellent alternative to the established golf destinations like Myrtle Beach and Pinehurst."
The Fayetteville Area CVB has partnered with the Fayetteville Golf Association, which includes eight golf courses and 12 hotels motivated to boost the city’ s ability to draw golfers year-round from across the country as well as the Carolinas. "Our community has always realized that golf is great niche market for us to develop and one of our stronger assets," said Meroski. " We see a lot of golfers in the spring, but what we’re trying to do is build that traffic 10 or 11 months out of the year. With the climate of North Carolina, you can golf for that long and we want and we want to capture that."
"People who come and experience our golf will be pleasantly surprised," he added. We invited golfers to come in, enjoy our hospitality and give us a try."
Besides the golf, there are plenty of other diversions to occupy travelers between rounds and after hours. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum should be at the top of the list. Among its draws is a simulator that lets you experience a helicopter attack, a parachute jump and an ATV pursuit (which might seem mild stimulation to golfers who have spent a round trying to convert up and downs after short-siding themselves around the green). "From an arts and cultural perspective, we talk about Fayetteville being, ‘Festiveille’ meaning that there is regularly some type of festival or arts and entertainment event going on in our community," said Meroski. "We also offer a plethora of retail opportunities from the mainstream malls and retail outlets, as well as downtown shopping at our boutique shops."
Dinning options are also plentiful in Fayetteville. Chris’s Steak House on Raeford Road is one of the local’s favorites. Bella Villa on South McPherson Church Road is an excellent choice for those who prefer Italian cuisine in an informal setting. In addition, considering hops-based beverages are a favorite of many golfers, the city has a couple of microbreweries -The Mash House and Huske Hardware Brewing Company – that would be a good addition to an itinerary.
Hotel choices for golf packages include the Holiday Inn Bordeaux, which is centrally located to most destinations. Here is a quick rundown of each of the courses you can play in the Fayetteville area.
Anderson Creek Golf Club- Designed by Davis Love III, this was his first foray into course design in his native state and it has won rave reviews. North Carolina Magazine voted it the "Best New Course" in the state for 2001. The 7,108-yard, par-72 course has a Pinehurst-like feel without the accompanying prices.
Bayonet at Puppy Creek – This 7,021-yard Willard Byrd design opened in 1995. The course was the brainchild of Joe Poole, owner and operator of Carolina Turf Co. The course has played host to Hooters Tour events.
Baywood Golf Club – This is a Stuart Gooden design that opened in 1990. It is not a particularly demanding course, playing to 6,800 yards from the back tees with a slope / rating 126/71.9
Carolina Lakes Golf Course – Located in Harnett County off Hwy 87, this Robert Trent Jr. layout was completed in 1981. The golf course has tree-lined fairways and bent grass greens.
Cypress Lakes Golf Course – This aptly named course combines challenging and scenic golf along with an Okefenokee Swamp-like feel on certain holes, particularly the par-3 ninth, which requires a carry over tannin-stained water. As mentioned, this home of golfing Floyds. Stuart Gooden, along with Raymond and Marlene’s daddy, L.B., designed the course back in 1968. You’ll find some pf the best burgers in town at the grill and make sure to save a bite of it for Duke, the pro shop’s Black Labrador mascot.
Gates Four Golf & Country Club – This club completed a $5 million, 29,000-square-foot clubhouse in 2001 that is the envy of Cumberland County. Maples Golf Management has overseen Gates Four since 1999. Architect Dan Maples put his imprint on the course, including reversing the two nines, bringing golfers home with a view of the new clubhouse. The original Willard Byrd design in 1967.
Keith Hills Golf Club – Located in Buies Creek, this 36-hole layout is the home course of the Campbell University golf team. Ellis Maples opened the original 18 in 1974. Son Dan Maples completed the second 18 in 2002. Golf Digest voted Keith Hill one of the Top 100 "Bangs for Your Buck" in the country.
King’s Grant Golf & Country Club – A semi-private course designed by Jim Holmes and opened in 1990. It was chosen the No. 1 course in Cumberland County in 2000 and 2001 by readers of the Fayetteville Observer.
"Fayetteville offers as high a quality of golf courses as anything you will find in Myrtle Beach or Pinehurst," said Loren Beahm, president of the Fayetteville Golf Association and head golf professional for the past nine years at Gates Four. "We don’t have the historic background of a Pinehurst No. 2, but the golf courses in Fayetteville are high quality and they compare favorably with anything you are going to find elsewhere in the country or the region.
"Even better, they are not crowded and the prices are extremely reasonable," added Beahm. "There’s not a golf course in the area that going to charge you $50 any day of the year, and that includes the cart. That is tough to beat."
For those interested in booking a golf trip to Fayetteville, visit the web site www.fayettevillegolfpackages.com or contact the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau at 888-NC-CHARM.
Reprinted with permission from Triad Golf Today
