Pinehurst No. 2, Quail Hollow, and...

Welcome to the Two Down Press golf newsletter!

Our subject line today is the answer to a trivia question - what are the three North Carolina golf courses that have hosted a men’s major championship? Answer below.

Today we’re launching our Day Trips series, where we’ll profile some under-the-radar, affordable, and interesting golf experiences within driving distance of Charlotte. If you know me, you might be able to guess where we’re headed first…

DAY TRIPS

A Major Venue and a Golden Age Muni in Winston-Salem, NC

You guessed it - we’re headed to my hometown for our first Day Trip. The Triad is home to a high-quality and diverse set of public golf venues - classic and modern, urban and country, mountain-adjacent and waterfront.

While the options are plenty, I’d steer day-trippers toward a couple courses with unique histories, good land, and greens fees that won’t break the bank. Here are my best recommendations for a day trip to Winston-Salem.

Tanglewood Park, Championship Course

The answer to today’s trivia question is the Championship Course at Tanglewood Park, a Robert Trent Jones design and host the 1974 PGA Championship! Known as someone who became more heavy-handed later in his career, RTJ’s work at Tanglewood demonstrates restraint and respect for the gently rolling parkland terrain on which the course sits. The design features wide corridors and generous fairways, but elevated greens, deep bunkers, and long par 3s make the course a true ball striking test (imagine playing it as a 7,000 yard par 70 with a persimmon driver and 1974 golf ball).

A 2018 restoration injected life back into the sleepy county-owned facility. The greens were converted from bent to bermuda, and a full-course bunker renovation reinvigorated the attractive cape and bay look. Standout holes include the left-to-right banking par 4 4th, the strategic drive-and-pitch 6th (featuring a centerline bunker and narrow, angled green), and a pair of stout, uphill closers in the 9th and 18th.

You have to golf your ball to play well at Tanglewood Championship, but you probably won’t lose many, and players of all skills levels will enjoy the routing, variety, and sense of countryside tranquility the course provides.

Reynolds Park Golf Course

You could absolutely spend your whole day at Tanglewood (there is a second course and an 18-hole Par 3), but I’d send those seeking more golf over to Reynolds Park for an emergency 9 (or 12?!). Located only 2 miles from downtown W-S, this municipal course has been called one of the country’s top renovation candidates due to it’s incredible land and architectural lineage.

The exact details of RP’s construction are a bit murky, though historians tend to agree that Perry Maxwell (designer of Winston-Salem’s Old Town Club and notable courses like Prairie Dunes and Southern Hills) had a hand in laying out the course. The architectural ties between OTC and RP are clear upon play, as both courses feature typical Maxwellian characteristics (fairways routed over some of the most severe land, multiple loops returning to the clubhouse, etc.) and even have a few similar hole designs (ex. OTC #1 and RP #4).

Though years of poor management have negatively impacted the conditioning, RP is still a blast to play thanks to it’s dramatic slopes and intimate routing. The course is divided by a road (12 holes on one side, 6 on the other), so the move is to play the back 9 plus holes 1-3 to complete the “RP12.” There are some fun holes across the street, but the best of RP resides on the parcel adjacent to the clubhouse.

Before Golf

Winston has a sneaky good food/drink scene, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t hit you with a couple recs for your trip. If logistics allow you to head into town pre-round, go grab some coffee and pastries at Camino Bakery or a chicken biscuit from Krankies Coffee. If you’re in a hurry, you could do worse than stopping at a Biscuitville.

After Golf

Going to Winston to play golf? It would be a crime not to send you to Putters for buffalo chicken tenders, but pizza and beer at Incendiary Brewing/Cugino Forno isn’t a bad alternative.

LOCAL RECS

Cocoon Golf’s “Queens of the Green” Clinics Create Access Points for New Female Golfers

According to data from the National Golf Foundation, females represent a disproportionately higher percentage of beginner golfers (41%) vs. the overall golf population. While women and girls are taking up golf at a higher rate, they often need help getting comfortable in a sport not historically known for it’s welcoming nature.

Colleen Shepard, a former college player who has spent her career in the golf industry, is passionate about helping ladies get started in the game. Through her organization Cocoon Golf, Shepard is giving back to the game she loves by creating pathways for new players. Recently, this effort has taken the form of a series of clinics called “Queens of the Green,” where new golfers have a chance to learn the basics in a judgment-free setting.

“A few ladies came to me asking if I’d help bridge the [golf knowledge] gap for ladies in their industries (construction, commercial real estate, engineering, etc.),” said Shepard. “These industries do a lot of business entertainment on the golf course, and the ladies want to participate.”

The Queens of the Green have held two clinics to date - the first on common questions new golfers might have (like what to wear, golf etiquette, etc.) and a second on basic fundamentals. With over 75 attendees to date, Shepard is considering increasing the frequency.

“The goal is to have a regular monthly cadence of in-person events focused on empowering community, golf fundamentals, leadership, fitness, and mental strength. We want this to be the #1 place for women to learn to play golf in Charlotte.”

Want to get involved?: Check out the Cocoon Golf website for event updates and links to social profiles. In addition to clinics, there is a Queens of the Green tournament in the works for late March, so stay tuned for more updates!

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