Rory McIlroy's Miracle Mile - Play Best Golf Courses in Charlotte, NC

Featured Golf Course“Park-Like Setting” Draws Golfers ToSpringfield Golf Club, Ft. Mill, SCBy: Sam SmithPlaying Springfield GolfClub in Ft. Mill, SC islike “walking in a park”that has been transformed into spectaculargolf course. Located on aheavily wooded and hilly site just overthe South Carolina border it featuresfour holes that flank Sugar Creekand the challenge is increased by 13holes that play across and alongperennial streams that feed into theCatawba River.But before you buy a set of waterwingsto survive the water at SpringfieldGolf Club, this traditional styleof golf course designed with its shotmakingrequirements, is not a long par-72 layout at 6,906-yard from back teesto just under 4,800 for the ladies. Withfive sets of tees, Springfield truly canfit any golf game level.“We want every golfer to enjoyhis/her day at Springfield,” said HeadGolf Professional Bud Welch, “Thankfullywe have a steady daily play business,which help spread the wordabout Springfield and in many casesencourage golfers to become membersof the club.”The Clyde Johnston designharkens back to the traditionalschemes of the Donald Ross 1920'sand the Golden Age of Architecturein golf and Springfield Golf Club hasquickly made a name for itselfamong Charlotte golf courses sinceopening in 2001.“The graceful folds and contoursthat define the land nearFort Mill provide the perfectsetting for a golfcourse whose design istimeless and playabilityconsummate,” proclaimedJohnston shortly after theopening. “The golf experienceat Springfield willbe as memorable as it isstrategic and demanding.”Johnston has providedvery generous landingareas in the tree-linedBermuda fairways, but hismedium size undulatinggreens may be tricky untilyou get the feel of therolling terrain that controls the break ofyour putt. There are fewer than 50bunkers in play filled with consistentsand, while the bunkers and greens aresurrounded by zoysia and tifdwarf turfthat helps greatly in getting-up-anddowna little easier.Another feature that adds to yourtrip around Springfield Golf Club is theconcentrated effort to preserve wildlifeand the environmentally sensitiveareas. With all of the lateral water hazardslining many fairways, the protectedareas will snag a balloccasionally but has helped define theneighborhood park like setting. If yourball goes into one of these areas, “letOne of only fourtraditional "dog-leg"holes at Springfield395-yard Par-4 5th holeSpringfield Golf Club clubhouse stand guard over Par-4400-yard 9th holethe turtles have it!On the front side at Springfieldyou will find only two traditional “dogleg”holes, one of which is the par-4400-yard 5th hole, requiring a tee shotup the left side of the fairway and thenover one of the sensitive areas to anup-hill undulating green. Like thefront side, on the back nine a majorityof the tee shots are made without seeingthe green due to the rolling hillsand trees, But hey, what would a parkbe without hills and trees?The finishing 18th hole, alongwith the 6th hole are both long par-5’smeasuring over 525 yards from theback tees. Even from the regular teesyou need 2 or 3 solids hits to reach the6 - CAROLINA GOLF JOURNAL - SUMMER 2010 ______________________________________________________________________________