Tot Hill Farm (Asheboro NC)

Raleigh is one of several places we go for the spring golf trip, and Tot Hill Farm usually kicks off the year we when head to NC. Mike Strantz used plenty of imagination when he designed the Tot, and there are shots and holes that just overwhelm and excite the senses. Granted not all holes are great, but overall it's a ton of fun to play. 

The first hole is a good introduction to the ideas that you'll see here. The tee shot drops dramatically downhill before requiring the player to hit over another hill where the green lies just beyond. It's an intriguing shot because it's viable to run the ball down the hill as well as fly it completely over it. Other architects would have put the green atop the hill for a more classic look, but Strantz went further for the dramatic shot. 

Strantz loves the buttonhook hole where the player decides the angle and line that bests gets him a par. Tot wastes no time incorporating this as the second hole crests the hill and curves into a hollow. Keep in mind a rock field is in the rough and a creek protects the entire left side. Then at three, the par three plays downhill where the right side of the green is hidden behind the hill. This seems to be another template of Strantz which I seen at Royal New Kent too. This one has a creek behind it which forces you to bailout to left half of the green or play a shot either bouncing off the hill or carrying the hill. 

The fifth and sixth are two of my favorite holes. Five plays high up on a hill and the player decides how much of the valley he is willing to cut off as he hits to a diagonal fairway. A bold drive will give an opportunity to reach the green in two. The green however is one of the coolest I've seen as it basically sits among the rocks. Six is a par three set right next to the a fast moving creek. It's all carry except to the right where you can play off the hill. These are two really fun holes. 

The back nine starts off with an interesting twist. A stone wall must be carried if the player is hitting it atop the hill to the right. A valley to left doesn't require that, but the approach is longer an blind from that side. 

Twelve and thirteen are another pair of holes that "pop" into your head. Twelve is a true buttonhook hole that curves around a lake. Options range from  driving it as far as you can straight, to laying up 200 yards as close as possible the water hazard, to even possibly driving the green. Option one takes water carry out of play. Option two brings water into play but leaves shortest approach. Option three is just a bold decision that makes 2-7 possible on the scorecard. 

Thirteen is another dramatic beautiful par three set in a rock field next to the creek. It's a short iron so it's not over the top but the view is unforgettable. The rear portion of the green is atop a granite wall.

One thing bout Tot Hill Farm is it made me realize my love for classic golf course architecture.  Recovery shots are a big part of golf, and here that is often not possible. Missed shots will add up quickly here into bogey or worse. 

Oddly enough the last three holes come out and play in the field. They are pedestrian compared to the previous fifteen holes and Strantz once again takes some flak for his ending holes. Eighteen is a 470 yard par five that plays uphill along side the road that is marked OB. It's a good birdie hole, but get careless and a seven can be put on the scorecard too.  6 (very good)