Tega Cay Golf Club (Cove Course) – Tega Cay, SC

Tega Cay is Polynesian for “Beautiful Peninsula” so that explains the address of Molokai Drive. Tega Cay Golf Club was about first and last. This was our first 9-hole course played in South Carolina and the last stop on our current golf adventure – Golfing Carolina Past our Prime!

Can’t you just hear James Taylor singing…

With our clubs we’ve gone to Carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine?
Can’t you just feel the effects of moonshine?
Ain’t it just like these friends of mine
To hit me in the behind? (Fore?)
Yes, we’ve golfed in Carolina past our prime

To be truthful, we are well past our prime! That is why we played the 9-hole Cove Course from the gold tees.

We snaked our way through the busy outdoor pavilion and around the white-clad players on the croquet court and finally arrived at Hole #1. This track starts with a par 3 that plays 160 yards from the gold tees. The entire 27-hole facility sits on 200 acres that surround Lake Wylie and this hole is besieged with sand (front, left, and right). Water? Sand? – sounds like we could be near the Hawaiian Islands.

The par 5 second hole is well guarded by trees on both sides as you cruise up and down this fairway. When the green finally comes into view, two very deep bunkers guard the entrance. Hole #3 is a par 4 with a dogleg to the left. Trees line both sides of the fairway and there are houses that only a wild slice may find. The landing area for your initial shot appears to be welcoming, however the fairway bunker to the left and deep bermuda rough to the right may give you fits at this number one handicap hole.

Hole #4 starts with a tee shot over a pond, then curves to the left into a valley that is squeezed from both sides by a dense line of trees. A fun hole if you can hit straight shots.

The fifth hole continues with fairways that move to the left. These work very well accepting my slight draw of the golf ball. This short 288 yard par 4 is an excellent opportunity for a birdie with a well placed drive. From an elevated tee box, Hole #6 is another dogleg left (no wonder I’m a big fan of this course) with bunkers strategically placed at the bend in the fairway. A large bunker fronts the right side of the green, and any skulled shot may need to be played from the porch of the house behind the putting surface!

The large green looks very inviting at the par 3 seventh hole. It’s only 113 yards from the gold tees; however, your shot from the elevated tee box requires a ball that clears the lake and avoids a large pot bunker by the green. The large green looks very inviting at the par 3 eighth hole. It’s only 112 yards from the gold tees; however, your shot requires a ball that clears the lake and avoids a large pot bunker by the green. No, this is not an editing mistake. The only difference in the back-to-back par 3s is #8 is not from an elevated tee box; the bunker moves slightly to the right; and the cart path skirts the right side of the hole. I would have liked to see a few more bunkers at this hole to give it a different look.

You will find one more fairway that diverts to the left at the par 5 ninth hole. Trees and bunkers may cause issues as you work your way down this finishing hole. The pin was tucked behind the bunker, so a high, soft-landing approach was called for today.

Rating – Ace (54 out of 60): If you work your ball from right to left you will love this track. A slicer of the golf ball may be playing from the trees for most of the day – but you will still enjoy your round. The course was in great shape including the fairways, greens, and bunkers. There are four tee boxes: White (2762 yards); Gold (2531); Red (2093); and Junior (1224). As you can see by the Junior tee boxes, it is an excellent regulation 9 to play with your kids or a starting point for a new golfer. The facility also includes a championship 18-hole course; and exceptional clubhouse and restaurant; an outdoor event pavilion; and a lighted regulation size lawn croquet court.

This was an outstanding finish to our golf adventures through the Carolinas. Even though we are well past our prime, these old friends can still have fun playing bad golf!

15083 Molokai Drive, Tega Cay, SC 29708;  803-548-3500;  www.tegacaygolfclub.com