Trust me! At Hole #1 take the time to read the sign that states, “for your enjoyment RMGC recommended tees by handicap”. The suggested tee box for three of these senior golfers was the “green” tees, but the “white” tees only measured 2647 yards – so how hard could it be? Let’s find out how these old men faired playing from the white tee boxes.
Hole #1 opens with a 343 yard (white) par 4 with a very slight bend in the fairway. Keep your opening drive to the left because right is big trouble. The green is small and “crowned”, so a precise second shot is needed to hold the green. My shot hit the card path and traveled past the green, resulting in a double bogey. One of the others found the “junk” to the left and proceeded to mark a “7” on the scorecard. Maybe the sign was correct!
Hole #2 is an uphill par 3 of 191 yards and is the number one handicap hole. You’re kidding, right? I need my Driver to get there. Another double bogey! There is a bunker front left of the green. It’s there to catch balls rolling off the green before they find their way into the woods. Our senior scores – 4, 5, 5, 6. Are you getting the picture yet? The holes continue to get quirky as we step onto the elevated tee box at #3. This par 4 is only 296 yards, but you hit over a fence to a flat fairway below. You can’t hit too far however, since there is a gully that bisects the fairway before the green.
Hole #4 continues the theme of challenging these senior mid-handicap golfers. It’s a par 5 of 450 yards with a fairway that slopes dramatically from left to right. None of us was able to find the top shelf of the fairway, and all our tee shots hit into the hill and rolled back down. If you ever do ascend the hill and make your way down the fairway, you are met with another minuscule green. We had another adventure with scores 5 (how did he get a par?), 6, 7, and lastly 10. Have I mentioned before, we are not bad golfers?!
Hole #5 is a par 4 of 263 yards that goes uphill to the left, then it goes uphill again. This course seems to play longer than the stated yardage. On this hole, right is good; left is bad! As we stood on the tee box at Hole #6, Sam said this course is…evil! Around the putting surface at this par 3, it drops off right, left, and behind. If you miss…miss short. The theme continues at Hole #7. You will hit a blind shot uphill to a distant pin. For the most part if you just try to find the middle of the fairway, you will be rewarded. Easier said than done! As you finally approach the green, short is much better than long!
Another blind tee shot at the par 4 eighth hole, however it is straight and wide open. Finally our scorecard is looking like we know how to play golf! Hole #9 is not uphill but of course it is into the wind. It’s only 245 yards, but two front bunkers will deny any shot that approaches a ball running low to the green.
Rating – Birdie (41 out of 60): This has to be one of the strangest Birdies I have ever given. I rated it very high based on Shot Value, Design Variety, and Memorability. Aesthetics, Conditioning, and Ambience came in below average. I’m sure my playing partners would not be as generous. If I were to play this course again, I would definitely move up to the “green” tees. The scorecard makes it look short, but with all the uphill holes, it definitely plays longer. Even though it is only 9 holes, I would suggest a cart for seniors and walking challenged.
We played 27 holes today on our trip to Shelby. We paired it with playing 18 holes at Deer Brook Golf Course. I would recommend Deer Brook and if you are looking for a challenge Royster Memorial.
850 W. Sumter St., Shelby, NC 28150; 704-484-6823; www.cityofshelby.com/parks
