When playing in Mayberry, who would be in your dream foursome? Andy, Barney, Gomer, Goober, Floyd, Howard, Otis, Aunt Bea, Thelma Lou, Opie, Ernest T. Bass, or Miss Crump? Today at White Pines Country Club in Mount Airy (Mayberry), we took the roles of Andy, Barney, Gomer, and Otis. I will not reveal who assumed each role as to protect the innocent and the bad golf each played.
After expertly escaping the jail cell at the courthouse, we deftly eluded the 1960’s squad car which was making it’s rounds with a car full of out-of-town tourists. With the precision of a NASCAR driver, Woody was able to maneuver our Chrysler Pacifica rental van expertly through the backroads of North Carolina to arrive for our assigned tee time. Of course that is anytime you arrive since they do not accept tee time reservations. Its first come; first served.
We are feeling very “senior” today from our earlier escapades, so we decided to play from the forward (red) tees. Otis was also feeling a little shaky since we broke him out of jail before he had time to sleep off the effects of last night! Hole #1 is a par 4 of 323 yards with a fairway that slopes left to right and a green that is tucked down to the left. It’s a nice opening hole unless you venture too far left.
Hole #2 is a par 3 with a green that sits on an uphill peninsula. The first order of business is to get your tee shot airborne so it clears the pond in front of the tee box. Once your ball is in the air, it needs to avoid the front left bunker and find a level spot on the green. If your ball is short, the front of the green slopes dramatically down toward the pond.
Hole #3 is a par 4 of 385 yards with a slight bend to the right. If you are too far right, two large trees will block your approach shot to the green. At the fourth hole, Otis was complaining that he was having issues keeping his balance – he kept falling to his left. We assured him the fairway was also falling to the left, so we advised him to keep trying to play his ball from the left side. If you play from the back tees, you will have a blind tee shot. We were so far up that we had a good view of the green on this par 4.
Hole #5 is a par 5 with a fairway that angles dramatically to the right. Poor Otis is having a hard time finding level ground! Up by the green there is trouble (water) to the right side. Hole #6 is a 156 yard par 3 with bunkers left and right and woods behind the putting surface.
Standing at the tee box of Hole #7, this shot requires some thought. All Gomer could say was “gaulllly Andy, what should I do?” He disregarded Andy’s advice and lost his ball in the water. Since Barney can only carry one ball in his bag, he played it safe and laid up short of the hazard that crosses the fairway. Otis forgot to hit for he was more interested in the water container that he thought might contain moonshine. Andy calmly blasted a tremendous drive that cleared the hazard and set himself up for birdie. This is a good risk/reward hole.
Even though there are dense woods to the left, and trees and a creek to the right, the landing area on Hole #8 is ample for most shots. A large green awaits your approach shot. Hole #9 is a big banana shaped fairway that slopes tragically to the left if you don’t place your initial shot to the top right-hand side. As you work your way around this hole, keep all your shots to the right!
Rating – Birdie (47 out of 60): We thoroughly enjoyed this course. The greens and fairways were in very good shape; the routing and design is excellent; the cost to play 9-hole with cart was $12; and you get to spend time in Mayberry.
Final scores: Andy had a very respectable 42; Gomer at this writing is still adding up his score, but he says “hey”; Barney was disqualified because he lost his only ball at #8; and Otis disappeared at #7 and we imagine he is working his way back to the jail cell to “sleep it off”.
For some good old cheap grub visit Barneys’ Cafe and Snappy Lunch.
246 George Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030; 336-786-6616; www.visitmayberry.com
