South Carolina 27-hole course offers three distinctive layouts
NORTH AUGUSTA, SC (July 1, 2020) – Mount Vintage Golf Club is part of the Mount Vintage community, a well-established, private community which encompasses 2,000 acres of gently rolling terrain, with centuries of history that can be traced back to Native American tribes.
Careful planning has gone into the community in an effort to enhance the natural beauty and tranquility of the surrounding area.
Mount Vintage is home to discerning people who appreciate a quiet, yet fun-filled lifestyle. The Town Center and Athletic Club complex is the heartbeat of the community.; it’s a place where well-being and social engagement work hand in hand as residents taking part in a plethora of social and physical activities.
A junior Olympic-sized pool, six Har-Tru lighted tennis courts, two bocce courts and a fitness center provide residents with plenty of options. Inside, you’ll find a plethora of clublike activities: Book Club, Garden Club and a Bridge Club just to name a few.
As far as golf is concerned, Mount Vintage Golf Club is a semi-private club that will rival any club in the area. With 27 holes, Mount Vintage can be played as three distinctly different 18-hole courses. Mount Vintage offers golfers a superior golfing experience, due in part to the club’s high maintenance standards and an extreme attention to detail.
The course originally opened in 2000 and was designed by renowned golf course architect Tom Jackson. Jackson was able to use the unique topography of the area and the lush tree cover to create a golf course that can be enjoyed by players of all abilities. With five sets of tees, each hole is challenging and memorable, from your opening tee shot to your final putt.
You’ll find lush Bermuda fairways and roughs and Champion Bermuda greens accented by stacked stone bridges and walls reminiscent of Augusta National. Golf legend Byron Nelson once referred to Mount Vintage Golf Club as a “magnificent layout.”
The Chester nine was the front nine of the original 18-hole layout that opened in 2000. Chester is the highest rated of the three nines, primarily because each hole is a challenge on its own. Chester greets you with rolling fairways, well bunkered green complexes, and putting surfaces that will test the best of putters. As you play the Chester nine you can’t help but be taken aback by the beauty of the golf course; not only in the elevation changes but the sheer design of each hole. But don’t let its good looks fool you; this course has some bite.
The ninth hole is a par 5 that plays downhill off the tee, with a creek that runs through the fairway that has to be dealt with at some point. Once you clear the creek, it’s all uphill to a large, well-protected green. Consider taking an extra club on your approach shot to compensate. As you walk off the green, you’ll understand why this nine is the favorite!
The Vintage nine also opened in 2000 and was back nine on the original 18 hole layout. Of the three nine-hole layouts, Vintage plays the longest. Although you’ll experience elevation changes on all three courses, those on Vintage are the most dramatic. Eight of the holes have either a downhill or uphill shot of at least 30 feet – a couple have both – which forces you to give a little more thought to your club selection. A rangefinder with a slope feature can be a valuable tool.
The three holes that make their way around Pavilion Lake – holes 5, 6, and 7- could all be categorized as signature holes on the Vintage Nine and have been referred to as the “Amen Corner” of Mount Vintage. No. 5 is a par 4 that plays 387 yards, with a downhill tee shot. From there, you’ll have an uphill approach shot across a finger of the lake to a large green fronted by large, deep bunkers on either side. The sixth is a par 3 that requires a carry back over the same lake. It plays slightly downhill to an elevated green with bunkers in front and back and a large tree shadowing the far-left side. You’ll have to cross the lake one last time with your tee shot on the par 5, seventh hole. The fairway slopes right to left and the farther up the top of the fairway you can hit your tee shot, the farther you’ll be away from the water and the more roll you’ll get. Large trees on the right start to come into play on your layup shot but if you favor the left side, you’ll take them out of play and leave a clear path into a well undulated green protected in front by bunkers.
The Independent nine was the last nine to be built at the Mount Vintage Golf Club and opened in 2008. Although the course has many of the same characteristics of the original 18 holes, it is still a course all its own. Elevation changes are evident from the moment you step on the first tee, a dogleg-left par 4 that plays downhill off the tee with a lake on the left side of the landing area. Water comes into play on eight of the holes, creating many risk/reward opportunities.
The eighth hole is a gorgeous par 3 that plays slightly downhill, over a small lake to a triangular green. Locals refer to it as the “Million Dollar Hole” and PGA.com has recognized No. 8 as part of South Carolina’s Dream 18: Hidden Gems. Nine is another favorite, a long par 5 hole that requires an uphill layup shot followed by an uphill approach into a green that is well guarded and extremely undulated. The green has two tiers and is separated by a four-foot ridge, so it is imperative to hit your approach to the right level.
Mount Vintage Golf Club has one of the most unique clubhouses in the country. The center portion of the clubhouse is a fully restored piedmont plantation house that dates back to around 1840. It is flanked by two matching wings. In its entirety, the complex includes a professionally staffed pro shop, locker rooms and The Grille restaurant. Just out the back door of the clubhouse is a state-of-the-art practice facility with a full-length driving range and practice green.
Mount Vintage offers several membership classifications for families and singles including Full Memberships with unlimited golf privileges, Associate Membership, Social and Corporate Memberships are also available. Regardless of the membership plan you choose, you’ll receive unlimited range balls, access to clubhouse facilities for family and accompanied guests, access to the men’s and women’s locker rooms, full charging privileges and advanced tee time reservations.
