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4.5
97 Reviews (97)
5 Stars
69
4 Stars
20
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
3
1 Stars
4
Conditions
4.8
Value
3.9
Layout
5.0
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.9
Amenities
3.7
99.2%
Recommend this course
91 out of 97 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
5.0
2 Reviews (2)
5 Stars
2
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
4.5
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.5
StaffFriendliness
4.5
100.0%
Recommend this course
2 out of 2 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
3 Reviews (3)
5 Stars
2
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.7
Value
4.3
Layout
5.0
Pace
3.3
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.7
100.0%
Recommend this course
3 out of 3 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 71
Length 6557 yards
Slope 145
Rating 72.5

Course Details

Year Built 1998
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Mike Strantz (1998)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Fivesomes Allowed No
Single Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Appropriate golf attire

Accolades

Reviews

4.5
97 Reviews (97)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 7
Course Challenges Include:
Forced Carries 25
Bunkers 23
Elevation Changes 22
This course/club is great for:
A Bucket list/Top 100 Pick 21
Advanced Golfers 18
A Weekend Splurge 16
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 22

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

A Must Play

This was easily the funnest round of golf I've ever played. This is a must play if you are in the area, just because it is so out of the ordinary. Everyone say's, you're either going to really love it, or you will really hate it. There is no in between. Well, I am one of the ones that loved it. I thought the greens rolled incredibly well and even though at times the landing area from the tee looks small, it's actually quite generous. You better have some confidence and more than a few shots in the bag, because this course will demand plenty of both. I found myself on many tee boxes just going, "Wow".

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 734
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Michigan Advisor
Top 10 Contributor
Previously Played

One of the Most Unique Courses

Must play course in NC. Crazy greens, awesome layout, great conditions.

Mike Strantz courses are always a blast to play. Don’t miss this one.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 83
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 500 Contributor
New Jersey Advisor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Visiting the Sandhills of NC - Definately Play this Course

Played Tobacco Road from the forward tees (Cultivator) and it is a very fair, fun challenge for ladies from these forward tees. You can definitely make pars if stay in the fairways. There are some big carries and blind shots but on hole 18 the Cultivator tees are past the huge (and intimidating waste area) so drive past the crap and the tees are on the left at the top of the hill.
Every hole is protected by sand so it will be something to accept on every approach shot. My big tip - if you don't feel you are good at target golf and tend to miss greens then make sure you have a good sand game.
Overall Tobacco Road is a stunning course visually. Yes lots of sand (my playing partners said it felt like you were "on the moon" in some places). However, it is clear where the golf architect wants you to play your ball. The landing areas on the fairways are generous (and even the guys playing the back tees said this about the course).
I loved this course and would play it again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 77
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 500 Contributor
First Time Playing

Must play

I’ve wanted to play this course ever since my friend moved to NC. The staff are very friendly and very accommodating. The course is truly a masterpiece and whoever says gimmicky really need to rethink that. The fairways are wide and forgiving, but it’s the second shot that’s punishing. The greens are multi tiered and if you’re in a bunker, good luck. There’s a ton of blind shots so you really need to trust your number.

We played today after a few storms and it’s been cold at night so conditions weren’t amazing, but that’s an act of Mother Nature and not the courses fault l. My only issue was pace of play but eventually we got through a slow foursome

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

One man's "gimmicky" is another man's "unique"

I had a blast playing this course. One reviewer called it "gimmicky", but this is my third Mike Strantz layout I've played, and I did not find it so.
You must play the course, it's an amazing golf experience. I knew the course would be extremely challenging, but it wasn't as tough as it it looks.....the fairways are generous and the greens are huge (although with many tiers). I brought extra golf balls....yet didn't lose any!
I only gave it 4 stars for the price. My round was $195.....yet the range matts were threadbare and would have embarrassed Tin Cup. You just sort of expect a "country club" experience at the price point.
However......all the money goes towards course maintenance.....it was in GREAT shape in the hot NC sun.
I simply had a blast, and you will too.
One other note: there were complaints about the speed of play.....I had not issues.....I had the course to myself...caught up to a foursome on 9, they let me through and they were the last golfers I saw.....but this was a 97 degree afternoon on a Wednesday.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
First Time Playing

Fun course everyone should play at least once

Read lots about this course so just had to check it out. I played it twice in one day; it rained early and a little cold for NC I guess, so not many golfers out there.

It's a fun course but I wouldn't call it a fair test of golf. Extreme elevation changes all over mean that a good shot can end up way out of position or a poor shot can end up just fine. You miss just left, might end up with an 80' putt over a huge mound, or miss far enough right and a hill might funnel your ball to 10'.

Back has several blind shots but I scored better on the back both rounds. And bring your sand wedge because it's everywhere!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing

Play anywhere else in North Carolina

Unique course to say the least, but the pace of play was the worst I’ve ever played in my life. Front nine was decent, finished in around 2:15, but as soon as we made the turn the course was slammed. Took us an hour and a half to play 3 holes on the back before we got triple stacked on the tee box on 14. Our group called it quits after waiting 15 minutes without even getting to the tee box on 14. Also while the course is very pretty and unique, it’s super gimmicky. There are so many courses in the area that are way better, and aren’t run like a municipal. Spend your $150 elsewhere.

Oh and a 5some teed off in front of us. But no big deal.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 128
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Texas Advisor
Top 100 Contributor
First Time Playing

NC Trip 2 - Tobacco Road

The second stop on our yearly golf trip was at Tobacco Road. Plenty of ink has been spilled on this course, and rightfully so. It's extreme layout is a bit polarizing (like everything on the internet), but our group absolutely loved it.

It's a humble facility, but the staff is extremely friendly and make you feel right at home. The setting amongst the tall pines is beautiful.

The course is a dizzying array of sharp turns, blind shots, and misdirections... in the best way possible. There are options on top of options for how to play each hole, especially around the greens.

Holes 11 and 13 are two of the coolest par 5s you'll ever see. 13 especially has perhaps the most hidden green I've ever seen. It was weird to hit towards it, but as you are finally walking up it makes sense and is a unique experience.

You'll need all your skills to score well around here, but you will definitely have fun no matter what you shoot.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Wild Thing / Must Play

Simply put.... Tobacco Road is the hot girl with all the tattoos at bar, that you think about all the time but are unsure if it fits your personality. You finally take her home and then you wake up the next morning and you look at yourself in the mirror and say... what did I just do... knowing your life is changed forvever hahaha

Tobacco Road is unlikely anything else you will EVER experience. It truly is a golf creation that everything fits perfect in place, but it doesn’t make sense lol.

Be prepared for 4-5 hrs of confusion, blind shots and tricky greens. But you will love every minute of it. Trust your line and hit the shot. All bunkers are lift, clean and place - which helps. A caddie is recommended but not needed, esp if the group in front of you has one.

Watch videos of the course prior to playing and make sure you have a yardage book or app, impossible without it.

Oh and they have cool motorcycle carts if you really want to live the outlaw life...

Balance out your crazy night by going back to your nice classy girl (Pinehurst) before you leave and it will make you feel better again

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 31
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Cold weather
Used cart

One of a kind...

Bucket list course. One of a kind experience. A must play for any fun loving golfer looking for something unique. Somewhat reminiscent of The Loop at Forest Dunes (MI), but with more elevation changes. I enjoyed the round and would like to replay now that I know the layout. Highly suggest a forecaddie for first timers, as there are a ton of blind shots and tricky nuances....

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Amazing

I grew up in Hilton head and now live in Myrtle beach.
I’ve been a spoiled golfer, growing up playing great courses like Harbor town and now often play Caledonia, True Blue and Grand dunes. I never thought I’d have a more favorite course than Palmetto in Aiken, SC, but Tobacco Rd takes the cake. Now my favorite course I’ve played. My playing partner even bought a membership. Don’t waste your time at Pinehurst, play here any chance you can.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Previously Played
Cold weather
Used cart

Pace of Play

I wrote a review for Tobacco Road in late 2020 based on a 5 and a half hour round. There is never and excuse for a round that long. Please consider this review a follow-up to that review that includes some interesting information I learned from a marshal on the course that very much relates to my 2020 experience.

The round I played last week was a little faster than last year, but still around 5 hours. Considerably too long at a course of Tabacco Road's caliber and price point. On the back 9, after having several conversations with a very cordial marshal, he had been telling our group about a very slow, and in his words, "Golf Challenged" foursome 3 holes ahead and almost two holes behind pace. I asked him if he had asked them to skip a hold or two to get back on pace and he proceeds to tell me that he would be fired if he did that and that at Tobacco Road "the customer is always right". This is a faulty policy as far more customers are leaving frustrated and disappointed in exchange for making one slow foursome, in this case, happy.

Tobacco just can't quite seem to get things right in terms of managing pace of play and instilling tactful etiquette that is equitable to all their customers. Again, I love the course a lot, but this flaw in their service puts it a solid notch below the experience you will find at any of the Pinehurst courses, as well as Dormie, Pine Needles or Mid-Pines.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
Commented on 10/24/2021

With all the blind shots, tricky greens, and overall difficulty you have to assume it will be a 5+ hr round...and that is ok.

Just enjoy the ride of this special place!

Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Gotta see it believe it

Truly all its cracked up to be. Not just a round of golf but a more an amazing golf experience. Thanks to the late Mike Strantz and all the staff at the road!!! We will see you next year!!!!

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Best believe the hype!!!

My first time here did not disappoint! Thank you to the late Mike Strantz and the staff. This once bucket list item will now be in the annual rotation! YOU GOTTA SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!!!!!

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Extremely Disappointing Pace of Play

I love Tobacco Road. It is Mike Strantz’ best work and everyone should take the time to enjoy it at least once. It will challenge the very best golfers, yet provide you some very good scoring opportunities, particularly in it’s par 3s.

We played last Thursday and teed off around 11:30am after driving down from Northern VA that morning. We walked off the 18th green at 5:05pm. Not much more needs to be said about a 5 and half hour round of golf. It ruins the entire experience....even Tobacco Road. I went into clubhouse after the front nine and mentioned to two young gentlemen behind front desk that it was really slow and they promised to do something about it...yet we didn’’t see one Marshall all day long. There are way too many courses in the Sandhills and my group will likely choose elsewhere next trip down in early 2021.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Well worth Annual Visit

As per title, not a course to play weekly due to complete uniqueness of layout - lots of blind shots and pre use yardage needed but compensated by needing every shot in the bag
Condition was great albeit greens a little slower than normal and it would appear players are allergic to repairing pitch marks

Feedback would be that the pro shop could show a little more customer service, borderline rudeness however much not intended

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 20
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

I’ve never had so much fun!

Tobacco Road has to be one of the most fun places to play in the country! It is so unique and captivating from the word go. What I believe is so hard to describe is how Strantz was able to make the blind shot not seem like a bad thing. There are quite a few of them throughout the course but instead of shaking your head and cursing the architect, there is this deep sense of excitement to see what’s over the hill! Hole 16 is the perfect example of his mastery of blind shots. The tee shot is completely blind, and you have to aim at a stove pipe up on a distant hill. Furthermore, you have to hit it over a hill and then keep it from running through the fairway. Sounds daunting, but once you’re on the tee, the use of sand and the shaping of the hills blocking your view is just so beautiful, I don’t think you can complain. Once you’ve hit to the fairway, then you make a sharp turn left up through an amphitheater of grass and sand to a green perched high above. Oh, and if you’re the bold type, from the tee you can simply go over the hills and a stand of trees and try to drive the green. It’s a fantastic hole...just like the other 17 holes on the property!
My only real criticisms of the experience are these:
First, the course could really use on upgrade on cart paths. Those a really bumpy in quite a few places. Use the sand soil to your advantage and have packed sand paths more often.
Second, for the blind shots, I think they need a better system than just ringing a bell. Some gps golf carts, fairway flags, or some periscopes would come in handy.
Thirdly, I hope that from time to time, some of the waste areas get a little more sand put in them...the ridge waste area on 15 was more rock than sand. For how much sand there is at this place, I’m sure it’s hard to keep up with it all the time.
Lastly, it was curious to find some crab grass patches around a few of the greens throughout the course. It wasn’t a bad problem by any means and won’t affect play, but for a place so popular as Tobacco Road, you just don’t expect to see that.
That’s it for criticisms, Tobacco Road is just awesome. I highly recommend you play here. Only word of advice is what I put in my Tot Hill Farm review, you need to play this course with the right mindset. Play to have FUN, MARVEL, EXPERIENCE, and DISCOVER! Do this, and you will have a great time at Tobacco Road!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Staff
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Special Place

Second time around this course and it was just as fun as the first. No course like it anywhere.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Unique Target Adventure

To prepare myself, I watched numerous Tobacco Road vlogs on YouTube. I highly recommend The Fore Play Travel Show: Tobacco Road, to give you the best idea of what to expect. It certainly helped, but nothing can totally prepare you for the first time experience.
Range is small. Nice mountainy putting green.
I normally play from 6200-6300 yards but I played from the Plow tees....5886 yards, slope of 132. More than enough of a challenge. My normal score is 83. I shot 43-52. Took a 12 on #10 as it took me 7 shots to get out of the greenside bunkers. Not that tough of a bunker shot. I just suck out of the bunkers.
I can see why it's a love/hate course. Target golf at its finest. You must execute distance and direction or you're going to end up in some undesirable spots. Some blind shots. Some tricky areas....false fronts on #5, #8 and #16. Visually intimidating but if you're hitting the ball solidly you'll score well. Chances are you're going to make a big number somewhere. Just don't let it ruin your round. Enjoy the one of a kind experience.
Fast and smooth greens. No GPS on carts. On the day we played, able to lift clean and place ball in the sand/waste areas as there's no rakes to smooth over footprints and tire tracks.
Great layout, conditions and challenge. Friendly staff. Slaw dogs at the turn were tasty. Pace of play was 5 hours, but that is to be expected here. I rarely lose a ball but I lost 3 on the day.
I had the worst score of the trip @ Tobacco Road of the 4 courses we played...Talamore, Legacy and Mid South but rate it as the best course we played. For $130 it's a must play. You won't play another course like it.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 36
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Nothing Like It

If you've never been there, there's nothing like it. Check out the website before you go just so you know what you are in for. Not a course I'd want to play daily due to it's quirky set-up and many blind shots but it's a fun change from the norm every once in a while. Insanely creative design. Was in stellar shape!! Staff was great. Because of the layout it is never going to play fast but they may want to either spread the tee times a little further apart or have forecaddies with groups/around the course because we were waiting frequently during our round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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Golf Packages

Talamore Golf Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $137 (USD)
SOUTHERN PINES, NC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Talamore Golf Resort and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Mid Pines Golf Course, Mid South Course, Tobacco Road Golf Course, and The New Course.

Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club Stay & Play Package

FROM $167 (USD)
SOUTHERN PINES, NC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Mid Pines Golf Course, Pine Needles Golf Course, Tobacco Road Golf Course, and The New Course.

Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club Stay & Play Package

FROM $167 (USD)
SOUTHERN PINES, NC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of Mid Pines Golf Course, Pine Needles Golf Course, Tobacco Road Golf Course, and The New Course.

Richmond Golf Getaway Package

FROM $147 (USD)
RICHMOND, VA | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at Fairfield Inn & Suites – Richmond Airport and 2 rounds of golf at Royal New Kent Golf Club and The Club at Viniterra.

Francis Marion Hotel Stay & Play

FROM $187 (USD)
CHARLESTON, SC | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Francis Marion Hotel and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of RiverTowne Golf Course, Charleston National Golf Course, Wild Dunes – Harbor Course, Wild Dunes – Links Course, and Stono Ferry Golf Course.
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