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Carolina National

Fred Couples Signature Design

Pure Golf
The only Fred Couples Signature Course on the Grand Strand, Carolina National is 27 championship holes comprised of three nine-hole courses
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Carolina National

The only Fred Couples Signature Course on the Grand Strand

Carolina National is 27 championship holes comprised of three nine-hole courses, each with its own distinct characteristics and named for the large native birds that can often be seen during a round- the Egret, the Heron, & the Ibis. The course was designed to accommodate all skill levels, offering now six sets of tees (see The Short Course at Carolina National below for details) and at just over 7,000 yards from the tips, the course is sure to challenge even the accomplished golfer. A truly creative layout with multiple tee placements that considerably change the approach to many holes means the course offers an endless variety of playing experiences with stunning natural beauty along the banks of the Lockwood Folly River.

Highlights

  • Scenic 27-Hole Fred Couples Signature Golf Course
  • Rated 4.5 Stars by Golf Digest
  • All Grass Tee Driving Range & 14,000 sq. ft. Putting/Chipping Green
  • 6 Sets of Tees Playing at a Max of 7,017 Yards or Play a "Short Course" at 3,000 Yards
  • Opened in 1999
  • Course Architects: Fred Couples & Gene Bates
  • Fairways: Bermuda
  • Membership: Semi-Private

“This golf course is a challenge to all levels of golfers. The greens are quick, the rough is deep and the fairways are plush. Stay out of sand traps. Fun to play..”
- Google Reviewer

The Egret

  • Par: 36
  • Black Tees: 3,500 Yards
  • Gold Tees: 3,271 Yards
  • Blue Tees: 2,984 Yards
  • Teal Tees: 2,271 Yards
  • White Tees: 2,400 Yards

Egret #1 – A good short par 4 here to open. A small tree fronting the fairway is not in play for most. A drive favoring the right side of the fairway will provide the best angle to approach this two-tiered green.

Egret #2 – A classic Carolinas par 4 framed by tall pines and native grasses, requires a good tee shot placed between the bunkers right and the water that runs down the left side of this hole. On the approach the green is guarded by bunkers left with a safe miss available to the right.

Egret #3 – From the tee of this par 5, a fairway bunker on the left is in play for longer hitters. The second shot needs to be played left to avoid the large natural waste bunker that runs down the right-hand side from 200 yards in. A precise approach to the green is required for proper placement on the two-tiered green.

Egret #4 – With water all down the right, the premium is on accuracy over length on the drive at this shorter par 4 though the fairway is wider than appears from the tee. A large, deep bunker will catch any approach shots short and right of the green.

Egret #5 – One of the signature par 3’s at Carolina National- club selection is critical here as the tee shot requires some carry over the wetlands and water that guard the front and right of this long and deep green. Left is the safe miss but often a challenging recovery.

Egret #6 – This mid to long par 4 often plays even longer as it is usually into the wind. Avoid the fairway bunkers and tall native grass down the right side. The approach is best shaped from right to left working in around the greenside bunker.

Egret #7 – This long par 3 requires a well struck long iron or hybrid hit with accuracy to split the bunkers guarding each side of the green, if you want a putt at birdie. Others will need to work hard scrambling for par here.

Egret #8 – A par 4 that doglegs left around a series of bunkers where the best placed tee shot is down the right. Some players may wish to lay back as driver for many may push them into the narrowing part of the fairway at 120 yards in. The approach is a blind shot into a two-tiered green with a bunker short right.

Egret #9 – A dramatic finish to the Egret nine with this reachable par 5. The safe play on the drive is to the right side of the fairway over the first bunker while the aggressive line plays slightly left of that trap. Just short of the green, group of tall pines and a small creek must be considered if going at the green in two. The preferred layup shot is to the fairway short and right of the creek though a left side fairway is available should you find yourself in that position. Several ridges running through the green will also require the player’s attention once on the surface. A wide range of scores are possible on this finishing hole.

The Heron

  • Par: 36
  • Black Tees: 3,517 Yards
  • Gold Tees: 3,202 Yards
  • Blue Tees: 2,998 Yards
  • Teal Tees: 2,678 Yards
  • White Tees: 2,338 Yards

Heron #1 – A challenging par 4 to start out the Heron course. A conservative drive plays to the right while longer hitters may try to carry the fairway bunker for a better approach angle. A tee shot missed right of the fairway may leave an approach obstructed by trees. The green is guarded by a bunker right, but leaves room for an error and recovery to the left.

Heron #2 – The tee shot is best played down the left side to avoid the large bunkers right. The longest hitters may be able to approach this green in two. Lay-up shots will have to navigate native grasses and another large bunker. Be precise with the approach for a good chance at birdie on this wide but shallow green.

Heron #3 – Each of the various teeing grounds here present a notably different angle for the player here at this relatively short Par 4, but in each case an accurate tee shot is required. Many players may choose to lay back with the drive as the tree line and a small hazard close in to narrow the fairway inside the 125-yard mark. A good tee shot will leave you a slightly uphill short iron approach into the green that is sloped back to front.

Heron #4 – It’s a rather intimidating looking tee shot on this short, risk/reward par 4 as several deep bunkers are scattered around the fairway and greenside. The best line off the tee is toward the right side of the green whether playing aggressively to leave as little as a pitch shot into the green or safely laying back to minimize the chances of finding one of those hazards. An accurate shot into the green should leave another good look at birdie while you peak ahead to the best view on the course at the next.

Heron #5 – The signature hole at Carolina National, a par 3 that requires a good tee shot over the marsh to a bulk headed peninsula green. Tee boxes wrap almost 180 degrees around the hole, again presenting a distinctly varied challenge from one to the next. The wind will likely play a significant factor here and will make club selection very important when trying to hit the green in regulation. Recovery shots will be a challenge as well with undulation and bunkers around the putting surface. Take a couple extra seconds to enjoy the scenery of the Lockwood Folly River.

Heron #6 – A long par 4 that plays slightly uphill to an elevated green. Tee shot must be accurate to avoid the bunkers on each side of the fairway. Approach shots may favor the right side of the green to take the front left bunker out of play. This green has some good slopes that make for challenging putts.

Heron #7 – This tough par 4 is best played with a drive down the left for the best approach to the green. Any miss to the right will either find the water or require a left-to-right shot into the green that sits tucked in behind the trees. The surrounds to this small elevated green fall off sharply, leaving a difficult up and down.

Heron #8 – A straight forward par 3 to challenge the player’s iron game. Flags on the upper right of the green will be difficult to access behind the bunkers but a lower left flag is a good time to be aggressive. The undulating green will require a good putt for success on this hole.

Heron #9 – The dogleg par 5 finishing hole of the Heron presents several challenges. From the tee, longer hitters may cut the corner left over the bunker while there is plenty of fairway right for the safe play. The second shot will require a decision to layup or challenge the large bunker that splits the fairway short of the green. Hit a good approach to the pin or face a long putt-- this is green is nearly 100 ft. wide!

The Ibis

  • Par: 36
  • Black Tees: 3.444 Yards
  • Gold Tees: 3,188 Yards
  • Blue Tees: 2,955 Yards
  • Teal Tees: 2,660 Yards
  • White Tees: 2,328 Yards
tee times, online

Ibis #1 – A real shot shaper’s par 5 to open up on the Ibis course, where the ideal tee shot works from left to right around the fairway bunker, but don’t get too greedy as the fairway narrows significantly beyond that bunker. The second shot could be blind if going for this green in two and will require a long right to left fairway wood. The lay-up is best played to the 100-yard mark short of the bunker there, leaving a straight forward approach to the green.

Ibis #2 – A short dogleg par 4 that requires some attention on the tee shot. Many players will lay back to avoid running through the fairway as it turns left around the bunker and tree line at 140 yards in. Anything more aggressive is a quite a risk but will leave a short wedge into the green. An accurate approach into this fairly large green is another good opportunity for birdie.

Ibis #3 – Now back along the river again, a wetlands area crosses the fairway of this straight away par 4 hole. The best tee shot leaves about a 150-yard approach to a slightly elevated green. A large greenside bunker will catch any approach shots that come up short.

Ibis #4 – A par 4 with a split fairway is the only hole on the course without a sand bunker. The tree that once stood between the fairways fell victim to Hurricane Florence. The fairway left is much wider but may force the player to deal with an uneven lie on the approach. The right side fairway is smaller with more required carry but should leave a flat lie approach. Either way the second shot will play considerably downhill to a moderately undulating green.

Ibis #5 – The Ibis’ signature par 3 is not overly long but does require a shot over the marsh in front of the green and bulkhead wall. Two bunkers guard this wide green while any shots long or left will quickly fall off into the Lockwood Folly River that once again provides a scenic backdrop to this hole.

Ibis #6 – A par 4 with a blind and slightly uphill tee shot, but the fairway here is one of the widest on the course allowing players to hit a big drive. The putting surface is again slightly elevated and surrounded by mounding and bunkers. Mostly subtle breaks on this green make for a good opportunity to hole a long putt.

Ibis #7 – Another strategic par 5 from course architect Fred Couples. The drive must carry the water off the tee and find the fairway to stay in position for a good score here. There are numerous approaches to consider with the second shot that is played through a narrow chute as the tree line pinches in on the fairway. Long hitters, if in position off the tee, may go for the green. Lay-up shots will have to navigate a tree that guards the landing area and a bunker placed in the fairway. A precise shot is required into this large, deep green as well with a slight slope from front to back.

Ibis #8 – A longer par 3 that plays over a very large sand bunker. The green is wide but shallow, favoring a high trajectory approach shot. A miss short right leaves a reasonable recovery. Par is a good score here.

Ibis #9 – Once again we close out the nine with another grand finishing hole. A par 4 with a double fairway split by a huge natural sand area all the way down. A drive down the right will leave an approach playing in over the greenside bunker. While a drive to the left will need to come to rest short of the water, then play in over that water. Both approach shots play slightly uphill to a moderately sloped green.

Scorecard

Golf Course Photo Gallery

Dress Code

Carolina National keeps a traditional golf club dress code for members and guests on the golf course and the practice facility as well. A collared shirt and slacks or bermuda shorts is expected for men and a blouse or similar attire for women. Denim, t-shirts, tank tops, sweats, and workout or beach apparel is not permitted. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the golf shop staff.

Refund Policy

Refunds will be handled on a case by case basis. Please contact general manager, Quinn Smith should you need assistance with a refund. Thank you. 

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