Rock Barn Golf and Spa - Jones Course

About
The Jones Course is one of two championship courses at Rock Barn Golf & Spa. Named after its designer Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the course was his first design in North Carolina. Surrounded by the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the golf course has a rugged landscape of wooded hills and grassy meadows accented with several ponds and the fast-moving Lyle Creek. It is the longer and more challenging course of the two with deep fairway bunkers and several water hazards. There are also several blind shots to contend with. The signature hole is the par-3 third, but the most difficult hole is the par-4 11th. It is lined with trees from tee to green. Making par will depend on an accurate approach shot past bunkers on the left to a green that is sliced in half by a deep swale.
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Championship | 72 | 7169 yards | 75.2 | 146 |
Blue | 72 | 6635 yards | 72.6 | 143 |
White | 72 | 6130 yards | 70.1 | 129 |
Green | 72 | 5618 yards | 67.9 | 124 |
Red | 72 | 5216 yards | 66.0 | 120 |
Carolina | 72 | 4395 yards | 62.4 | 111 |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold M: 75.2/146 | 467 | 479 | 213 | 568 | 394 | 450 | 504 | 333 | 197 | 3605 | 431 | 452 | 373 | 439 | 582 | 140 | 389 | 191 | 567 | 3564 | 7169 |
Gold/Blue M: 73.8/145 | 467 | 440 | 185 | 568 | 379 | 431 | 504 | 333 | 169 | 3476 | 431 | 421 | 373 | 439 | 540 | 140 | 389 | 171 | 525 | 3429 | 6905 |
Blue M: 72.6/143 | 437 | 440 | 185 | 533 | 379 | 431 | 441 | 310 | 169 | 3325 | 408 | 421 | 349 | 408 | 540 | 124 | 364 | 171 | 525 | 3310 | 6635 |
Blue/White M: 71.3/134 | 437 | 398 | 151 | 533 | 379 | 392 | 441 | 310 | 142 | 3183 | 408 | 381 | 349 | 383 | 540 | 124 | 364 | 152 | 493 | 3194 | 6377 |
White M: 70.1/129 W: 76.2/148 | 408 | 398 | 151 | 521 | 356 | 392 | 412 | 302 | 142 | 3082 | 342 | 381 | 331 | 383 | 490 | 118 | 358 | 152 | 493 | 3048 | 6130 |
White/Green M: 69.0/127 W: 73.7/141 | 387 | 376 | 151 | 493 | 356 | 392 | 412 | 302 | 132 | 3001 | 282 | 344 | 331 | 362 | 452 | 118 | 335 | 133 | 481 | 2838 | 5839 |
Green M: 67.9/124 W: 73.2/125 | 387 | 376 | 146 | 493 | 331 | 265 | 395 | 282 | 132 | 2807 | 282 | 344 | 310 | 362 | 452 | 112 | 335 | 133 | 481 | 2811 | 5618 |
Red M: 66.0/120 W: 71.0/123 | 382 | 371 | 115 | 468 | 317 | 227 | 331 | 275 | 112 | 2598 | 252 | 336 | 273 | 336 | 441 | 106 | 299 | 120 | 455 | 2618 | 5216 |
Red/Carolina M: 63.9/117 W: 68.9/127 | 284 | 273 | 115 | 468 | 317 | 227 | 331 | 275 | 106 | 2396 | 252 | 336 | 273 | 214 | 354 | 106 | 299 | 107 | 455 | 2396 | 4792 |
Carolina M: 62.4/111 W: 67.1/119 | 284 | 273 | 111 | 394 | 287 | 221 | 326 | 254 | 106 | 2256 | 248 | 267 | 267 | 214 | 354 | 101 | 192 | 107 | 389 | 2139 | 4395 |
Handicap | 5 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 17 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 10 | |||
Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
Handicap (W) | 5 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 6 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
Bar, RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities, SpaAvailable Activities
RidingReviews
Reviewer Photos
A gem at any time of year
I have played Rock Barn several times and have not been disappointed. Somehow, I have managed to play this track during the off season each time when the fairways are dormant and have missed out on the greenery but it is always worth the drive. At almost 7200 yards from the back tees with ample elevation changes, this is all you want...and then some. The Greater Hickory Classic has been played here on the Senior Tour since 2002 and the pros like the place! I concur! The Jones course is a fun, well designed 18 holes that makes you want to play more. Even in the off season, the place is well manicured and the greens are well maintained. Put this one on your to do list and make a tee time! You can then tell your friends that you played a GREAT layout that even makes some of the senior tour players shake their heads in dismay at times. You won't be disappointed.
Bring your "A" game and a camera!
It was a pleasure to play this course.
I was paired with some awesome fellows and we had a blast.
The course was a challenge but fair, and the staff was top shelf.
Thanks for having me, I highly recommend this one and look forward
To playing Jackson next.
Going private in May 2016
First time playing this course. Heard it was converting to private club in May2016. (The other course at the spa will be public.) Found the course to be difficult due to recent cold weather that delayed the bermuda grass from growing which leaves the fairways very tight. Many bunkers (w/ fine sand) and doglegs. Would have liked to go back, but wont be able to play the private course.
Dissappointed
I have played the Jones course several times and this was by far the worst shape that I have ever seen it in. The greens were longer and much slower than they usually have been. The fairways were very average and the course appeared to lacking overall TLC that I have been used to.
Favorite Course
This is one of my favorite courses when visiting the Charlotte area. The first time I made reservations, I did not see that the course was over an hour away from where I was staying. We decided to make the drive anyway and the course did not disappoint. We had a very simple breakfast and hit the course. We played the Jones course and loved every hole and the surrounding area. On other trips, we played the Jackson course and again we were not disappointed. I hope to get back to Rock Barn again and again!
+Excellent challenging courser
A Robert Trent Jones challenge maintained in excellent condition - even playing with recently aerated greens was a treat. Best check it out in April, 2016 as it becomes a private club May 1st. Fortunately the Jackson course will remain semi-private.
Excellent!
Bucket list for anyone!! I would recommend this to anyone and we'll certainly play again.
great track
The Jones course is awesome. It was in great shape and has an amazing layout. Only one complaint, it was a painfully slow round of golf, though the course worth the wait. I just wish hacks wouldn't plum bob a 4 footer for double.
the Rock rocks!
was fun playing with my son's friends from the blue tees even though i am over 70 yrs old. couple of breaks and could have shot my age. i am bragging and have just put pressure on myself. playing well especially was fun to play a course that the sr pga pros played. amazing what scores they shot.
there was a good bit of waiting but still play in about 4:20. of course the great price on GolfNOW set it up.
Beautiful course in great shape
Really a treat to play the Rock Barn Jones course. Course was in great shape. Greens were rolling beautifully.
Great course
One of my favorites. The course never disappoints.
Quintessential RTJ
Very challenging course. Stay in the fairway...getting out of the rough makes for some very long holes. Fairway position is everything. Lay ups are often the most prudent shot selection. Greens had been punched the week prior, but not in terrible shape. However, they were expectedly slow and bumpy. This is a great layout. Enjoyed my round.
Rock Barn
Fairways torn up from winter kill. In terrible shape. Greens OK.
Wish I had known how bad the conditions were before committing to play there.
Beautiful Course
Staff was very friendly and provide a very relaxed experience. The course is truly stunning. They do have some issues with some significant dead spots in the fairways. Greens were in excellent shape, just a bit and I do mean just a bit slower than I anticipated. I will make the long drive again soon based off of this experience.
Shot Makers Course
A fun course to stay within yourself and see how good you really are at the game we love. Left the driver in the bag most of the round, yes I played it forward at the white tee's, I like to see the course the first time through. It became a shot makers course. Elevated tee to the end of the fairway, next shot over the water to a layup, pitching wedge in to the left pin. Beautiful scenery, a waterfall becomes a crossroads area shared with at least four holes. Sometimes I found the signage to be lacking, "which way to the next hole?" Course conditions were great, clean, well kept. Greens were in great shape. All in all a very nice course to enjoy.
Great Course
A couple of minor issues in the fairway, but an amazing layout. I will be back!!
Jones course - still a little winter kill but otherwise great
great course. Greens were near championship condition. Bunkers smooth and consistent. Some remaining winter kill in the fairways but much better Han many other Nc courses these days. Definite one I would repeat.
Rock Barn Jones
Great course with natural setting. Plays long from the blue tees at 6500+ yards, with some challenging par 4s. Bent grass greens are fantastic.
Food in the clubhouse restaurant was very good too.
Nice course but fairways need word
First time playing the course it a great layout that makes you think about your shots. I am not sure if the sell yardage books in the club house but if they do I will be picking one up next time. The signage could be better need to add some arrow to help navigate around. The fairways need some work but the greens were near prefect. The pace of play was great never was had to wait and was never pushed.
Course conditions have been better
Overall good experience, there were places in the fairway there was no grass and it was just dead grass. I don't know what this from and I have played this course when it was in much better shape. The greens were great!