Tobacco Road Golf Club

My much anticipated first tee shot on number 1 was flared on top of the massive dune, and I was prepared for one of those days where I would never find my ball. Shockingly as we drove right over the top of that mound I saw my Titleist sitting perfectly in the fairway, and I immediately fell in love.

'Love it or hate it' is the term I heard from our playing partners. I can see hating this golf course if you have trouble getting the ball airborne. The player needs some carry to access some of the elevated greens, and there are seemingly endless bunkers on the course. If you can't carry them there is not always an option to go around. Even from these sand pits I found plenty of options to get the ball back in play...and even score well.

Tobacco Road can be visually intimidating in spots, but the layout is fair, the fairways are massive, and the landing areas on and around the greens (except for 18) are friendly. If you think you hit a good approach to the uphill blind par 5 13th you probably did.

Mike Strantz has created a masterpiece that is stunningly beautiful, challenging, and most of all fun. The Character of this course is unmatched with its impressive mounding, seemingly unlimited hole locations, and wooden steps reaching the elevated putting surfaces. It is hard to recall a more enjoyable round and I am so grateful for my experience at Tobacco Road.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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

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....

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.

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.

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!!!!

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!!!!!

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.

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

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!

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