Golf Club Atlas

GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 09:37:55 PM

Title: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 09:37:55 PM
White Oak located near Tryon, NC is currently under construction by Irish developers.
Check Padraig's bag for the White Oak logo. Designed by Erik Larsen of Arnold Palmer Design.
Nine holes are finished. Numbers 1-4 , 7-9, 17 and 18. The SubAir greens are fantastic.
White Oak uses native sand waste areas as White Oak Creek runs throughout the property.

#1 435 yards from the tips. Opening tee shot from the "Padraig tees."
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5229.jpg)

There are 5 sets of tees on the course.
#1 tee shot for the shorter 3 tees takes a kinder angle.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5521.jpg)

#1 landing area. There is more fairway than visible from the tees.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5522.jpg)

#1 and 9 share a waste area between the fairways.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5557.jpg)

Nearing the green.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5523.jpg)

Side view of the green.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5554.jpg)

Looking back down the fairway.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5524.jpg)
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 10:01:58 PM
Hole #2 is a 420 yard par four with the tee shot across a wetland.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5525.jpg)

To a sloped landing area.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5526.jpg)
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5527.jpg)

Down the hill to the green.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5528.jpg)

With the wetland to the green's right.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5530.jpg)

Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Ed Oden on July 05, 2010, 10:05:12 PM
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5554.jpg)

Bricks?
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 10:05:51 PM
#3 is a 200 yard par 3.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5531.jpg)

Across a wetland.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5532.jpg)

#3 green.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5533.jpg)

Looking Back uphill.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5534.jpg)
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: JC Jones on July 05, 2010, 10:08:47 PM
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5554.jpg)

Bricks?

Firm and fast, no?
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 10:09:58 PM
The pavers are the carts paths. They only run in the tee box area and near the greens. The other "cart paths" are sand.
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 10:18:27 PM
#4 is a 560 yard par 5. (My favorite hole.)
Tee shot.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5535.jpg)

To a left to right sloped landing area.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5536.jpg)

Cresting the hill, the layup area is shy of White Oak creek.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5537.jpg)

The approach.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5538.jpg)

First view of the creek.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5541.jpg)

Looking back.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5542.jpg)
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Ed Oden on July 05, 2010, 10:24:16 PM
The pavers are the carts paths. They only run in the tee box area and near the greens. The other "cart paths" are sand.

Interesting.  Not sure I have seen that before.  It looks like they run right up to the edge of the bunker.  Wouldn't that be the equivalent of having a cart path abut a bunker?
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 10:34:25 PM
#7. Par 4. 395 yards.
Tee shot. The creek on the right the entire length of the hole.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5544.jpg)

From the fairway.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5545.jpg)

The approach.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5547.jpg)

Looking back.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5548.jpg)
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 10:39:08 PM
8 has 2 tee "angles."
The Padraig tees (175 yards) and the blue tees cross the creek.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5549.jpg)

The others play it safer.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5550.jpg)

The different angles to the green.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5551.jpg)



Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Brett Waters on July 05, 2010, 10:41:42 PM
The shaping and angles immediately remind me of the course they opened last year for NC State.
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 10:44:38 PM
#9 is a monster par 4. 485 from the tips, with the creek the length of the hole on the left, and the shared waste area with #1, on the right.

(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5552.jpg)

View from the ladies tees.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5553.jpg)

Fairway.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5555.jpg)

Approach shot.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5556.jpg)

Green complex.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5558.jpg)
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 10:51:21 PM
#17 is an uphill par 3, 170 yards.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5566.jpg)

Shot from the other tees.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5565.jpg)

From behind the green.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5563.jpg)



Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 10:59:50 PM
The finishing hole. 18 is 460 yards. WO creek all along the right side the length of the hole.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5567.jpg)

(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5568.jpg)

Landing area.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5569.jpg)

Approach shot.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5570.jpg)

Trouble lurking right.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5571.jpg)

More sand
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5572.jpg)

To a large green.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5573.jpg)
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 05, 2010, 11:03:45 PM
One last pic of #18 green.
17 and 18 sit hard next to a ridge creating a natural "stadium."
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5560.jpg)

Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: JC Jones on July 06, 2010, 01:47:36 PM
The 17th looks EXACTLY like a mirror image of the 11th at Calusa Pines.
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Steve_ Shaffer on July 06, 2010, 01:52:19 PM
How many of these "high end" residential golf developments can NC and this country absorb?  Are they selling any houses/lots there? Is there any demand?
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 06, 2010, 04:49:54 PM
How many of these "high end" residential golf developments can NC and this country absorb?  Are they selling any houses/lots there? Is there any demand?

I think it's slow all around North Carolina.......................
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Cliff Hamm on July 06, 2010, 09:54:10 PM
Course looks superb.  Unlike anything I have seen under "Palmer" design.  If this were one of the 'in' architects would there be more accolades?
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Larry Gavrich on July 11, 2010, 01:45:12 PM
Bruce was kind to invite me a few weeks ago to play the nine holes that are open at White Oak.  It is a wonderful layout in surprisingly excellent condition; I say "surprisingly" because the developers cannot be generating much revenue in this environment from selling many of the adjacent lots.  Kudos to them for at least cutting the fairways and greens, which were fast and true.  Contrast with Ricefields, the Davis Love III design on the Georgia coast which I played a couple of months ago.  Nice marshland layout, but if they are mowing the grass more often than every week, I couldn't tell.  The greens putted like mohair...My guess is that when all 18 at White Oak are open for a year, the course will attain top-10 status in NC ratings. 
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Tyler Kearns on July 13, 2010, 05:28:34 PM
Bruce,

From the photos you've posted, the 2nd hole looks like at least a 90 degree (if not more) dogleg, is this correct?

TK
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on July 13, 2010, 06:48:10 PM
Bruce,

From the photos you've posted, the 2nd hole looks like at least a 90 degree (if not more) dogleg, is this correct?

TK


Yes, that is correct. The tee shot is over the wetlands, which continues down the right side. There is only a small amount of "flat" land in the landing area, so the sidehill lie affects the approach shot.
 
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Michael Blake on July 13, 2010, 07:22:46 PM
Course looks superb.  Unlike anything I have seen under "Palmer" design.  If this were one of the 'in' architects would there be more accolades?

Cliff,
I agree it looks pretty darn cool.  
And if Bruce had said this was a C & C course I'd bet there would be 50 posts from people raving about it.
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on September 19, 2014, 02:12:52 PM
With new owners (Tryon Resort) and a new equestrian focus, new hope emerges.

From goupstate.com
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20140915/ARTICLES/140919749

 "Work on the golf course should begin in the middle of 2015 so that it will be up and running in conjunction with the hotel, which will be built into a hillside and remains on track for a 2016 opening. Construction of the spa and resort should begin after that."

Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Phil McDade on September 19, 2014, 02:17:22 PM
This does not look even remotely enjoyable for anyone but the scratch golfer.

Blech. :P
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on September 19, 2014, 02:34:47 PM
This does not look even remotely enjoyable for anyone but the scratch golfer.

Blech. :P

Phil,
      The pics are from 2010.
      As the course has been sitting defunct for the last 3(?) years any hope of revitalization of the "existing" 9 holes, and completion of the remaining 9 holes is a plus. It would give NC it's first new course in how many years?
       As far as playability, my (then 14 year old) daughter's first victory over me was on this 9. She still has the scorecard framed. We both liked the course alot. I just hope it finally gets built. 
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Rees Milikin on September 19, 2014, 02:38:38 PM
I would definitely like to play this course, thanks for bumping this old thread.
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Jim Sherma on September 19, 2014, 03:51:52 PM
Approach shot.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak/DSCN5556.jpg)

Gotta agree that this is looking quite penal. Not much separating a fine shot from lost ball in this photo or others that were posted. In my opinion this type of course gets old fast. Golf should be about recovery shots and cleaning up your misses, these types of fairway to lost ball transitions does not offer too much of that.
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on September 19, 2014, 05:01:03 PM
Point taken on the 2010 version.
This is the 2014 version. There is time to fix it.  ;)
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/2014/photo_zpsaec10146.png) (http://s946.photobucket.com/user/wellmond/media/2014/photo_zpsaec10146.png.html)
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on September 19, 2014, 05:09:27 PM
One interesting point was the original 17th hole, which was abandoned. A wonderful drop shot par 3 across White Oak Creek.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak%20UNFINISHED%20holes/photo-14-1.jpg) (http://s946.photobucket.com/user/wellmond/media/White%20Oak%20UNFINISHED%20holes/photo-14-1.jpg.html)
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Bruce Wellmon on September 19, 2014, 05:12:11 PM
View looking a little left off the tee.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak%20UNFINISHED%20holes/photo-13-1.jpg) (http://s946.photobucket.com/user/wellmond/media/White%20Oak%20UNFINISHED%20holes/photo-13-1.jpg.html)

From below.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/wellmond/White%20Oak%20UNFINISHED%20holes/photo-1-2.jpg) (http://s946.photobucket.com/user/wellmond/media/White%20Oak%20UNFINISHED%20holes/photo-1-2.jpg.html)
Title: Re: White Oak Photo Tour
Post by: Chris_Blakely on September 19, 2014, 05:50:39 PM
This does not look even remotely enjoyable for anyone but the scratch golfer.

Blech. :P
[/quote

Thank you.

I thought the exact same but did not have the stones to post it first!