Aberdeen Country Club’s 4 Best Holes

Story by Ian Guerin

Tom Jackson’s design at Aberdeen Country Club has been a working model in attracting new types of players.

The course has battled with Mother Nature and a booming housing market and a golf environment that isn’t always super friendly. And, yet, three decades after originally opening, the layout here is as inviting as ever and still getting “discovered” by new players year after year.

These four holes are a big reason why.

The two Par 4s, one Par 5 and Par 3 mix creative looks into the traditional links design. Nothing is over the top, necessarily, but they will stand out enough so that you remember them the next time around.

MEADOWS, NO. 6, PAR 4, 365 YARDS
Up to this point, players may be under the impression that Jackson went pretty straightforward. The holes are mostly unobstructed and often reliant upon weather condition to potentially steer you off-course. The lead-up makes No. 6 pop that much more. The bunker up the left is chased by a pond. Up the right is some nifty mounding helps frame the middle portions of the fairway. A trio of greenside bunkers do the rest. (top photo)

MEADOWS, NO. 9, PAR 4, 352 YARDS
When you ask yourself “What would they put that tree there?”, know that it’s a late introduction that you’ll get to see again. In this case, the 225 or so yards to the tree from the white tees shapes the heck out of your strategy. Stay to the right, and you’ve got a fantastic chance of reaching the green in regulation. Plunk down behind it, and you better have some PGA-quality punch abilities. (photo right)

HIGHLANDS, NO. 5, PAR 5, 514 YARDS
The longest hole on this nine is a love-it-or-hate-it 514 yards. It’s not quite as narrow as the yardage book would make it seem. Then again, the more distance you try to cheat off the tee, the more you might feel the squeeze. That’s key on this hole, as the second shot is the make or break one here. An oddly protected tree at the start of the dogleg back toward the hole and a huge waste bunker force you back to the right to stay safe. Heed the warning.

HIGHLANDS, NO. 7, PAR 3, 144 YARDS
OK, seriously. What’s up with these darn trees? A relatively easy short hole is otherwise conflicted by the huge oak that seems to be a little bigger each time we play. It shades a good portion of the green during certain parts of the day’s sunlight hours and cuts your target area in half (if not more). The approach zone short of the green is mowed short because of that tree. And if the pin is on the left side, just take what is given and move on to the rest of the round. (photo right)

Ian Guerin has been covering sports and golf in South Carolina since 2004. His game has ebbed and flowed like the Atlantic, but he’s never had to explain to his kids why his round won’t be televised. You can follow along with the day-to-day conversation on Twitter @iguerin