Brian Oar
Overview
Tobacco Road took every idea that Strantz had been developing to that point in time (1999) and put it all in one place, specifically an old mining site of sand and pine 25 miles north of Pinehurst. The property is the secret star—yes, there are Strantzian trademarks like boomerang-shaped par 5s, greens and fairways notched blindly behind dunes, dramatic risk/reward shots played over deep chasms and putting surfaces stretched into stringy silly putty shapes. But without the elevation changes, depressions and contrasting textures of the rugged sand barrens, this would be True Blue 2.0. It’s much more than that: a master class in decision-making and composition that sits just inside the top 50 on the Golf Digest America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses ranking, a placement that’s at least 20 spots too low, at least in the mind of this editor.
About
Awards
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since 2009. Highest Ranking: 49th, 2021-2022. Current Ranking: 49th.
Best in State: Ranked Top 15 in North Carolina since 2019; Top 20 from 2017-2018; Top 25 from 2011-2016. Current Ranking: 13th since 2019.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Fun course to play with many challenging shots. Several holes have risk/reward tee shots which can be challenging for higher handicap players. Lots of opportunities for birdies if you hit good shots."
Read More2022
Review
“Extremely polarizing and extremely fun, Tobacco Road is perhaps Mike Strantz's best known design. Located near Pinehurst in North Carolina, this is a perennial top 100 public course in America for good reason - the variety, shot values, and fun are extremely high here. The architecture here is extremely bold and should be experienced at least once."
Read More2022
Review
“Unique. That’s the best word for the golf course that needs to be seen and played to be believed, and even then it’s tough to understand! Mike Strantz basically was given carte blanche to design whatever he wanted and the greens/slopes/layout reflect that. The course at times borders on gimmicky but you will not be disappointed if you show up with an open mind!"
Read More2021
Review
“This is such a fun course. To really enjoy it you should play with someone who has been there before or do replay the course the same day. You will want to come back another day to try it with different pin positions. The course is shorter but you should still move up a set of tees unless you are an elite player."
Read More2021
Review
“This is a love it or hate it course, but I look forward to playing here every time. This is a must play for any Sand Hills golf trip, even if you are staying at the Pinehurst resort."
Read More2021
Review
“Tobacco Road tends to generate strong opinions -- I'm in the "love it" camp. The boldness of the designs and some of the hazards makes the course tremendous fun, yet the golfer can avoid most of the trouble by playing smart. Has many blind shots and unusual features that you won't see on other courses. One of my favorites."
Read More2021
Review
“One of the most unique courses anywhere. Amazing creativity and character, a must play. Visually intimidating, but fair."
Read More2021
Review
“Golf on acid."
Read More2020
Review
“You'll love it or hate it. No two holes are really alike and on some, the only thing missing is a windmill and a clown's mouth. Lots of blind shots and forced carries; a miss into the hay is stroke and distance. Good challenge, not so much on the fun scale."
Read More2019
Review
“The place to play on a Pinehurst area golf trip if the desire is to play something different. Tobacco Road gives a totally different look and style than any other course in the area."
Read More2019
Review
“Big, bold, unique and a must-see. Mike Strantz build an incredibly unique golf course that is very fun for a single-digit level golfer. Risk-reward decisions abound. Personally, this is a must-play when near Pinehurst."
Read More2019
Review
“This is not your typical golf course. If you're expecting a typical championship course than this is not your place, but if you want to have a fun day at the course with blind shots and holes you've never seen before than this is your place."
Read More2019
Review
“The most fun I've had on the golf course. Not only is the course awesome but the ambiance of the place is so fitting with the quirkiness of a Strantz course. To top it off, the staff and pace of play were both great."
Read More2018
Review
“We lost Mike Strantz too soon. He was the most innovative contemporary architect to ply his trade. TR is a ride on the wild side. If you like unconventional and courses that will leave you scratching your head, this course is for you."
Read More2018
Review
“One of the more interesting courses that you will ever play. Mike Strantz was really a genius."
Read More2018
Review
“This quirky, short course is a must play in the Pinehurst area. A number of blind shots so be sure you buy a guide book for the course. Voted in the top 50 courses in the US by golf architects!"
Read More2018
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