Tired of 6-hour golf rounds? Tee it up at Fort Mill Golf Club

(1) The Pace: The staff does a great job of keeping things moving. Where else can you play under four hours on the weekend?

(2) Mini Verde Grass: In the summer it’s usually your best bet.

(3) Exercise: One of the best places to carry your clubs because greens and tees are close together. You can walk any time, but wait until after 12pm on the weekend.

(4) Divots: The snack bar serves beer and sandwiches at a reasonable price with a porch overlooking #9, #18 and the practice facility.

Course Facts

• Architects: Donald Ross & George Cobb
• Back Tee: 6,801 yards
• Ladies Tee: 5,159 yards
• Minutes from Uptown: 28-35 (I-77 S. to exit 85)
• Rack Rates: $57.00; +4.00 Friday; +12.00 weekend & holiday
• Reservations: Here or (803) 547 2044 

Tour of a few holes

The First – #1 – 437 yard Par 4 

One of three Par 4’s stretching 400+ yards. You will find out quickly the opening holes require your attention. Any tee shot that finishes left of the tree guarding the right side of the fairway should give you a clean look at things to get started. You may find the sun rising directly behind the two-tiered green provides an additional challenge if you head out around 8:15 am.

The Last – #18 – 371 yard Par 4 

The finishing hole takes a hard turn left and will play much shorter than the yardage if you want to get aggressive off the tee. Any shot carrying 230 yards will clear the corner leaving you a wedge, straight uphill to a small green to finish.

One you’ll enjoy – #4 – 526 yard Par 5  

The first Par 5 you come to is one of the really good holes on the front side. Trees run down both sides of the narrow fairway while two deep bunkers wait 260 yards away swallowing anything turning right to left. The green sits at the base of a hill, hidden from view for the majority of the hole. If you don’t get it far enough down the hill on your second shot you might face an awkward pitch, from the downslope over the two front bunkers guarding the flag.

Tip: Shot you’ll need and how to hit it 

The shot: Slight Draw because #7, #11, #12, #18 are all dogleg lefts.

View from tee on #7

Several holes turn right to left so if you can hit a little draw when you need it the course should play easier. Here are a few things I think about for this shot and hopefully one of these helps you when you visit Fort Mill.

• Use the left side of the tee box.
• Soften your grip pressure.
• Aim the face of the club where you want the ball to finish and then align your body right of the target.
• Feel like the club swings out to the right, along the line set by your feet and shoulders.

Marc teaching a golf school 

For more help hitting the draw Marc Lapointe offers private and group instruction at Fort Mill Golf Club and three other facilities in the area. Marc was previously the Director of Instruction at Dana Rader Golf School and voted the 6th best teacher in NC by Golf Digest in 2013. There is a new learning center under construction to the left of the range as well, which you can see in the photo below.