Sequoyah National Golf Club, Whittier, NC

The course opened before "ready" in the fall of 2009, and has yet to have time to properly mature (of grass root structure and density to fill in and "hold" shots). The course layout is quite odd, in that play never returns to the clubhouse area until after completing the last hole and that all the five par 5's are completed after leaving the 12th green (you play two of them before ever playing a 4 par). A third of the holes are on flat ground, the others ranging from hilly to just plain steep (from many elevated tees and some fairways to greens well far below). The greens are plenty fast enough, tricked up a tad with sloping to add to the overall challenge of the course. It is plenty difficult, in that some forced carries (to 3 greens across creeks and on the two longest 3 pars) are required and severe fairway contouring figures in tee club selection and line adjustment of approach shots (the bunkers are very good and plentiful, not only helping from an aiming standpoint but from preventing runoff into greenside trouble). The course is only slightly scenic (some holes near back country roads with non-zoned residences), with most of the beauty in the hole design themselves. The course is built for the accomplished player (at least when the grass takes hold and grows in), as average golfers will lack the ability to hit the ball high enough (and far enough) in the air to draw preferred landing areas to attack the greens (low ball hitters will find they subject themselves to the whims of the contouring, which are generally not kind). Although I would argue it is indeed interesting enough (from a hole design standpoint) to say you have played it, it doesn't have great appeal to repeatedly do so because of remote location, difficultly (severe contouring that run shots in trouble areas and mandated forced carries), and a disappointing visual experience (one would have thought the Cherokee Indian tribe could have found a better piece of ground to situate the course, one with more aesthetic appeal).