Catawba Creek Golf Course, Gastonia, NC

The Catawba Creek Golf Course was once known as the Gastonia Golf Course but it was sold by the city several years ago. It is still a public course and offers a fun challenge for the price.

The course offers three sets of tees with the par-71 back tees measuring 6,447 yards. The course is short but you do have to play a good shot off the tees to score well on most holes. Don't think your job is over once you reach the green. The greens are well-maintained but very fast. Your short game will need to be on to shoot near par on most holes.

Most golfers would probably agree that No. 8, while being one of the prettiest holes, is the toughest hole on the course. Trees on one side and a lake on the other mean you'll need to position your drive perfectly to have much of a second shot. Play too far on the left and trees will block your view of the green.

The two longest and the two shortest holes are all on the back nine. Holes numbers 10 and 13 are both par-5s that measure over 560 yards. The long holes are balanced by back-to-back par-3s on the 16th and 17th holes, something you rarely see on regulation-length courses.

Catawba Creek Golf Course is in great shape and the mature scenery is quite nice. The holes offer a nice variety, but they need to be marked better on the tees and scorecard. It's easy to get turned around going from hole to hole.

A driving range and putting green are available to prepare you for your round. The staff is friendly and helpful, but don't expect to spend much time in the modest clubhouse.

Catawba Creek Golf Course is an above-average course that is worth visiting the next time you are in the Charlotte area.

I enjoyed the front nine, but the back nine is a 'combat zone' with a few dangerous areas. I hit two power lines with my driver, they are everywhere on the back. Overpriced for me.

The course is NOT 6447 yds par 71...its 6172 from the tips and a par 70. You need to be able to shape shots so you can hit around all the power lines. The bunkers do not have any drainage so they are wet for a week after rain. Also, the bunkers do not carry very much sand. Some of the greens are in bad shape (bumpy, diseased and rock hard). The good news is, the par 5's are long'ish (532 & 566 yds respectively). The par 3's are also long with the shortest one being 169 yards that plays about 185 due to it being up hill.

I just played this course on 6/30/10 .. To be honest i was disappointed when i got there because i had heard good things about the course ... lots of bare spots on tees , fairways and tee boxes .. LOTS OF POWER POLES AND POWERLINES .. bad cartpaths .
Not the worst course i have ever played , but definitely not worth the 50 mile drive i made to get there ... Crowders Mtn ( just a few miles away )is a much better course for the money