Palmetto Golf Club—Aiken, SC
Rankings as of 7/11/2010…
97th best classic US course (Golfweek)
Playing Palmetto is a truly wonderful experience and a must play for almost any golf course architecture fan. The
course was routed by Herbert Leeds, while the greens are Alister Mackenzie’s. That combination is rare and quite
unique, as is the club itself. The club is located in Aiken, SC which is right next door to Augusta, GA. As I’ve said
before, simply being in the area and playing golf is something magical. Add in the ambiance of Palmetto Golf Club
and that magic accelerates to another level. The clubhouse is understated, yet cool as heck, and chuck full of
fantastic golf memorabilia. As I said, it simply must be experienced/seen by any golf buff.
As with most of the courses in the area, the routing takes the golfer up and down rolling terrain which sets up
some dramatic shots. On this gem, Mr. Mackenzie’s greens take these dramatic shots to an almost unheard of
level. These were the first Mackenzie greens I’ve played and let me simply say that even though I had read a lot
about them, I wasn’t prepared for them. The undulations, slopes, and twist and turns have to be experienced
through play. Seeing them without playing them and/or reading about them isn’t enough.
For example, here is the tenth green. This green lies at the end of a par 5. One word of advice…don’t go long!!
Look at the severe slope at the back of the green that will feed everything long into it and run your ball right off
the green. Also, you can see the landing for your tee shot from the par 3 11th hole. Yeah, that is it WAY down
that hill. I think this picture let’s you see the Mackenzie greens and the Leeds routing in one image.
The get a further sense of the greens, here is an image of the 3rd hole’s green. Crazy bunker and a green with a
NASTY false front.
I’ve heard some people complain about the length of the course…6,451 yards from the tips with a rating of
72/134. But it is a par 71 and the length isn’t the challenge, it is the greens. I’ve also heard complaints about the
closing holes. Ok, I’ll buy that. It does seem like that ran out of real estate. But I am telling you, play it…it is a
treat (or torture) to putt on those greens and to see the routing, club house, old locker room, and to feel the
history. Great place!
Rankings as of 7/11/2010…
97th best classic US course (Golfweek)
Playing Palmetto is a truly wonderful experience and a must play for almost any golf course architecture fan. The
course was routed by Herbert Leeds, while the greens are Alister Mackenzie’s. That combination is rare and quite
unique, as is the club itself. The club is located in Aiken, SC which is right next door to Augusta, GA. As I’ve said
before, simply being in the area and playing golf is something magical. Add in the ambiance of Palmetto Golf Club
and that magic accelerates to another level. The clubhouse is understated, yet cool as heck, and chuck full of
fantastic golf memorabilia. As I said, it simply must be experienced/seen by any golf buff.
As with most of the courses in the area, the routing takes the golfer up and down rolling terrain which sets up
some dramatic shots. On this gem, Mr. Mackenzie’s greens take these dramatic shots to an almost unheard of
level. These were the first Mackenzie greens I’ve played and let me simply say that even though I had read a lot
about them, I wasn’t prepared for them. The undulations, slopes, and twist and turns have to be experienced
through play. Seeing them without playing them and/or reading about them isn’t enough.
For example, here is the tenth green. This green lies at the end of a par 5. One word of advice…don’t go long!!
Look at the severe slope at the back of the green that will feed everything long into it and run your ball right off
the green. Also, you can see the landing for your tee shot from the par 3 11th hole. Yeah, that is it WAY down
that hill. I think this picture let’s you see the Mackenzie greens and the Leeds routing in one image.
The get a further sense of the greens, here is an image of the 3rd hole’s green. Crazy bunker and a green with a
NASTY false front.
I’ve heard some people complain about the length of the course…6,451 yards from the tips with a rating of
72/134. But it is a par 71 and the length isn’t the challenge, it is the greens. I’ve also heard complaints about the
closing holes. Ok, I’ll buy that. It does seem like that ran out of real estate. But I am telling you, play it…it is a
treat (or torture) to putt on those greens and to see the routing, club house, old locker room, and to feel the
history. Great place!
