Creek at Carolina Trace Country Club

Played the Creek Course at Carolina Trace on a hot deal from Golf Now. After deducting the service fee and using a Golf Now credit I played a premium course for cheap. It had rained so it was cart path only. Of course, I hit the opposite way and walked a LOT! The person in the shop was very helpful, The course was damp from the rain. However, the tees and fairways were very playable and the greens were lightning fast. I have Carolina Trace high on my list and I'm always looking for an opportunity to play there. The Lake and Creek courses are both wonderful layouts.

The only problem with this course is the lack of hole layouts. We had no idea if hole was dogleg, where the hazards are, how far to the hole and where the next hole was.

There are two courses …creek and lake

It is poorly marked to the holes as you navigate thru the neighborhood

You will find a sign indicating next tee, however upon arriving you find yourself on the wrong hole or wrong course

I wish they would either provide a map or signage to direct the golfers properly

At the end of our round I brought up the pro shop that we somehow missed hole 16 and then ended our round on the wrong course

The gentleman at the pro shop said “it happens all the time” and that he is always filtering calls from confused golfers

This course is not truly a 4.5 star course. This course should be rated 3.5 stars. The Star system is often deceptive on GolfNow, but especially so in this case, when Southern Pines is ranked just under 4 but is actually a 5+ and Carolina Trace, as a bland, decently conditioned but basic course, should be 3.5 stars. There is no wonderful architecture here and the aesthetic is average. But you can play golf on grassy fairways and impressively well manicured greens. Just don’t expect excitement.

Challenging course. Staff is great and carts are newer and ride great. This course does not turn at the clubhouse so bring what you need for a full round.

Course was in excellent shape for this time of year. Greens were fast and took a few holes to adjust. Challenging features were tight, tree lined fairways that required accuracy. Fun features were the elevated tees and great looking fairway layouts.

Always try and play one of the Carolina Trace courses a couple times per year and played the Creek Course this time. The course was in great shape and it is designed to challenge every level of golfer while also being play-able for the beginner. Nice pro shop with friendly and helpful staff. Either of the Carolina Trace courses are highly recommended.

We played the Creek course and it was beautiful and challenging. Fairways and greens are fantastic. We don’t mind the drive because of the super club and quality play. We’ve not run into slow play due to backups like those closer to Raleigh so we finish on time instead of 1-2 hours later. Lake course has gorgeous holes snd challenging too. Either course offers a great round.

Well Managed fairways , bunkers and greens. Stay out of the rough or it might cost you a stroke. Creek Course is very challenging and the Lake course is just enjoyable.

Thanks for a great Sunday..

Had a good time at this course the people in the clubhouse were friendly and the club is nestled in a nice community. Oddly some of the homes are very large and nice while others look like spruced up mobile homes. The tee boxes fairways bunkers and greens were all in near perfect shape. This is pretty impressive for late September. Fairway was a little squishy In some parts but that's a great compromise given how little rain we've had in the area And that's not on every hole. Greens were very firm and rolled true. The practice facility was also very nice. Free balls at the driving range nice chipping area and putting area with Callaway balls.

Cons: The cart paths were 80% smooth. My water bottle in bag almost jumped out a few times. The carts are not in the best shape. But they do have great things going for them such as very cushioned seats and large cup holders for an oversized water bottle. Both of those things are a typical but very pleasant. However the carts did run very rough they are gas powered and loud. The tee boxes were not clearly marked with the holes which made identifying which hole you were on confusing to a first time player there. I play over 100 rounds a year and have never had an occasion where I could not find the next hole because the cart path had an unidentifiable spot where inws supposed to turnaround. I suggest some markings that guide the carts to where the next hole is in more locations than they currently have. Also the tee boxes should be clearly marked with which hole you are on. I had difficulty finding one of the holes because the numbers had fallen off of a post that I identified that as the next hole. I did not notice the tee boxes because there was a kid on his bike playing in the creek so I did not know that was where I was supposed to tee off from. When you get to the turn there is a bathroom and a soda machine. So you don't get back to the clubhouse until you're around is complete. That is a little bit of a downer when there is no beverage in food cart making rounds. It was a Sunday so maybe they have this on busier days. As you finish up on 18 go over the bridge and up a small path someone has a sign that points to the clubhouse but there are no other signs at point you to the clubhouse. I'm not from Sanford and I don't know my way around that neighborhood so the cart paths were very difficult to navigate.

In summary I will definitely go back and consider bringing a foursome with me. I would rank it just below some of the country clubs in my area but i do think it's nice for the area. Greens fees are around $85 which I think is a tad high for what you get there. It makes sense when you consider that it's a country club but not once you've been there.

Purse well laid out. Wide fairways. Greens a little small. Originally set for Creek course but 3 inches of rain day before closed the Creek course but pro switched me to Lake. A number of elevated tees for small par 3 greens—challenging!