Trio of Fayetteville-area golf courses named among North Carolina’s Best

March 4, 2010 - PRLog -- FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Anderson Creek Golf Club and a pair of courses at Keith Hills Country Club were included in the North Carolina Golf Panel’s annual rankings published in the March issue of Business North Carolina Magazine.

Anderson Creek, previously named North Carolina’s Best New Course in 2001, checked in at No. 78 and was touted as the No. 3 hidden gem in the Sandhills region.

Keith Hills placed both of its courses – Creek (No. 6) and River (No. 11) – in the Eastern Region rankings and the Creek Course stood No. 3 in terms of most intimidating tee shots.

The list of the top 100 courses is determined by a scoring system that asks 150 panelists to consider the course’s conditioning, routing, design, strategy, memorability, fairness, variety and aesthetics.

Since the panel was formed in 1995, its members can only vote for courses that they have played which proves quite a daunting task for a state sporting more than 550 golf courses.

“This recognition further affirms Fayetteville as a popular golf destination,” said John Meroski, CEO of the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Even for people traveling to Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head, Fayetteville is a perfect stopping-off point. They can both stay in Fayetteville and save themselves a lot of gas money, or they can use it as a warm-up for their final destination.

“We’re a closer trip, and our courses probably aren’t as crowded – and they are a lot more affordable. If you want to break up that long trip there are great hotels and golf to do so, plus some history, heroes and a hometown feeling.”

Anderson Creek is Davis Love III’s first signature course in his native North Carolina. This traditional layout reflects all that is great about golf in the renowned Sandhills – rolling emerald fairways lined with longleaf pines, natural areas highlighted with love grass and perfectly manicured course conditions. The greens feature large roll-off areas and significant undulations that offer a glimpse into the classic Donald Ross architecture seen throughout the region.

Keith Hills has long been a hidden treasure in the Southeast and serves as the home venue for Campbell University and numerous amateur events. The older Creek Course, designed by Ellis Maples, has been rated as high as the state’s seventh-best public golf course. The newer River Course, designed by Dan Maples, opened in Fall 2002. Keith Hills boasts large, bent grass greens and rolling, plush fairways as it winds through a golfing community set on the Cape Fear River.

For more information about golf in the Fayetteville, N.C., area, visit GolfOnTheReady.com or call 800-805-5031.