Tot Hill Farm Golf Club – Golf Course Review

Tot Hill Farm Golf Club is a very challenging, but breathtaking course with many picturesque holes. It can play very hard with drastic elevation changes, hazards, and blind shots. Designed by Mike Strantz, the same designer of Tobacco Road in Sanford, NC, it is a very untraditional golf course and requires precision. The course has a very interesting and fun layout, with five par 5s, and five par 3’s, being a par 72. There are several blind tee shots, creeks, and rocks, which can make for a tough round if you miss your shots, even slightly. Many of the greens are surrounded by water, and you are bound to find some trouble throughout the round. Although it is over an hour away, we recommend taking the drive or if you are in the area, it’s a MUST play! The course was in good shape, with the fairways and greens well maintained. Some of the tee boxes were still coming in, but it didn’t affect the playing conditions. If you are looking to play a Mike Strantz course without driving to Tobacco Road or paying a steep price, Tot Hill is a great alternative. We will definitely be back and it will be helpful knowing the course the next time around. RECOMMENDATION: We would strongly advise you calling ahead and making sure it is not CART PATH ONLY.  We were unfortunate to have this happen to us, and just take our word for it.  With the terrain, it was exhausting enough to walk from the cart paths to our balls; we couldn’t imagine walking the entire course.  Props to you if you’ve done it! There are a lot of signature holes around the course, and we took a lot of pictures throughout the round because it was different than many courses we play. Below are a couple of the more memorable holes.

#4 Par 5, 493yds, Handicap 10 – After a relatively easy par 3, the par 5 4th is a fantastic hole. A short walk from the 3rd green, you’ll tee it up going over the par 3 you just finished, which was very cool. Although it’s not overly long, it is straight uphill. A good tee shot can give you a risk/reward look at going for green in 2. The green is severly uphill with a false front that will roll 50 yards back if you don’t get it up onto the putting surface. There is a small stream crossing the fairway, with the green surrounded by trees. If playing it as a 3 shot hole, lay up before the creek, where you will have 100-150 yards for your approach. Make sure to club up and take enough to reach this elevated green.

#6 Par 3, 155yds, Handicap 14 – This par 3 looks intimidating from the tee box. You are carrying all hazard between rocks and creek running along the left side. It looks very narrow, but there is actually room on the right that will kick left and can even end up on the green. You’ll likely have a wedge or high iron, so play to the center of the green, and you can have a good chance at birdie or a tap in par.

#12  Par 4, 392yds, Handicap 5 – We saw this green coming off of hole 10, and were excited to play it as the green is surrounded by water in all directions, almost like an island green. The green is hidden from the tee boxes, but you just want to hit a shot toward the 150yd marker and will have a good approach into the green. The miss is right, which will just give a longer approach. You don’t need driver here but play a club that will get you in the middle of the fairway that’ll set you up nicely for the challenging approach. The longer you are, the narrower the fairway will get, and a miss left will be in the hazard. The approach shot will be completely over water to a green with no room to miss. Take the right club and attack the green.