Chalk Mine 9

Favorite Hole

No. 2, par 3, 86 yards

After a standalone first hole, a grand reveal occurs on the second, which traverses a ridgeline that overlooks the final seven holes. Waste-like bunkers that melt away into the pines and the inconspicuous green that sits seamlessly into the land combine to make this hole a delight to look at, but it’s not just eye candy. A narrow front tier drops down to a larger back tier that pitches away, giving this green a distinctive feel compared to the rest of the course while also creating varied pin locations.

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Overall Thoughts

The concept, execution, and enthusiasm behind this co-sanctioned project puts a smile on my face. It’s wonderful to see different forms of golf serving multiple purposes while keeping golf education and real growth of the game at the forefront. The trust that the First Tee and USCA put into Jim’s vision is extraordinary, and illustrative of the kind of guy he is, too.

Jim’s father, James McNair Sr., purchased Aiken Golf Club in the late 1950s and eventually passed the course on to Jim. The course fell on hard times in the late 1990s, resulting in Jim’s renovation of the golf course which breathed new life into the property. Jim had never built a golf hole or done any form of golf construction before , but Bill Coore encouraged him to try, saying that he could figure it all out. This was an unintended introduction into golf design for Jim that soon after led to some basic renovations at the Golf Club at Cedar Creek, a 1991 Arthur Hills design that he purchased, and eventually led to his work at the Chalk Mine 9, which is certainly not that of an amateur.

Some of the very best designs in the world do an incredible job of cultivating a connection between the golfer and the landscape and showcasing the genius loci. This is a core design tenet of many of the great architects, from Alister Mackenzie on through to Bill Coore and Tom Doak. They all root their golf courses into the terrain, leaving no hint of contrivance while propping up the best elements of the natural landscape.

The Chalk Mine 9 adopts this notion. It was built in harmony with the landscape and embraces the uniqueness of the site. Retaining the ruggedness of the ground by consciously using a very low acreage of maintained turf is the main way that the course keeps the focus on the landscape as opposed to the built environment. Holes are draped across the tilted site with plentiful islands of native vegetation that form breaks in the turfgrass. In addition, many of the greensites are tucked into pockets surrounded by exposed rugged soils, wiry plants, and even some visually stunning rock outcroppings. The eighth, most strikingly, sits down in the ground surrounded by undisturbed terrain; an exposed red rock backdrop gives the hole a look of having been there for centuries.

While the naturalness of the course is ever present and well executed, the site appears to have been challenging to work with given the severe nature of the terrain and restricted footprint. Standout holes like the second, third, and eighth all take advantage of interesting land movements and locations across the property, but the routing jumps and zags in ways that diminishes the flow around the course. At the same time the routing does a great job of getting you up, down, and around just about all of the 15 acres that the course occupies, allowing you to experience all of the inherent natural subtleties. A more cohesive routing would have made the nine par 3s feel more like a proper golf course, instead of an assortment of short holes in a really neat environment.

Without a doubt, this project is a success for what it was aimed to achieve on a low budget. Could the design have been more dynamic with a more connected routing? Yes, but the sense of place and tranquility of the site was still captured. And at its core, it provides a purposeful space for college players to grind and practice while simultaneously allowing for children to learn the game while receiving mentorship from the USCA golf team.

0 Eggs

This is an interesting course to rate, as it occupies a niche space in the world of golf course design. Ultimately, it feels more like a collection of par 3s that are best suited for honing one’s short game than it does a multidimensional design for all levels of golfers. This makes it useful for the college players practicing here, but will seemingly create issues for beginner golfers who cannot carry the ball long distances. More short grass that welcomes lower rolling shots and the ability for cross-country optionality would be a great way to maximize the experience for all golfers.

Course Tour

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Additional Content

Instagram reel on the Chalk Mine 9