North Carolina's Newest Short Course

Old Edwards Hospitality Group has opened a new 12-hole par 3 course called The Saddle at GlenCove, as part of its new GlenCove community development near Cashiers, North Carolina.

Beau Welling, the architect, was appointed following Old Edwards acquisition of the 160 acre Burt farm property adjacent to its 18-hole Tom Jackson designed golf course, Old Edwards Club at Highlands Cove.

"Together, our intention was to create a new innovative club that could be enjoyed by multiple generations for many years to come and built upon Old Edwards Inn & Spa world-class reputation as well as an impressive array of amenities around the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau," said Welling. "Old Edwards wanted a unique golf experience to be the heart of the development. The Saddle was designed with the spirit of community in mind. From the outset, the goal was to create a truly relaxed and fun short course that would be enjoyable for all ages and skill levels. The result is an inviting and comfortable layout for those new to the game as well as skilled golfers who are looking to unwind in the stunning mountain setting."

The design team worked hand-in-hand with the Old Edwards group to help develop the vision for the GlenCove community and the playing experience at The Saddle, which is definitely great for the game. The course can be played with alternative routings or loops for those that can not manage to walk or play a full round. They emphasized the walking experience to make sure everyone was able to enjoy the beautiful setting, but more importantly to enjoy each other's company on the course. Groupings are not being limited to the traditional foursome to make rounds fun for families and groups of friends.

There has been an increase in the desire for alternative golf courses and routings in many projects, including the 'Cradle' at Pinehurst, Hunters Run at Woodside Plantation in Aiken, SC and the Palmetto Traverse in Santee, SC. Welling has worked on a number of short courses lately and many of them have bucked the tradition of nine holes. When routing The Saddle, they tried numerous iterations to see what would provide the best possible experience and fit the natural canvas provided. He drew inspiration from the site's history to shape holes in a classic way including Redan and Biarritz-like features.

The course emphasizes accuracy from the tee in order to ensure players are in a position to score well. Though there are forced carries, the holes have extensive teeing grounds to choose from making it playable for a wide variety of skills. The green contours
are significant in many places that require creativity with approach shots, but the surrounds are bentgrass allowing for shots to be played on the ground. The course is floodlit and there are ClubCar Tempo Walk carts.

In addition to the Saddle design, Welling's land planning division created the master plan for the entire GlenCove development. While creating Old Edwards' newest resort-style community, the team carefully designed a variety of amenities focused on adventure and wellness to complement the residential products, from cottages to mountain estates. The plan was to foster multi-generational experiences that look to bring family and friends together to take in the most beautiful setting. The Saddle opened this fall but is closed now until spring. To experience all Old Edwards Inn & Spa has to offer visit OldEdwardsInn.com or call 866-526-8008.