10th Hole / 455 Yards / Par-4
Architects: Brian D. Schneider and Blake J. Conant (2023)
Aiken, South Carolina, USA
The vibe at Old Barnwell reflects in detail the philosophy of its founder – Nick Schreiber. Golf is the only headliner when you arrive. Honoring and celebrating the roots of the sport are the embodiment of Old Barnwell.
The Illinois-native now lives with his family in the Charleston, SC area and it was his intent to create a meaningful golf connection bringing back to life classic golf architecture that was the hallmark for a number of top tier courses created in the United States in the 1920s.
Schreiber is following in the footsteps of Mike Keiser, the visionary who was the brainchild for the development of the multi-course effort at Bandon Dunes in Oregon. Like the effort by Keiser, Schreiber has put in place a walking course for players with caddies available. Short of a verifiable medical reason, power carts are verboten.
The private national golf club has a main 18-hole course and another “wee course” emulating the one found at North Berwick in Scotland. The kids’ course, is located near the first tee and is located on 25-acres with 15 holes ranging in length from 75 to 305 yards. The connection to youth was a thoughtful directive from Schreiber. Growing the game is not just a talking point at Old Barnwell – it’s a daily action item.
Brian Schneider and Blake Conant are the architectural duo responsible for the design. Old Barnwell represents their first solo design although both men worked for years with Tom Doak through his Renaissance Golf company.
“We began thinking about doing something in 2019, and I began looking at land in Georgia, South and North Carolina in early 2020,” said Schreiber. “I found the main parcel (444 acres) on which our club sits in February 2021, but didn’t purchase until August that year.”
Old Barnwell is located in the sandhills region that occupies both of the Carolinas. The immediate Aiken area has been ground zero for a number of other courses (21 Club, The Tree Farm).
Since that time three additional parcels were purchased bringing the total acreage to 575. A second 18-hole course is planned — to be called the Gilroy – with construction starting this fall and Schneider and Conant have been selected to do the design.
Old Barnwell has a number of engaging holes but among them the par-4 10th is one of special note. The 455-yard hole features a blind tee shot. What is not seen by golfers is a series of seven bunkers that provide a fortress situated on a lower left to upper right diagonal angle.
The hole turns left in the drive zone and golfers can avoid the aforementioned bunkers by hitting a tee shot farther up the right side. However, such an attempt will likely mean a far longer approach to the green.
The putting surface provides for 6,300 square feet.
Prevailing wind patterns do change throughout the year but generally the wind is behind the players.
Players opting to drive the ball away from the cluster of fairway bunkers are then left with a longer and more exacting angle into the green. A pin position on the front of the green is more challenging.
The landing area at the green cants hardest from right-to-left. Players must then land the approach shot and let it run onto the green. Approach shots from that side that come in with too much pace can easily roll out more than one expects, particularly if the shot is played with a longer club necessitating a lower trajectory.
“Two thing we really liked about the 10th early on were the crowned landing area and the natural green site that fell away and fell right-to-left at the perfect slope — about 5-7%,” said Conant.
“Brian and I both love the second shot into the 13th at Pine Valley, and although we don’t have as much dramatic an elevation change, the bones were similar, so that drove the greenside bunkering scheme. The green and approach itself needed minimal work – Brian might’ve spent an hour or so getting the grades to work.”
The 10th at Old Barnwell brilliantly intersects a compelling array of various challenges from the moment one arrives at the tee until the time one holes a final putt.
***
For more info click HERE
Related: Forever loved — forever missed — forever Arnie
