If we had to describe Sequoyah National with one word, it’s fun. The course is 6600 yards, so while it might not be the longest course in the area, it makes up for it around the greens. It’s almost like a hybrid between a links and parkland course in the sense that there are few trees and fairly open fairways. We like getting the opportunity to get creative around the greens, and you get that opportunity here.

#9 Course: Tidewater
City: North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Tidewater is a course for good ball strikers. The long holes and fast greens can work both ways, either rewarding or punishing risk-takers, so bottom-line, this course can be your best friend on your best days or your worst enemy when you’re not playing particularly well. Either way, the long holes will not look highly on conservative play, so be sure to hit it hard when the opportunity arises.

#8 Course: Bald Head Island Club
City: Bald Head Island, North Carolina

When it comes to courses with natural beauty, Bald Head Island Club is what comes to mind in the Carolinas. Between the natural aesthetics and the animals that call it home, it really makes for an ideal course to play on a relaxing vacation.

#7 Course: Pinehurst #8
City: Pinehurst, North Carolina

Of Pinehurst’s 9 different golf‘>, this is our favorite, so much so that it made this very list. It’s not considered to be one of the most difficult courses, or most demanding, but it has a certain something that just makes it a fun experience, regardless of skill level. Their second course would be our next pick, so we figured we’d give them a special shoutout!

#6 Course: Grove Park Golf
City: Asheville, North Carolina

Unlike the Pinehurst #8, Grove Park is one of the more demanding courses in the area. Between the terrain and awkwardly positioned fairways and greens, there is no break where you can attack many pins, making every hole a grind. The possibilities around the greens alone are something to be considered, so if you’re a decent handicap, give it a shot.

#5 Course: May River Golf Club
City: Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina

May River is a must play, just don’t forget to bring your driver! This 7,200-yard par 72 was designed by none other than Jack Nicklaus and is known for its steep fairways and challenging conditions. There’s a bit of water around some of the greens, so bring your lob wedge too…9

#4 Course: Leopard’s Chase
City: Ocean Isle, North Carolina

Of all the Big Cat courses, this is the most recent. We find the Leopard’s Chase to have more variety as far as the clubs you’re going to be using. There is a fair amount of sand traps, some (but not a ton) of water, some long par 5s and short par 3s, making it the perfect course to test all of your skills

#3 Course: Wild Dunes
City: Isle of Palms, South Carolina

So there are 3 courses in total, and while they’re all fantastic, we’re here to talk about the links course. Designed by Tom Fazio, it’s considered to be one of the top links courses on the east coast. Right off the beach, the course is built for peak relaxation. Go there.

#2 Course: Old North State Club
City: New London, North Carolina

Talk about a beautiful course- Old North made it to number 2 on our list for a reason. The back 9 is especially gorgeous, with greens right off the water. Naturally, you’ll have to be careful with your approach shots, but the aesthetics are second to only one in the area. Seriously, the views are amazing.

#1 Course: Tiger’s Eye
City: Sunset Beach, North Carolina

There’s one more Big Cat course for our list. Are you ready to chase more birdies? This place is insane, it’s designed from a pine forest and is known for its drastic changes in elevation throughout the course. The beauty does come with its set of challenges. You have to really think and make your shots to avoid penalties, though even if you don’t play great, you’ll still have a wonderful time.

The post 10 Golf Courses Every Golfer Should Play in the Carolinas appeared first on Newton Search.

#10 – Fox Hollow Golf Club

Aside from its beauty, Fox Hollow does something else for us. It’s not the most famous place to play, but we love the architecture of the course. The par 71 course features a fun bit of everything for all kinds of players.

#9 – Orange County National Golf Center

We see Orange County Center as such a fun, underrated course, which makes it appealing for a couple of reasons. Not only is the quality of the course up there, but you also don’t have the crazy crowds you might have from another course. The Crooked Cat Course has a lot of open spaces and obstacles that make the course challenging without being too troubling.

#8 – Walt Disney Golf Course

Just about everyone can feel that sort of magic around Disney and the golf course is no exception! There are 4 courses in total, each with their own types of theme. The Walt Disney Golf Course is ideal for golfers on an extended vacation, but would be just as fun for anyone in the area because of the variety of courses.

#7 – TPC Tampa Bay

Without saying anything, we already know TPC Tampa is going to be a challenging, but very fun course to play. The par 71 is just under 7000 yards and is filled with wonder. Don’t be fooled by the fairly open landscape. TPC Tampa has its share of sand traps and bodies of water, so you might want to play conservative (especially on the 8th hole).

#6 – Hammock Dunes Club Links Course

Hammock Dunes is loved by locals and visitors alike. It presents yet another fun, challenging course to try. This course made our list because of its balance – the holes aren’t easy, but they also provide that relaxing feeling that just captures your interest. The views are beautiful, whether you tee off in the morning, or dawn, so enjoy it!

#5 – World Woods G.C.

It’s hard to go wrong with Pine Barrens. A lot of the challenges come with the fairly narrow fairways and varying wind conditions that can make the need to scramble probable. It’s a beautiful course that will force you to enjoy every shot, just as long as you’re doing your best off the tees.

#4 – PGA National Resort & Spa

The home of the Honda Classic is admired around the world as an incredible golf course. This course is known for “The Bear Trap”, which is a string of holes on the back 9 that cause chaos. The course itself is very difficult, but one of those courses that you just have to try.

#3 – Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Bay Hill is not only an unbelievable course but was also the home of golf’s greatest ambassador, Arnold Palmer. Home to the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bay Hill is considered to be a tour favorite. The iconic course is known for the back 9 which has demonstrated loads of drama over the years.

#2 – Streamsong Resort Red

Streamsong consists of 3 amazing courses (the blue, red, and black). We think the black is the best of them all, at a par 73 is known for their unique holes and interesting modern architecture. While the black might be our favorite, we’d still suggest trying all 3 courses to get the full experience.

#1 – TPC Sawgrass

What can you really say? TPC Sawgrass is one of the greatest and most respected golf courses in the country, not just the east coast. It’s known for its iconic 17th hole with the island green that has made history. The 2019 Players Championship was played at TPC Sawgrass.

The post 10 Florida Golf Courses Every Golfer Should Try appeared first on Newton Search.

Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson has made some unbelievable ground in the past year and a half. His scientifically-driven approach mixed with his consistency has made for a diabolical combination. He seemed to ascend to a new level during last year’s FedEx Cup playoffs when he won two straight events, losing the season’s race by just a few spots. We’re seeing some great things from Bryson’s fairly complete game, so keep an eye out for him!

Dustin Johnson

Dustin Johnson is quite possibly the most dominant player in the world when he’s playing well. He was on top of the world a couple of years ago leading to a back injury before the Masters, and he appears to be back. The world number one player in the world won the WGC-Mexico Championship by 5 and is currently the favorite to win the Masters in April. His sheer power and steady short game makes him one of the, if not the best player on the planet.

Rickie Fowler

One of the most consistent players on tour, Rickie isn’t as much of a “sure thing” as other players, but the possibility is certainly there. He’s one of those players that is often in contention but has had trouble closing out tournaments on Sunday. He did win the Phoenix Open, which was his 5th career win, so there’s hope. Either way, you can expect to see some top 10s and gradual points here!

Tiger Woods

I wouldn’t necessarily narrow this down to a flip of a coin, but there are many moving parts that could affect the chances of a successful week for Tiger Woods. On one hand, Tiger had an amazing 2018, finishing with a Tour Championship win and runner-up FedEx Cup placement. He started strong in 2019 with top-25 finishes – many’s main concern is with his neck, following his most recent work on his spine. Only time will tell!

Justin Rose

It’s hard to bet against the reigning FedEx Cup Champion. Along with another 2-3 players, Justin Rose is arguably the best player in the world and is considered to have one of the most complete games on tour.

Jon Rahm

We’re going to be straight about this, Jon Rahm is awesome. His shot-making and ability to sink putts make him a force to be reckoned with and we only see him getting better. One thing that worries us is his temper, which can affect his chances of contending consistently. If he can channel his emotions, we see great things going for Jon Rahm!

Rory McIlroy

Despite his undeniable talent, Rory has had his share of troubles closing out tournaments and securing victories. He’s one of the best drivers on tour and can be deadly on the greens, so we think it’s become a mental thing. As of March, he’s found himself in 7 different final group pairings and has yet to convert any into victories.

Francesco Molinari

You can never really count this guy out, especially after his Open Championship win last year. Francesco Molinari has the deadly combination of being a precise ball striker and elite putter and is rightly feared by many. He wowed millions of viewers when he shot -8 during his final round at Bay Hill, leading to a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Simply put, he was perfect and he’s always a threat to win the FedEx Cup.

Tony Finau

We call Tony Finau “Mr Top 10” – can you guess why? He’s always in contention, always in the mix, but never seems to pull off the big win. We think he’s probably due for one soon. But here’s the thing, while victories deliver big points, they’re not actually essential, as long as you’re consistent. With that said, he’ll always have a strong chance.

Justin Thomas

Arguably the best player on the planet is Justin Thomas. As strong as his efforts have been, he’s only looking stronger and more complete with each passing year. His numbers are going up, as he puts more time into practicing at his local golf course. Not that anyone would bat an eye if J.T. were to end up on top, considering his consistency and performances for big tournaments.

Adam Scott

Adam Scott has been pretty quiet the past few years but has emerged as of late 2018. He’s found major success around the greens with the new rules in place (he likes leaving the flagstick in) and boy has he benefited from it. He’s looking like the Adam Scott of old who was once the top-ranked player in the world. Adam Scott has the experience and talent to be in contention all year long for the FedEx Cup.

Xander Schauffele

Xander is a powerhouse and he’s gotten off to a great start this season. Considering his track record, we’re confident he’ll get close, at the very least. This could very well be his year.

The post These Players Are Most Likely to Win the 2019 FedEx Cup appeared first on Newton Search.

Cameron Champ

Current World Ranking: 81

Cameron Champ might be one of the most exciting young players to enter the game, after putting on several shows at the end of the 2018 season. He has the most distance from anyone on tour. Not to mention that he might have the coolest name in the game. To put the Champ’s potential into perspective, he managed to hit a ball out of bounds and STILL manage to make par at Kapalua.

Hideki Matsuyama

Current World Ranking: 28

We believe 2019 will be a big year for Hideki. He had a great start to 2018 and kind of started to drop off, but he’s made some promising steps towards a stronger 2019. We’ve seen some more consistent drives and better approach shots, which will be sure to up his changes for future competitions.

Jordan Spieth

Current World Ranking: 17

After what many would call a disappointing 2018, Jordan Spieth is coming into 2019 hot. To be fair, Spieth is playing at very high standards after winning 3 majors and a Fedex Cup in 3 years. Having a bit of a dry spell after such success can lead people to ask questions, but it happens. Many believe the mental portion of his game was affected after the 2016 Masters loss, though that was a time away now. This is his time to rise.

Tony Finau

Current World Ranking: 10

Arguably the most consistent player on tour last year, Tony Finau amazed fans with 19 top 10 finishes in the last two seasons. He’s still looking for his second PGA Tour victory, but we have as much confidence in Finau as anyone for being a major contender in the 2019 season. His golf mechanics are next to none as result.

Tommy Fleetwood

Current World Ranking: 13

We saw a tremendous rookie year from the English sensation in 2018 and we expect even more! Tommy made the European Ryder Cup Team in just his first season and wowed spectators with his fairway drives and consistent short game.

Henrik Stenson

Current World Ranking: 27

We were surprised to see that Henrik Stenson entered 2019 as ranked only 27th in the world. Despite a slight decline in performance, Stenson finished the 2018 season on a high note, finishing back-to-back top 5s and having a prominent role in winning the Ryder Cup for Team Europe. There’s no doubt that Stenson is one of the best players in the world and should never be counted out.

Bryson DeChambeau

Current World Ranking: 5

What can we say about Bryson DeChambeau’s breakout 2018 season? Bryson has made headlines that transcend his scorecard – he’s an active thought-leader of the game who introduces ideas that are inspired by physics, bringing science to the game. Using his sharp calculations with his precision swing has yielded him some excellent results. He finished the season with 4 victories and a second place finish for the FedEx Cup! He’s had a lot to say about the new rules implemented this year, so it will be fun to see how he and the rest of the tour adapts.

Thorbjorn Olesen

Current World Ranking: 43

Are you noticing a trend? Young players are making a greater impact than ever before. Olesen made a splash on the European Tour and might make a transition to the USA. While he’s had plenty of success with Links Golf, he’s proven himself elsewhere. We think Olesen will make a run for a top 25 world ranking spot in 2019.

Dustin Johnson

Current World Ranking: 3

We couldn’t make a list of people to watch for without Dustin Johnson! He’s arguably the best player in the world and will be looking to retake the world number one ranking this season. In 2018, DJ has a Tour-leading 12 top-10 finishes in only 20 starts. The most success was found earlier in the season, where he dominated the field with 3 top 4 finishes in the first month of the season, including an opening win at the Tournament of Champions;. With some of the issues in his personal life seeming to be behind him, look for DJ to make a charge as top dog again.

Xander Schauffele

Current World Ranking: 6

Xander Schauffele is one of the most promising young golfers on the planet. He’s already had 12 top 5 finishes in the past 3 seasons, including 4 tour victories. He won the Sentry Tournament of Champions to start the 2019 season and isn’t showing any signs of looking back.

Billy Horschel

Current World Ranking: 36

Nothing defines Billy Horschel more than an overall solid player. He has an arsenal of tools that allow him to stay competitive. He missed a string of cuts in 2018, but has shown promise in the past 6 months. We see Horschel as a dark horse of the PGA Tour.

Brooks Koepka

Current World Ranking: 2

The man that one back-to-back US Opens is bound to have a big 2019. Big Brooks has shown immense poise on the big stage and has resulted in a world number 1 ranking (now 2), but we have no reason to doubt he won’t one day return.

Justin Rose

Current World Ranking: 1

The current world number 1 is one of the most complete players in the world. After his tremendous efforts in The Open Championship really propelled the end of this season. He was a major component of Team Europe’s impressive Ryder Cup win and will be a force for years to come.

Justin Thomas

Current World Ranking: 4

There’s a reason why Justin Thomas has been a top 6 ranked player since the 2017 Bridgestone Invitational. He’s consistent and lacks a clear weakness. Look for Thomas to win at least 2-3 tournaments in 2019!

Tiger Woods

Current World Ranking: 14

The man is back! Tiger Woods’ 2018 season was his best since 2013 and his health has shown to be consistent since getting his spinal fusion surgery. Woods will most likely win a major this year (we’re guessing he’ll come up big in Augusta) and we map these projections from his performance in the Open Championship and PGA Championship. In addition to surgery, his performance is likely attributed to his healthy lifestyle.

The post 15 PGA Golfers You Should Watch For in 2019 appeared first on Newton Search.

Pine Hills Country Club

Par: 73
Difficulty Scale: 6.5

We enjoy Pine Hills, though it’s more of a local golf course. It’s a relatively short par 73 (some with wide fairways). We think Pine Hills is a great place for a casual round, located in Manorville, it’s often quieter than some of the other more well-known courses in the surrounding area.

We can’t think of any real complaints other than (and this was the last time we went) you HAD to use a cart. We usually use a cart anyway, but being told we have to was always a turn off. Especially considering the traffic isn’t always all that crazy, so it’s not like they’re forced to keep people moving at a brisk pace. Anyway, after playing 18, take a trip over to JC’s for a juicy burger (everyone knows there’s nothing like a beer and burger after a good round).

The Woods at Cherry Creek

Par: 71
Difficulty Scale: 6/10

The Woods at Cherry Creek is an excellent, wide open course. We typically prefer out-east courses because of traffic and the north shore courses always seem to be a little windier. We enjoy some wind, but not too much and since its not on the water.

Like Pine Hills, The Woods has a great pace and isn’t normally overly crowded which makes it for a fun relaxing 18 holes. The same also goes for their driving range and putting greens.

Montauk Downs

Par: 72
Difficulty Scale: 7.5/10

Developed in the 1920’s, Montauk Downs has been known as a beautiful (far) east coast golf course. Since becoming a State Park in the 1980s, it’s now accessible to all. We wouldn’t necessarily recommend making the long trip out of Montauk (especially during the summer) just for golf, but if you find yourself in eastern Long Island anyway, we say you should definitely give it a shot.

Heatherwood Golf Club

Par: 60
Difficulty Scale: 5

Heatherwood is a great 4000 yard short course that is perfect for working on approach shots. If you want to work on your short game, this is the spot because the holes are designed for just that! Keep in mind that this is not a warm up course! Despite it being a par 60, this can be a challenging course so you better be on point with your irons!

Willow Creek

Par: 71
Difficulty Scale: 7/10

Sitting on the north shore of Suffolk County, Willow Creek is a nice public golf course that combines classic golf with a modern approach. This makes a nice twist if you happen to be on a golfing binge. So if you’re looking for a break from the classics, this adds a nice touch.

Other than the solid quality of the course, we really like Willow Creek because it’s located in Mount Sinai, one of the less crowded areas on the island. It’s on the easter half, but not a whole trip and a half like the far east courses, and it doesn’t generate quite as many crowds so you can take a little more time for each hole.

Eisenhower Park

Par: 72
Difficulty Scale: 5 – 8.5/10

Eisenhower Park actually has 3 courses (red, white, and blue), ranging in difficulty. The historical Red Course hosted the PGA Championship in 1926 and PGA Tour’s Commerce Bank Championship in 2006, making it the more desired round of 18 (similar to Bethpage Black).

Most people actually recommend the White and Blue courses for a better playing experience because there is often work being done on Red. With the par fours averaging over 400 yards, you’d better get your driver out!

Mill Pond

Par: 70
Difficulty Scale: 5 – 7.5

5 awesome scottish-styled courses with great food inside is what you get with Mill Pond. Mill Pond is one of the most consistent courses we’ve played – everything is solid, the fairways are smooth for a great afternoon tee time. While Mill Pond might not be the most luxurious or exclusive golf course, it’s ideal for a common golfer.

Sebonack Golf Club

Par: 72
Difficulty Scale: 8/10

Designed by Tom Doak and Jack Nicklaus himself, Sebonack Golf Club exists as one of Long Island’s treasures. This offers a great alternative to the historical Shinnecock Hills (or if you weren’t invited by a member) as it’s ranked in the top 40 courses in the nation.

We have to say the course is especially beautiful (it’s the first course since Augusta National where the best golfer and most respected architect worked together). Each hole is carefully constructed with varying fairways and challenging greens.

When you’re done, you can visit one of the many amazing east coast restaurants!

Timber Point Golf Course

Par: 72
Difficulty Scale:

Timber Point offers the possibility to go crazy! You can take your pic from the blue, white, golf, or red course – all of which are very fun to play. What makes Timber stand out (in our opinion) is that the courses are better suited for all skill sets. They are on different levels rather than different variants of the same course so you can come back and keep having fun.

Bethpage State Park

Par: 72
Difficulty Scale: 5-10

And now, we present the holy grail of public Long Island golf courses – Bethpage! Whether you want to play the red, yellow, blue, green, or infamous black course, you’re in for a treat. Be warned – the black course (which has hosted many PGA Tour Events including the US Open and PGA Championship) is very difficult and is a pain to walk because of the hills. The green course is our favorite to play, but we would recommend playing black for the experience, if you can handle it.

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