Cedarbrook offers challenge in beautiful setting

By RICK PAPSUN

Nestled in the foothills of the North Carolina mountains, just off I-77 in Surry County, you’ll discover a seductive course at Cedarbrook Country Club.

Founded in 1962 by influential local industrialists R.T. and Hugh Chatham, Cedarbrook offers a challenging layout for golfers of all levels.

“The Chathams were very influential in starting the course,” said Cedarbrook pro Zim Zimmerman. “but it was several of their employees that encouraged them to start it.”

Cedarbrook began as just a nine-hole course and expanded to 18 holes in 1968. Ellis Maples, a member of the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame, designed all 18 holes. Maples, who has more than 70 designs on the East Coast, was an understudy of legendary architect Donald Ross.

From the championship tees, Cedarbrook measures 6,860 yards and plays to a par of 72. Its fairways consist of Vamont bermudagrass, while the tees are a mix of bermudagrass and other cool weather grasses. Couple that with its Penncross bentgrass greens and the course is soothing to the look as well as the feel.

Zimmerman said the course offers several interesting holes, led by the 565-yard, par-5 fourth hole. The tee shot landing area is slightly downhill sloped left to right, which leaves a very testy second shot to the green for long hitters. An excellent shot is needed because of the nature of the lie and a water hazard all the way across the front of the green, 100 yards from the front fringe.

“The average player will have to have a near perfect layup on this one,” Zimmerman said.

The par-4 ninth hole offers up yet a different challenge. Measuring in at 358 yards from the championship tees, a high priority is needed on tee shot placement in the fairway. In addition, the undulating green is severely sloped from left to right.

On the back nine, the 410-yard, par-4 14th hole is key. Laid out straight away and slightly uphill, the elevation is deceiving as it is more elevated than it appears, with sand bunkers on the left and right.

“It’s difficult to see the exact pin placement from the tee shot landing area,” Zimmerman said.

Cedarbrook’s signature hole the 180-yard, par-3 eighth. The elevated tee shoots downhill to a green being bunkered in the front and back right. There is a water hazard guarding the front.

Cedarbrook is lined with 43 traps. In 2002, the course underwent a total sand-bunker renovation as a majority of the traps were taken back to their original concept and design. In addition, there were two new additions and one relocation. All the work was done by Course Doctors Construction out of Flatrock, N.C., headed by Jim Sparks.

The biggest change at Cedarbrook in the last 10 years is the bulkheading that has been built around the water hazard edges on Nos. 4, 6 and 8.

“It was a big cosmetic change along with our trap renovation in 2002 and rock wall in the right front of the 11th green,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman said there are several things that make Cedarbrook a unique golfing experience.

“The greens are very fun and challenging,” he said. “You have to hit a lot of different shots because of the roll of the fairways. Tee shot placement is very important, too, which involves choosing the correct club to play. 

“It’s very important to place approach shots on proper side of the hole.”

Zimmerman, who has been the head pro at Cedarbrook for the past 21 years, indicated that an estimated 26,000 rounds (cart and walking) are played at the course annually.