The Golfer's Journal Meets Champions Retreat

A Championship Worthy Course for More Than One Reason

Playing the satellite role between the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Masters, Champions Retreat offers just the right vibe for hardcore golf fans and families alike. A captivating club built in 1999, Champions Retreat includes three nine-hole courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player. Upon entering the property, the deep green courses catch your eye, however, the people who call Champions home are even better. The southern hospitality begins the minute you get out of your car as the staff take your golf bag and invite you to enjoy the scenery. If I were you, I’d head to the barn, order a transfusion, and post up in front of the megatron television ready for a day of great golf! 

Much to my surprise, I quickly learned that I would be the only local attending the event. Sitting down with Mark from Florida, Edmond from Park City, and two Aussie dogs from across the planet, opened my eyes to the global magnitude of the journal. Multiple guys in the group participated in the Broken Tee Society event up in the sandboxes of North Carolina. Working remotely from hotel rooms and golf course locker rooms, they had followed the sleek, black van deeper into the southeast. For the first time, I heard about Quarry Palm Springs and how seriously they take their turf. I listened to snowbirds share their excitement as their golf courses open up in the coming weeks. Fortunately, I carry a wealth of Masters insight that most guys enjoyed. I explained to all who would listen how the Ham and Cheese on Rye gets criminally overlooked each year. Just to share a few.

From the patio, we ventured to the range to loosen up and find our footing on the slippery grass of Champion’s Retreat. On this day we would play the nine holes of Nicklaus’ Bluff course followed by Palmer’s Island nine. These 18 holes present plenty of elevation change and water hazards, truly daunting conditions for my fellow group of -12 handicappers. The short par 4, 6th hole on Bluff stands out. With a left-to-right dogleg, downhill tee shot, players must push the boundary if they want to have an enticing angle in. However, the green is protected by a creek running in front and a steep slope on the back. Landing the ball in the correct spots must happen if players want to score on these tracks. Just ask Quentin Sear. The Australian aced the par 3, 8th hole on Island! 

Given that we played Champion's Retreat the week following the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, the conditions were ideal. Lauren Harrison, the club’s Press Coordinator, greeted us and explained how the green renovation of 2021 took the golf course up multiple notches. Staying true to her word, the greens ripped our putts left and right. The newly renovated Tif-Eagle bermudagrass rolled quite quickly even though Augusta just received torrential rain for the past couple of days. Our forecaddie, Marc Stout, read our putts from 4 different points on each green. I’m afraid that was not enough for me to break par. Not even close. Nevertheless, I relished the opportunity to play the par 4, 4th hole on Island. The famous broccoli tree along the Savannah River presented the plushest backdrop of the entire day. I have surfed Instagram photos of this distinct setting for years and finally had my time in the sun trying my best to make par. I will let you all decide what I scored on that hole!

After finishing our rounds, we returned to the back patio to join the crowd for dinner and drinks in front of the megatron television. Watching Tiger’s invigorating first-round 71, most folks ordered pizza and beers and hung out long after the sun went down. Especially Quentin after his ace! We discussed our favorite shots, the beauty of the bunkering, and how high the water levels were! Having only played two of the three nine-hole tracks, the group was keen to try out Gary Player’s Creek nine on their next visits. Hopefully, we all get the opportunity to tee it up together again. While we weren’t playing eighteen holes at Augusta National, Champions Retreat provided such a great game and soulful space for us, golf lovers, to play hard and enjoy the company! Cheers!