Neuse GC
Raleigh, NC
#14
1993, John LaFoy
'09 Fees: $62 prime time, $50 wknd after 13:00, $42 after 14:00, $30 after 16:00
Directions: From Downtown Raleigh and RDU Airport take 40 east to exit 306. Travel Hwy 70 east to the town of Clayton. Turn left onto Hwy 42 east. Turn right at the three way lighted intersection immediately after passing the Caterpillar Plant on your right. Travel on Glen Laurel Drive a short distance. The Glen Laurel Community will be on the left. Turn into the community and travel straight. Clubhouse will be on the left.
Drive time: From Downtown Raleigh approximately 20 minutes and from RDU approximately 40 minutes.
4 1/2 stars, #1 Value in NC by Golf Digest
Fat Guy Review: In Raleigh, we played a great value round at the Neuse GC in Clayton, about 20 minutes from downtown Raleigh and 40 minutes from the airport. A few holes run near the Neuse River, named after a local Iroquois tribe, although it's barely in play on a couple holes unless you're really spraying it. Golf Digest rated Neuse GC at 4 1/2 stars for 3 years running back in the early Ott's, but that's a slight overrating to me. It also earned GD's #1 Value in NC, and I might agree with that one. It's a sporty little track routed through a housing development, making great use of the hilly ground running down towards the river, and the housing isn't too obtrusive on most of the holes. The pictures on Neuse's website (above) are a bit misleading, as all but 2 or 3 holes lack the unique character of the rocky outcroppings featured on the signature hole pic on the homepage.
The front 9 has an above-average housing development course feel, revealing a very playable core with somewhat minimal fairway bunkering, and challenging but hardly brutal green complexes. The 8th is a tough down-and-up par-5 with water at the bottom, and could be a round-wrecker if you get too aggressive. The front 9 greens were bouncy and slow the day we played, but green conditions improved on the back 9. #10 is a roller-coaster par-5 with a tough, well-bunkered uphill approach that announces a step-change in difficulty on the back My only complaint: a small sinkhole above #10 green hidden by the thick Bermuda rough caused me to sprain an ankle. The course takes on more character starting at the short downhill par-4 13th before the signature rock-laden par-3 14th. The routing builds to a crescendo, with the uphill 18th providing a birdie opportunity only for the most accurate of approaches, as the kidney-shaped green bowls around a large swale, making for some interesting options on long chips and boomerang putts to back pin placements. Conditions were pretty good outside of the bumpy front 9 greens, and it was well-worth the $42 afternoon rate we paid ($62 prime time in '09). Pace of play was excellent for our Saturday mid-afternoon round (we never saw another soul on the back 9), but we played right after an NC State home football game under gray skies and an off-and-on light drizzle. The grill room is small, casual, and homey, with 2 large screen TV's, NFL Sunday Ticket, ESPN College Game Plan, $2 hotdogs, and beer on tap, but no bar to belly up to.
Golf.com Review: This course's layout offers a spectacular view of the Neuse River, which was named after the Neusiok Indian Nation. But the neighboring Tuscarora Indians, part of the Iroquois Nation, called it "Cautonah" (pronounced gow-ta-no), or Pine-in-Water. The river comes into play on six holes, and there are water hazards that come into play on eight other holes. This course was built on rolling hills and its greens are well protected by sand and grass bunkers or large mounds. At least half of the tree-lined fairways are doglegs. The longest hole on the course is #8, a 536-yard, par 5, which allows long hitters a birdie opportunity. A water hazard protects the front of the green, so most golfers will choose to lay-up on their second shots.
Best Bar Nearby: The Links Grille on-premisis serves food & booze, or take up a rocking chair on the porch overlooking the 9th green. Or try The Barmuda Triangle (11514 Hwy 70, Clayton) for jumpin' crowds and good bands. The Flipside (408 E 2nd St, Clayton) has good food, big-city loft ambiance, exposed brick walls, low-lighting, outdoor patio dining, good desserts, and top-notch live music, but I read two bad reviews about brutally slow service online. Sinners & Saints Saloon (11692 Hwy 70, Clayton) has a great name and sounds promising, but the website pix make it look like a so-so small-town Southwestern-themed live music venue.
Where To Grub Nearby: Try Smithfield Chicken & BBQ (10414 Hwy 70, Clayton). Google reviews say it's family friendly and serves good BBQ, but slightly pricey for the down-home surroundings.
Where To Booze & Grub, Raleigh/Durham: See Fat Guy's Raleigh/Durham NC Golf Weekend