Moore-designed layout covers 7,000 yards

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on July 31, 2009 1:46 PM

• Print
• Email

SNOW HILL -- Golfers officially have a new place to tee it up in eastern North Carolina.

Cutter Creek Golf Club unveiled its back nine on Thursday to raucous fanfare and rave reviews. With 18 holes open for business, players can see all of what Bob Moore's signature design has to offer.

"I feel like after 25 years of practicing golf course architecture that this course is a culmination of all my experience," said Moore. "In order to have a top-notch golf course, you have to have good design and a lot of hard work from a variety of people and we have that here."

Boasting 7,270 yards of manicured fairways from the longest tees, Cutter Creek has enough length to challenge professionals. Four additional tee boxes that range from 5,195 to 6,890 yards allow players of all skill levels to enjoy the new track.

A fully-stocked pro shop, a tree-lined driving range, chipping area and putting green give players the opportunity to enjoy some well-rounded practice.

"The biggest thing that we want to get out today is the fact that the whole facility is open and ready for play," said managing director Buzz Shackleford. "We want people to come out and play, because once they see what is out here we know they will want to come back."

Standing on the first tee, players can immediately see what kind of challenge lies ahead. Playing all of 410 yards from the longest box, a drive that finds the right side of the fairway is in perfect position for an uphill approach. Placing the ball on the correct side of the green to leave an uphill putt is the key to any birdie chance.

"One thing that I don't like in a golf course is tricky or deceiving shots," said Moore. "I designed this course to be challenging, but fair. If a player hits a good shot, it sets up an opportunity to score."

After a long par five, players arrive at Cutter Creek's signature hole.

The par-3, No. 3 hole has been affectionately dubbed "The Beast of the East" by the development group and it continues to live up to it's nickname. At 215 yards from the longest tees, players are forced to carry their shot 200 yards over a lake and land it on a shallow green that slopes back to front.

"It's a great golf hole," said Shackleford. "There is not a lot of room for error. The tee shot has to be long enough to clear the water and struck well enough to hold the green without rolling into the sand off the back side."

Cutter Creek is composed of Bermuda 4-19 grass fairways and Ultra Dwarf Mini Verde Bermuda putting surfaces. Superintendent Drew Ramsey has developed lush fairways while keeping thick rough and very fast greens.

No one was more impressed with Ramsey's composition than Moore.

"I started planning this course about four years ago and to see it now is really amazing," said Moore. "Drew has done a great job and to see the amount of work that has gone into this place in the last two months or so is astounding."

Cutter Creek will be a complete golf community when finished. The neighborhood will feature 700 home sites and will also include a swimming pool, fitness center, community garden and tennis courts.