Alright, so I finally got around to playing UNC Finley. Been meaning to check it out for ages, you know? Hear a lot about these university courses, some good, some just hype. So, one morning, I just decided, “Today’s the day.”
Getting Started Out There
Woke up, grabbed my clubs, and just drove over. Wasn’t too sure what to expect, to be honest. Sometimes these places can be a bit uppity, but I was hoping for a good day of golf, plain and simple. Pulling in, you definitely get that university vibe, all brick and well-kept. Found a parking spot easy enough, which is always a good start, right?
Walked into the pro shop. It was… well, a pro shop. Had all the usual gear, plenty of Tar Heel blue everywhere, as you’d expect. The folks behind the counter were alright, got me checked in without much fuss. Paid my greens fee – wasn’t the cheapest round I’ve ever played, but hey, you gotta try these places once.
Hitting the Links
First thing, I wanted to hit a few balls. Headed to the driving range. It was decent, had enough space. Smacked a small bucket, just to get loose. My swing felt okay, not great, but okay. Then over to the putting green. Now, this is where I always tell myself I’m gonna spend an hour, but usually, it’s more like ten minutes. The greens looked pure, though. Rolled a few putts, got a feel for the speed. Seemed pretty quick.
Then it was time to actually play. Got paired up with a couple of other guys. Nice enough chaps. We headed to the first tee. I won’t bore you with a shot-by-shot of my round – trust me, nobody wants that. But the course itself? It was a solid track.
- The layout was interesting. Not too many tricked-up holes, which I appreciate. Just good, honest golf holes.
- Conditioning was pretty good. Fairways were nice, and the greens, like I said, were quick and rolled true. Found a few bunkers, and the sand was consistent.
- It definitely made you think. You couldn’t just bomb it off every tee. Had to place your shots a bit.
I remember one par 5 on the back nine, had water all down the left. Naturally, I hooked one. Managed to keep it dry, barely. Made a par, somehow. Those are the holes that stick with you, the ones where you grind it out.
The Overall Vibe and Wrapping Up
The pace of play wasn’t too bad. We waited a bit on a few holes, but nothing outrageous. Just a typical Saturday, I guess. The course was busy, but not chaotic. Lots of different types of golfers out there, which was cool to see.
After the round, we just shook hands, said our goodbyes. I didn’t stick around for a drink or anything, just loaded my clubs back in the car. Driving away, I was thinking, yeah, that was a decent day out. Finley is a good, challenging course. It’s not gonna be my everyday go-to, mostly because of the price and getting a tee time, but I’m glad I played it. It’s one of those courses you tick off the list.
So, if you’re in the area and looking for a proper test of golf, Finley’s worth a look. Just be ready to open your wallet a bit and maybe hit a few extra practice putts before you tee off. Those greens don’t mess around.
