TPC Sugarloaf Private Golf Course Review

May 8th, 2008

TPC Sugarloaf (Private)

2395 Sugarloaf Drive, Duluth
770-418-113; www.tpcatsugarloaf.com

STAFF: Victor Aliprondo is the Director of Golf; Mike Crawford is the Superintendent.

PAR YARDAGE: Sugarloaf has three nines (Stables, Meadows, Pines); Stables and Meadows are the original nines and constitute the tournament course, which plays 7,343 yards. Other tees for the Stables/Meadows 18 are: Blue (6,836); White (6,374) and Red (5,456).

COURSE RATING/SLOPE: (Stables/Meadows) 76.0/145 (TPC); 73.2/142 (Blue); 71.1/138 (White); 72.5/133 (Red).

ABOUT THE COURSE: Sugarloaf will have a different appearance this year compared to the previous 11 times the course has served as host of a PGA Tour event. The course was not over-seeded for the first time, and the rough has been converted from rye to Bermuda, which could have an impact for players who miss the mostly ample fairways. With the move from the week before the Masters to mid-May, the weather should not be as much a factor as in recent years. With two exceptions, the 72-hole winning score has been in the 13-to-18-under par range, going as high as 280 and as low as 260. Zach Johnson won in a playoff last year after finishing at 15-under 273. Big hitters have tended to do better at Sugarloaf than players who rely more on precision, but Johnson has won twice in the last four years, with Ben Crane also among the recent winners.

Sugarloaf’s layout features a nice mix of tournament holes, with a relatively tame (by PGA Tour standards) group of par 5s, one of the easiest par 4s on tour (13) and two par 3s that yield a sizeable number of birdies (2 and 11). Two of the par 5s (4 and 18) offer some risk, with the 4th playing the toughest of the four last year, and the trouble-free 6th the easiest of the four. Other than 13, the par 4s are a strong group. Holes 5, 7 and 9 are among the tougher trio of two-shotters on tour, with 5 and 9 ranking 1-2 in double bogeys and worse last year. Other than 18, Sugarloaf finishes with a solid stretch of holes beginning at 14, the toughest hole to birdie in 2007. The seemingly unimposing 16th surprisingly matched the long 8th as the toughest par 3 last year, while the visually intimidating 11th averaged under par for the four days. The key at Sugarloaf is handling the large, fast, undulating greens, with several of the tour’s most accomplished putters among the past champions.

Share and Enjoy:

Sign up to receive FORE Georgia Online

Golf Tip Video

View golf course videos.

Changes Enhance Status of The Georgia Club; New Ownership, Management at Quality Facility

By Mike Blum

Since it opened a little over a decade ago, The Georgia Club has enjoyed the reputation as one of the state’s finest semi-private facilities, featuring a standout Denis Griffiths design, consistently first rate course conditions and a highly desirable location between Athens and Atlanta.

3 ‘Rookies’ Join Section’s Top Players in PNC; Arnold, Miller, Owen Qualify for First Time

By Mike Blum

Every year, the Georgia PGA sends a small number of its members to the PGA Professional National Championship, the most prominent event for the nation’s club professionals.

Castro Earns Spot on 2012 PGA Tour; Will Try to Improve Status at Q-School

By Mike Blum

After an outstanding first full season on the Nationwide Tour, Roberto Castro will be a rookie on the PGA Tour in 2012. But before he tees it up for the first time as a PGA Tour member, the former Georgia Tech standout from Alpharetta will make a brief return to school, although this one has no classrooms.