Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Wade Hampton Golf Club
Overview
Built during the period when Tom Fazio was still working with the existing landscape rather than ignoring it, Wade Hampton is an exercise in restraint. The fairways flow through a natural valley between flanking mountain peaks. Some holes are guarded by gurgling brooks, but Fazio piped several streams underground to make the course more playable and walkable. Selected as Golf Digest’s Best New Private Course of 1987, it has never been out of the Top 40 since it joined America’s 100 Greatest.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
100 Greatest: Ranked since 1991.
2023-'24 ranking: 32nd.
Previous ranking: 26th.
Highest ranking: 15th, 2007-2008.
Best in State: Ranked 1st in North Carolina since 2011-2022. Current: 2nd.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Probably Tom Fazio's finest course in a beautiful mountain setting. The course was in all its glory with the fall colors popping. The course is not just a pretty face with numerous shot options and tremendous variety throughout. Conditions were excellent with greens that were very fast but rolling true. The staff was very accommodating. Do not hesitate to accept an invitation to play here."
Read More2024
Review
“Magnificent setting and stellar layout. Perfect greens. A real privilege to play"
Read More2023
Review
“An ultra private mountain course that looked like a post card in the Fall. Lots of good holes."
Read More2023
Review
“A spectacular mountain course recently renovated by Fazio. The bent grass conditions were outstanding, It should be on a golf purest Bucket List,. The views all around very spectacular."
Read More2023
Review
“A course that is good enough for Fazio to call it home."
Read More2023
Review
“Spectacular course on a beautiful site with terrific greens. One of Fazio's best."
Read More2022
Review
“Great layout with several outstanding holes. Fazio did an outstanding job on this design. Must play."
Read More2022
Review
“If you get the chance to play, drop everything and go. Club is an oasis in the North Carolina mountains. Superb conditioning especially the pristine bent greens which were some of the fastest this panelist has experienced. Beautiful routing throughout the tranquil property. Beautiful setting on every hole but the course will challenge players of any skill set."
Read More2022
Review
“Spectacular course with great routing and immaculate greens complexes. One of Fazio's best."
Read More2022
Review
“It doesn't get much better than this. If it isn't Fazio's best course, I'd like to see it. For a mountain course, it is brilliantly routed and even walkable if you're interested. The ambience is through the roof."
Read More2019
