The Chalk Mine Nine - Aiken, SC
The Chalk Mine Nine
Built in partnership between USC Aiken and The First Tee Aiken, The Chalk Mine Nine is a walking only par three course, range, and practice facility. The course services the USC Aiken golf team as well as the youth participants of the First Tee program of Aiken County. Jim McNair, Jr., who helped restore The Aiken Golf Club in the late 90’s toured the site that was set to be the new golf facility for the use of USC Aiken and The First Tee Aiken. The original architect wanted to clear the whole site and grass it everywhere. After some convincing to the board of the First Tee and changing directions for the site, Jim reunited with those that helped him at Aiken Golf Club to layout the Chalk Mine Nine. The team known as Three Amigos Golf were able to complete the site in under a year with a shoestring budget. This course will be an incredible asset to the community for years to come and adds to the legacy of the Aiken area. The Chalk Mine has a rustic, yet sophisticated, but not flashy, feel to it. With more time permitting, I would have loved to do several loops here, or even try a cross country routing playing to variety of greens. There are two flags per green, and the player chooses which flag they are playing to for the nine holes.
Generally restricted for the use of the public, during the week of The Masters, the facility offers play to the public as a fundraising effort for the First Tee program. I was joined at the Chalk Mine by two college friends who reside in Atlanta and a brother in law who also lives in Charleston . We were fortunate enough to pair a loop here with a round at Palmetto Golf Club for during the Saturday round of The Masters. Two or three wedges, and a putter are all you need for an unforgettable walk around this former chalk mine site. Firm greens, forced carries, and small targets add to the challenge of the course. Don’t let the distances fool you, this course is no slouch. The course asks you to hit some pretty dynamic shots over pits with natural scruff, between trees, and into greens with challenging undulations. The Chalk Mine served as the perfect warm up for a round at Palmetto Golf Club where you need to be precise with your wedge play to have any chance on those Alister MacKenzie greens.
Aiken has long been a great area for golf given its naturally sandy area and rolling land with Palmetto Golf Club leading the way. With the recent additions of The Chalk Mine Nine, The Tree Farm and Old Barnwell to the area, Aiken is quickly rising in the ranks of golf destinations.
Hole 1 – Pine Valley – 109 yards
Hole 2 – Cliffhanger – 86 yards
Hole 3 – Leap of Faith – 63 yards
Hole 4 – Kalmia Hill – 82 yards
Hole 5 – Fern Holler – 118 yards
Hole 6 – Blind Draw – 74 yards
Hole 7 – Heartbreak Ridge – 83 yards
Hole 8 – Red Rock – 72 yards
Hole 9 – Bullseye – 128 yards
