No, it’s not Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head or Kiawah or Charleston. And it doesn’t need to be.
Better known for the surnames of Spurrier and Staley than Srixon, South Carolina’s capital city of Columbia sports a Southern authenticity that simply can’t be found when visiting the state’s golf-mad resort havens.
But there’s no need for travel pretense. Rather, for those on the road and en route to one of the Palmetto State’s internationally renowned golf destinations, be certain to stop for a long weekend in the city locals know as “Cola.”
Anchored by the University of South Carolina’s student body, Columbia’s downhome dress of rivers, railroads, uptick dining and natural bounty creates a proud local vibe that guests will take little time to appreciate.
Readying your road map to the Carolina coast? Press pause on the GPS, stop in the Midlands and make time for some Southern swings, swigs and strolls in Columbia.
Day One
Wakey Wakey: Hang your (hard) hat at the recently-debuted Lantern Hotel; the one-time headquarters of Columbia’s Fire Dept. sets it boutique flag right in the heart of the city’s downtown Vista District hub, allowing easy, walkable access to all manner of drink, dine and culture.
Those who enjoy their civics will want to explore the adjacent grounds of the State House (just a block away), while others seeking some nature with their coffee should take a light stroll via a super short commute to the West Columbia Riverwalk; set along the eponymous riverbanks of the Congaree River, the well-planked walk beside a backdrop of stones, babble and foliage provides and awesome view of the cityscape above.
Tee Time: Lauded by locals and recently acquired by well-reputed McConnell Golf, the 27 holes of semi-private/public access Cobblestone GC in neighboring Blythewood offer some surprising terrain change, coupled with an ongoing host of strategic pins across its Black, Garnet and Gold nines.
“It’s not a real long course, but it’s a good test to get the ball to the hole; for members and the public, it always seems to play a club longer,” says Mike Burroughs, head golf pro at Cobblestone. “And the greens, it can be difficult sometimes to find proper placements; we put them in quadrants and, on some surfaces, there are only so many areas where you can put a pin.”
Just over an hour away from Augusta, GA, Cobblestone sees a boulder’s worth of action come Masters’ week, requiring Burroughs to bring in 50 extra carts and 60 extra sets of rental clubs.
“We have so many Europeans coming over to play; it’s our biggest week of the year without question,” smiles the head pro. “I work with 12 different overseas brokers, everywhere from Ireland to Scotland and all over Europe, and each of them is sending upwards of 150 players.”
For the other 51 weeks of the year, drive-thru visitor traffic often finds the tee sheet.
“We get a lot of people driving through here for a day or two on their way to Charleston or Kiawah or Myrtle Beach, and we see a lot of repeat business that way,” adds Burroughs. “The Midlands offers a lot of really good golf, and there’s some great value to be had with staying and playing here.”
Post-Round: Just two years removed from its debut, The Hollow is full of game flavor. Steps from The Lantern Hotel, start with the namesake cocktail and then take in the seasonal menus and forest-to-table tastes of bison, rabbit, quail, boar, venison and beyond.
Day Two
Wakey Wakey: Graduate from the prior morn’s stroll with a 20-minute drive to explore the bounty and biodiversity of Congaree National Park, charted among the most unique natural spaces in the entire Southeast. Start from the Harry Hampton Visitors Center (no entry fee required) and choose from 10 different diverse hiking trails suited to all ages and levels; or, get game with a kayak, canoe or some fishing action. (Note: From mid-May into mid-June, Congaree sees a swath of evening visitors for synchronous firefly events.)
Tee Time: Just a dozen miles from downtown, swing onward with a visit to semi-private/public-access Golden Hills Golf & CC in neighboring Lexington. Once part of the Golden Glow Dairy Farm, the Ron Gurl design across the club’s 300-acre spread is taut on yardage (6,455 from the tips) and long on strategy.
“A really good mix of holes here, and you’ll be using every club in your bag,” says John Banks, longtime member, area ambassador and local raconteur. “It can be tricky, with a lot of raised and mounded greens, and it’s more target golf than just playing bash-and-chip; you’ll be using an iron or two off the tee somewhere.”
With equal parts wax and wedge, Banks charms that a Cola golf visit isn’t just bumping around in a cart for four hours.
“Columbia is an interesting place, an eclectic place,” he says. “There’s, like, a different festival going on every week here — having fun here is important. And for some reason, this blend has made us curious, interesting and nice people. You’ll get chatted up in Columbia; people will ask you questions. It’s just something that has been bred around here.”
Post-Round: Imagine your grandparents’ place in the ‘60s, and . . . further imagine that granny and gramps were super-hip, had a great chef, played awesome records and readily enjoyed a cool breeze and cold cocktail.
Recently debuted in West Columbia (a mere mile from downtown), the Ikie Lu Record Club honors its marquee with a sweet vinyl soundtrack, a loungey vibe, creative cocktail menu and rotating (if not surprise) platings that range from a caviar hot dog to house-made pimento cheese (a local staple) and an awesome crab dip.
Day Three
Wakey Wakey: For those fortunate enough to enjoy Columbia on a Saturday, it’s a must to check out the weekly, year-round Soda City Market. Stroll along Cola’s Main Street for an ever-engaging, cultural wash of locals, music, flowers, dogs, food, art and all manner of unique sundries. Charted by USA Today readers as the No. 2 farmers market in the nation, a mesh of 7,000 weekly attendees meets 150 vendors in what is proudly stapled as a producer-only market (i.e., vendors must make their own products).
Tee Time: Accessed by highway and country road, a visit to semi-private/public-access Timberlake CC in Chapin takes about 40 minutes from downtown. For those arriving by boat across the 20,000 hectares of Lake Murray? Cut that time by two-thirds.
Along with offering the unique arrival by way of marina pick-up, the Timberlake grounds greet guests with recent renovations across all bunkers (including some that were eliminated), ample tree removal and redone greens over the past three years.
The lone course situated upon Lake Murray, Timberlake’s cambering, tight terrain won’t necessarily “Rock Your Body” with ample room to navigate across a 6,544-yard card, and first-timers are advised to take a pre-round hole-by-hole peek at the course website to assist with navigating lines.
“The front side is really position-based golf; we like to say that if you can get through the first four holes in even par, you’re playing really well,” explains Hunter Morrison, head golf professional at Timberlake CC. “When you get to the back, there are still some tight places, but it really does open up quite a bit.”
Post-Round: To simply say that Columbia is a great sports town would prove to be an undersell. Rather, this place is sports-obsessive.
Depending on the season of one’s visit, pairing balls dimpled with those oblong, spherical, bounding and beyond is a Cola must. Though the University’s football Gamecocks own just one bowl win since 2017, this, of course, is very much SEC country and Williams-Brice Stadium is reputed as one of the best pigskin parties in all of college football.
More sustained sporting success in recent years has been found at Columbia’s Colonial Life Arena, where the South Carolina women’s basketball team owns a trio of national titles in the past decade and has claimed runner-up status in each of the last two years.
And for those who prefer balls with stitches, the popular Columbia Fireflies duel at the city’s awesome Segra Park. A Single-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, the club’s super setting makes for an intimate ballyard with ongoing promotions and some excellent value.