Golf in Clemmons

From their home base at Deep River Golf Range, PGA-certified instructors Scott Duerscherl and Riley Kurtz help students along the path to lower golf scores. The teachers adhere to an overarching philosophy that there is no single perfect swing that works for every player. Instead, they tweak an individual's natural mechanics to create a comfortable swing that can be repeated even when hitting from difficult lies such as hillside dirt or camouflaged snares. During lessons with either Scott or Riley, students focus on the fundamentals of making proper contact with the ground in relation to the ball and controlling the ball's flight path. Casio high-speed cameras capture each cut for analysis with SwingView Pro software, which can spot swing-inhibiting problems such as backswing hitches and straitjacket polo shirts. On days when inclement weather prevents practice on the range, players can head to the indoor teaching area, complete with a sheltered putting green.

Designed by PGA member Ellis Maples in 1954, Pine Brook Country Club's 18-hole course features 6,500 yards of challenging hole layouts tucked in clusters of carolina pines and hardwoods. Golfers of all skill levels enjoy a challenge as they drive, chip, putt, and butterfly-kiss dimpled balls over bermuda-grass fairways and bentgrass greens. The course's open-terrain layout offers participants scenic views of nearby streams and natural landscaping. In 2000, Pine Brook Country Club replaced its original clubhouse with a new 18,000-square-foot facility equipped to host a variety of events, ranging from casual meals on the outdoor patio to sophisticated parties in the ballroom.

Draped over the foothills of the Sauratown Mountain Range, Stonewall Golf Course sends golfers swinging over steep hills and sudden chasms on a 5,222-yard layout that epitomizes mountain country golf. Throughout the round, dramatic elevation changes complicate yardage readings, and fairway-side drop-offs frame narrow landing zones, encouraging players to leave their driver, 3-wood, and acrophobic head covers in the bag.

With multiple par 4s measuring 300 yards or less, players must cautiously approach each shot off the tee, as efforts to reach the green in one heroic drive could land their golf ball in Town Fork Creek or one of several ponds meandering through the course. The course draws its name from the par 3 eighth hole, where golfers start at an elevated tee box and descend 75 yards down a craggy face that, when viewed from the green, assumes the appearance of a seamless stone wall. Fueled by electricity and an ancient resentment for gravity, golf carts—which are mandatory on the course—help players climb the steep fairways in efficient fashion.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 70 course
• Length of 5,222 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 64.7 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 116 from the farthest tees
• Three tee options
• Scorecard: