The Auburn/Opelika area is considered by Golf Digest as the best small municipality for golf. The area is blessed with the taj mahal, Grand National, and swanky Moore's Mill and Auburn University Club, but it all started at Indian Pines.
Previously named Saugahatchee, this fun, par 71, 6,411-yard course (from the tips) has been serving customers adjacent to the Auburn-Opelika Airport since 1977. Saugahatchee is now a private club on the south side of Interstate 85. Indian Pines is purely public and features the most affordable golf in Lee County.
Rates at Indian Pines are nearly $30 for 18 holes and a cart. Those who choose to walk play for far cheaper.
"The Pines" as the locals call it, is considered by many as arguably the least difficult golf course in the Auburn-Opelika area, and it is. But least challenging does not make it not challenging at all. Indian Pines offers a number of tricky challenges that require precision. It also features smaller greens, so bring your A-game when chipping.
The knock on Indian Pines is conditions aren't always as pristine as other links. The rough, littered with roots and some rocks, can be hazardous to your clubs. In this case, moving your ball to a safer lie should be acceptable. If it isn't, do it anyway.
After an easy, straight-ahead 367-yard par 4 to kick off your round, the second and third holes provide fun challenges. Your tee shot on the 372-yard par 4 second hole features a straight fairway, but your approach shot offers a challenge. Part of the course's lake separates the green from the fairway, requiring the player to carry the water or lose a ball. If your tee shot falls short, you may be faced with a tough decision on shot No. 2: go for the green, pictured above, or lay up.
The third hole is reminiscent of TPC Sawgrass' 17th. It's a par 3 island hole, minus a few palm trees and prestige. There is no fairway, only tee box and green. Between is 140 yards of water. The wind can be very tricky on this hole. This would be a fun hole to practice 100 shots on, just to see how many you can land on the green.
Perhaps the most interesting hole on the course is the 497-yard, par 5 12th. The hole goes straight ahead, except for the green, which seems detached and off to the left beyond a cluster of trees. The second shot is vital here in order to set yourself up for a good approach shot. Otherwise, your third shot is wasted just trying to get yourself in better position with hopes of saving bogey.
The 13th and 14th holes offer the area's only sets of pulpit-style fairway bunkers. Both are located to the right, and both can be reached from the tee box. Slicers beware.
The par 4, 355-yard 17th is another odd-shaped hole with a sharp logleg to the right. Long hitters off the tee might want to consider an iron, otherwise a John Daly-style longball may fly straight into the trees.
Overall, Indian Pines is a place where many players can achieve lower scores and leave feeling better about their game. Then again, this course can be sneaky hard. If you can't hit the ball straight, chip, or putt worth a darn, it doesn't really matter how difficult a course is. If your on top of your game, The Pines can be a place to really attack the greens and go for personal bests.
That's easier said than done. I've never achieved a personal best at this course and struggled to have a 50 for nine holes the last time I played it. Like I said, it's sneaky tough.
Indian Pines is located at 900 Country Club Drive in Auburn, just off of East University Drive and not far from the Village Mall. It had no Web site at the time of this writing, but you can call the pro shop at 334-821-0880 to set up tee times or get rates for the day.
The course features one of the best pro shops in town and has an excellent assortment of new and used golf clubs, as well as anything else golf-related. The clubhouse was torched in a fire about five years ago, but today's clubhouse may be small, but in very good shape. The course also has a snack bar, driving range and small putting green.
Rating (1 to 10)
Previously named Saugahatchee, this fun, par 71, 6,411-yard course (from the tips) has been serving customers adjacent to the Auburn-Opelika Airport since 1977. Saugahatchee is now a private club on the south side of Interstate 85. Indian Pines is purely public and features the most affordable golf in Lee County.
Rates at Indian Pines are nearly $30 for 18 holes and a cart. Those who choose to walk play for far cheaper.
"The Pines" as the locals call it, is considered by many as arguably the least difficult golf course in the Auburn-Opelika area, and it is. But least challenging does not make it not challenging at all. Indian Pines offers a number of tricky challenges that require precision. It also features smaller greens, so bring your A-game when chipping.
The knock on Indian Pines is conditions aren't always as pristine as other links. The rough, littered with roots and some rocks, can be hazardous to your clubs. In this case, moving your ball to a safer lie should be acceptable. If it isn't, do it anyway.
After an easy, straight-ahead 367-yard par 4 to kick off your round, the second and third holes provide fun challenges. Your tee shot on the 372-yard par 4 second hole features a straight fairway, but your approach shot offers a challenge. Part of the course's lake separates the green from the fairway, requiring the player to carry the water or lose a ball. If your tee shot falls short, you may be faced with a tough decision on shot No. 2: go for the green, pictured above, or lay up.
The third hole is reminiscent of TPC Sawgrass' 17th. It's a par 3 island hole, minus a few palm trees and prestige. There is no fairway, only tee box and green. Between is 140 yards of water. The wind can be very tricky on this hole. This would be a fun hole to practice 100 shots on, just to see how many you can land on the green.
Perhaps the most interesting hole on the course is the 497-yard, par 5 12th. The hole goes straight ahead, except for the green, which seems detached and off to the left beyond a cluster of trees. The second shot is vital here in order to set yourself up for a good approach shot. Otherwise, your third shot is wasted just trying to get yourself in better position with hopes of saving bogey.
The 13th and 14th holes offer the area's only sets of pulpit-style fairway bunkers. Both are located to the right, and both can be reached from the tee box. Slicers beware.
The par 4, 355-yard 17th is another odd-shaped hole with a sharp logleg to the right. Long hitters off the tee might want to consider an iron, otherwise a John Daly-style longball may fly straight into the trees.
Overall, Indian Pines is a place where many players can achieve lower scores and leave feeling better about their game. Then again, this course can be sneaky hard. If you can't hit the ball straight, chip, or putt worth a darn, it doesn't really matter how difficult a course is. If your on top of your game, The Pines can be a place to really attack the greens and go for personal bests.
That's easier said than done. I've never achieved a personal best at this course and struggled to have a 50 for nine holes the last time I played it. Like I said, it's sneaky tough.
Indian Pines is located at 900 Country Club Drive in Auburn, just off of East University Drive and not far from the Village Mall. It had no Web site at the time of this writing, but you can call the pro shop at 334-821-0880 to set up tee times or get rates for the day.
The course features one of the best pro shops in town and has an excellent assortment of new and used golf clubs, as well as anything else golf-related. The clubhouse was torched in a fire about five years ago, but today's clubhouse may be small, but in very good shape. The course also has a snack bar, driving range and small putting green.
Rating (1 to 10)
Fun: That's probably the best quality about Indian Pines. There are a number of challenges, long and short. The average player can break 100 here. That's fun, right? On a down side, Indian Pines is often very crowded, which can create long rounds. It's crowded for a reason. Score: 7.
Amenities: Driving range is in decent shape, but a long walk from the clubhouse. Thankfully, a net catches the long drives from pelting players on the 13th fairway. Putting green nice, but small. Didn't see a chipping green. Saw a beverage cart person before my round, and after my round, sitting at the first tee box talking to the starter. Not good. Snack bar was decent. Not luxurious, but decent. When I'm sweaty, I don't need luxurious. Score: 6.
Difficulty: Arguably the least challenging course in Auburn. But that's a good thing. A few doglegs present a challenge, and the water holes on Nos. 2 and 3 can raise those scores. There are only three water holes on the course, all on the front nine. The scorecard says the fourth hole is a water hole. I don't consider driving over a 10-foot slew a water hole. Score: 6.
Value: Anytime you can play golf for less than $30, that's a deal. Score: 8.
Conditions: Fairways and greens were average. Nothing fancy. No big weeds or dead spots. Areas in the rough were highly uninviting. Score: 4.
Overall: Indian Pines isn't in the same league as some other famous courses in the state, but that doesn't make it not worth playing. It's a fun course. That word keeps coming up. Fun. The greens aren't highly elevated and the sand traps won't hold you prisoner all afternoon. Go to Indian Pines, don't break the bank, and have fun. Score: 6.2
Amenities: Driving range is in decent shape, but a long walk from the clubhouse. Thankfully, a net catches the long drives from pelting players on the 13th fairway. Putting green nice, but small. Didn't see a chipping green. Saw a beverage cart person before my round, and after my round, sitting at the first tee box talking to the starter. Not good. Snack bar was decent. Not luxurious, but decent. When I'm sweaty, I don't need luxurious. Score: 6.
Difficulty: Arguably the least challenging course in Auburn. But that's a good thing. A few doglegs present a challenge, and the water holes on Nos. 2 and 3 can raise those scores. There are only three water holes on the course, all on the front nine. The scorecard says the fourth hole is a water hole. I don't consider driving over a 10-foot slew a water hole. Score: 6.
Value: Anytime you can play golf for less than $30, that's a deal. Score: 8.
Conditions: Fairways and greens were average. Nothing fancy. No big weeds or dead spots. Areas in the rough were highly uninviting. Score: 4.
Overall: Indian Pines isn't in the same league as some other famous courses in the state, but that doesn't make it not worth playing. It's a fun course. That word keeps coming up. Fun. The greens aren't highly elevated and the sand traps won't hold you prisoner all afternoon. Go to Indian Pines, don't break the bank, and have fun. Score: 6.2
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