MacGregor Downs Country Club

MacGregor Downs Country Club



Cary, NC, near Raleigh; phone 919-467-0146

"Member owned, family oriented, all ages"

More quotes from MDCC brochure





Vital Stats
Yards Rating Slope

Blue Tees 6,829 72.5 129

White Tees 6,313 69.5 122

Gold Tees 5,663 66.9 116

Complete Card Red Tees 5,261 69.6 116



Notable Names @ MacGregor:

Ben Hynson - PGA Master Pro
Kristina Blaylock - Assistant Pro
Willard Byrd - Course Architect

What they say about MDCC:

Area's best golf hole: MDCC #18
Best greens in a wide area
Friendly people play there

Featured front side holes:

#1, Par 4, a good challenge
#4, Par 3, a good par

Featured back side holes:

#12, Par 3, 230 yards
#13, Par 4, one you'll remember
#18, Par 4, the signature hole

MacGregor Scorecard:

Hole Par Hdcp Blue White Gold Red Red Hdcp

1 4 5 404 380 336 330 2

2 4 7 395 373 325 284 10

3 4 1 402 391 330 306 4

4 3 15 175 155 145 104 16

5 5 13 516 478 446 415 8

6 4 9 355 318 301 293 12

7 4 3 419 377 353 292 14

8 3 17 165 145 132 120 18

9 5 11 564 535 502 468 6

Front 36

3,395 3,152 2,870 2,612

10 5 12 500 475 433 415 1

11 4 4 455 425 390 354 7

12 3 8 230 205 176 159 13

13 4 2 404 372 295 286 3

14 4 10 387 354 340 325 5

15 4 14 364 337 320 296 15

16 3 18 195 164 137 130 17

17 5 16 476 451 401 399 9

18 4 6 423 378 301 285 11

Back 36

3,434 3,161 2,793 2,649

Total 72

6,829 6,313 5,663 5,261

The "Hole" Story:

Hole
1
Par
4

Ready, Fire, Aim! MacGregor Downs demands a good start. A dogleg left 4-par with a second shot forced carry over MacGregor Downs Lake greets you. The wide fairway provides a good margin of safety, but a shot right makes the second oh-so-long and a pulled drive finds early water.
Did I mention there are large traps guarding the green and nowhere to bail out with water on three sides?
Relax, you're just getting started.

Hole
4
Par
3

Not one of the harder holes on the course, but this one is simply a pleasure to play. You'll have a stroke or two you need to make up after the first trio, but just play for par here. The green is large, and flanked by traps that keep you out of the water on three sides (not the front, so you might roll it up to a front pin placement). Take dead aim and look for the two-putt.
Did I mention that a front pin placement makes gettng close to the hole a stroke of luck and a two-putt down there is truly great touch?
Remember: get the par and get going!

Hole
12
Par
3

Here at the twelth you're in the middle of what I call MacGregor's "Amen corner" of 11, 12, and 13 (apologies to Augusta National, of course), where you just want two pars and no big numbers. Length is king off this tee, which can be stretch beyond 235 yards. The narrow green that awaits isn't too difficult except in the front left corner that subtly slopes so much more than the rest of the putting surface.
Miss the green left or right and you're trapped (as in "sand") or, worse, drinking out of the pond below the right trap.
How can this hole hurt thee? Oh, let me count the ways!

Hole
13
Par
4

When the day is done on your first trip to MacGregor Downs you will remember two holes, and this is the "other" one. To reach the corner of this dogleg left, hit all you've got to one of the most narrow fairways on the course. It's all uphill (big time) from there, so steeply that you'll need a club and a half extra to cover the distance. The green doesn't hold shots unless they are dead center. The two-tiered front-to-back surface makes it tough to read that pin placement.
Dare I give you the local tip?: you must miss left if you miss this green, since par is still a possibility from the port side.
Par on the 13th? It's your lucky day.

Hole
18
Par
4

Once dubbed the "monster at MacGregor" by the local paper (hey, I don't make this up!), this is our signature hold and one of the great risk/reward par 4s that will ever finish a golf course. From every player's tee box there are two options to dry land. Go the long way, cutting the dogleg over MacGregor Downs Lake, and you have to carry (full carry, and near-perfect placement, too) anywhere from 210 to 252 yards, but you'll be rewarded with a pitch of less than 80 yards to the green. Go the short way to carry "just" 170 to 205 yards of water and you'll play the full length of this hole - with your second shot also over water. Hardest score on this hole is '5', with many double bogeys from the drop area and quite a few low scores from those who achieve the reward after accepting the risk.
Need I mention that this hole makes for some great stroke play tournament finishes, with a three-shot swing a real possibility? And when match play comes down to the 18th: who takes the risk and who gets the reward?
Eighteen is memorable: it isn't "over" 'til you're "over" -- maybe twice!

Quotes from MDCC Brochure:

"MacGregor Downs is annually rated as one of the best courses in the Southeast because of its impeccable greens, hilly tree-lined fairways, and infamous 18th signature hole. No two holes are adjacent and four tee boxes offer as much risk as you decide to accept."

"MacGregor Downs' rustic Scottish style clubhouse and facilities on the tranquil shores of MacGregor Downs Lake. As a non-profit club, activities such as golf, tennis, swimming, small boating, fishing, volleyball, formal and informal dining are all maintained for everyone's enjoyment."

"The past home of a PGA event, MacGregor Downs also hosts the Ping Intercollegiate Tournament which attracts top ranked teams from all parts of the country."

"Numerous social and recreational events in a warm, intimate atmosphere make your hours at MacGregor Downs most pleasurable."

"New members have no problems getting a game as special starting times are set aside each Saturday and Sunday for individual players. Numerous ladies' and mens' tournaments are held in addition to special senior and junior events.

E-mail me My Golf Travel Home Gzym?

Hole 1	Par 4	Ready, Fire, Aim! MacGregor Downs demands a good start. A dogleg left 4-par with a second shot forced carry over MacGregor Downs Lake greets you. The wide fairway provides a good margin of safety, but a shot right makes the second oh-so-long and a pulled drive finds early water. Did I mention there are large traps guarding the green and nowhere to bail out with water on three sides? Relax, you're just getting started.
Hole 4	Par 3	Not one of the harder holes on the course, but this one is simply a pleasure to play. You'll have a stroke or two you need to make up after the first trio, but just play for par here. The green is large, and flanked by traps that keep you out of the water on three sides (not the front, so you might roll it up to a front pin placement). Take dead aim and look for the two-putt. Did I mention that a front pin placement makes gettng close to the hole a stroke of luck and a two-putt down there is truly great touch? Remember: get the par and get going!
Hole 12	Par 3	Here at the twelth you're in the middle of what I call MacGregor's "Amen corner" of 11, 12, and 13 (apologies to Augusta National, of course), where you just want two pars and no big numbers. Length is king off this tee, which can be stretch beyond 235 yards. The narrow green that awaits isn't too difficult except in the front left corner that subtly slopes so much more than the rest of the putting surface. Miss the green left or right and you're trapped (as in "sand") or, worse, drinking out of the pond below the right trap. How can this hole hurt thee? Oh, let me count the ways!
Hole 13	Par 4	When the day is done on your first trip to MacGregor Downs you will remember two holes, and this is the "other" one. To reach the corner of this dogleg left, hit all you've got to one of the most narrow fairways on the course. It's all uphill (big time) from there, so steeply that you'll need a club and a half extra to cover the distance. The green doesn't hold shots unless they are dead center. The two-tiered front-to-back surface makes it tough to read that pin placement. Dare I give you the local tip?: you must miss left if you miss this green, since par is still a possibility from the port side. Par on the 13th? It's your lucky day.
Hole 18	Par 4	Once dubbed the "monster at MacGregor" by the local paper (hey, I don't make this up!), this is our signature hold and one of the great risk/reward par 4s that will ever finish a golf course. From every player's tee box there are two options to dry land. Go the long way, cutting the dogleg over MacGregor Downs Lake, and you have to carry (full carry, and near-perfect placement, too) anywhere from 210 to 252 yards, but you'll be rewarded with a pitch of less than 80 yards to the green. Go the short way to carry "just" 170 to 205 yards of water and you'll play the full length of this hole - with your second shot also over water. Hardest score on this hole is '5', with many double bogeys from the drop area and quite a few low scores from those who achieve the reward after accepting the risk. Need I mention that this hole makes for some great stroke play tournament finishes, with a three-shot swing a real possibility? And when match play comes down to the 18th: who takes the risk and who gets the reward? Eighteen is memorable: it isn't "over" 'til you're "over" -- maybe twice!

	"MacGregor Downs is annually rated as one of the best courses in the Southeast because of its impeccable greens, hilly tree-lined fairways, and infamous 18th signature hole. No two holes are adjacent and four tee boxes offer as much risk as you decide to accept."
	"MacGregor Downs' rustic Scottish style clubhouse and facilities on the tranquil shores of MacGregor Downs Lake. As a non-profit club, activities such as golf, tennis, swimming, small boating, fishing, volleyball, formal and informal dining are all maintained for everyone's enjoyment."
	"The past home of a PGA event, MacGregor Downs also hosts the Ping Intercollegiate Tournament which attracts top ranked teams from all parts of the country."
	"Numerous social and recreational events in a warm, intimate atmosphere make your hours at MacGregor Downs most pleasurable."
	"New members have no problems getting a game as special starting times are set aside each Saturday and Sunday for individual players. Numerous ladies' and mens' tournaments are held in addition to special senior and junior events.