FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- It is not hard to envision that if you owned thousands of acres of farmland — and you also owned a turf grass company — eventually you would contemplate building a golf course.

Such was the case with William Poole and his son, Joe, who not only owned and operated Carolina Turf Company in Raeford, North Carolina, but also numerous acres of farmland in both North and South Carolina. For years, father and son kicked around the idea of constructing a golf course on one of their parcels. Though William died before their dream came to fruition, his son never lost hope.

In 1993, Joe Poole began working on the project of a lifetime. His goal was to build a quality golf course for the area without the extravagance of an expensive country club.

First, Poole met with Willard Byrd, a renowned, Atlanta-based golf course architect who amassed an extensive body of work during his nearly half-century in the business, mostly around the southeast, including Country Club of North Carolina (CCNC) in Pinehurst, MacGregor Downs in Cary and about a dozen courses in the Myrtle Beach area.

Before the project began, Poole told Byrd that real estate lots were secondary to the design of good golf: "This is not a real estate development," Poole said. "You pick the golf holes and we'll figure out where the lots go."

Byrd did just that, and the dream shared by Joe Poole and his father came to fruition in 1995 on a beautiful tract of rolling hills in Raeford between Pinehurst and Fayetteville bisected by a body of water named Puppy Creek — named, legend has it, because when he was passing through, Daniel Boone was forced to drown puppies in the creek when he couldn't afford to feed them.

During his college days Joe Poole attended The Citadel, where the bayonet is often incorporated during important ceremonies. Poole figured that — particularly considering the golf course's proximity to the army post at Fort Bragg — "Bayonet at Puppy Creek" would be a perfect name for his project.

Those "in the know" agreed: "Best all-time name in golf? Look no further than Bayonet at Puppy Creek," proclaimed Golf Digest magazine soon after the golf course opened.

As for the design, Willard Byrd said he wanted 18 signature golf holes, and he produced a truly unique variety that is challenging for golfers of all skill levels. Others have taken note as Bayonet at Puppy Creek has been rated four-and-and-half stars by Golf Digest.

From the back tees, at more than 7,000 yards, Bayonet at Puppy Creek is as tough a test as you'll find. The Hooters Tour played events on the golf course three times in the late 1990s (Chad Campbell finished second there in 1998), and through the years it has also played host to a number of USGA qualifiers for senior events and the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

And yet, Bayonet at Puppy Creek offers five sets of tee boxes measuring as short as 4,400 yards, making it equally enjoyable for the higher handicappers. "You can get all you want, or you can move up a tee and have some fun," said General Manager Dyrck Fanning, who won the Cumberland County Golf Championship in 1981 and captured the Robeson County Championship a record fifth time in 2005.

"Ninety-five percent of what we've done on the project in the eight years since I've been here has been to make the golf course easier," said Fanning. "We want the people who pay the bills to be able to find their ball. We think people like to come out and make birdies. It's a fair test, but we try to keep the higher handicap golfers in mind as we're maintaining and improving the golf course."

As proof of its wide appeal, Fanning noted that Bayonet at Puppy Creek played host to the Cumberland County Championship for several years — even though the golf course is not located in Cumberland County.

Golfers traverse Puppy Creek four times during a round and there are four distinct loops on the golf course. The course starts with a par-5, dogleg right, on which a good tee shot is necessary in order to carry the stream on the second shot. From there, the rolling hills surrounding Puppy Creek offer a variety of challenges.

While the toughest-rated hole from the tips is No. 8 — an almost unthinkable 474-yard par-4 including an approach shot from a downhill lie to a green protected in front by a narrow creek — the average golfer playing from the blue or white tees will most likely find the par 3s to be the most challenging and interesting. A three-tiered green awaits at No. 3, an uphill tee shot to a small green guarded in front by a bunker lurks at No. 9, a downhill tee shot with a front bunker awaits at No. 14, and a two-tiered green presents problems at No. 16.

The 10th hole is a great, risk/reward, dogleg par-4 that can be reached by those willing to cut the corner. No. 16 has one of the golf course's most memorable greens complex and is particularly beautiful from the tee, especially in the fall. Finally, like the opener, the finishing hole at Bayonet at Puppy Creek is a par-5, dogleg right that plays 517 yards from the tips.

Byrd designed about 60 bunkers around the golf course and water comes into play on only a few holes. "The Bayonet at Puppy Creek will endure the test of time because the 18 holes were designed under a basic, traditional concept with all the holes completely different, making it a course you never tire of playing," said Byrd. "And the golfer will not forget the natural beauty of Puppy Creek."

With four decades of turf grass experience, those in charge of Bayonet at Puppy Creek pride themselves on the condition of the turf and the greens, widely touting the golf course for its, "tournament conditions every day."

"We keep the grass in good shape Monday through Sunday and January through December," said Fanning.

The Bayonet at Puppy Creek practice facility is as pristine as you'll find anywhere, with 15 acres devoted to a driving range, putting green and bunker area including nearly two acres of tee box that are always in immaculate condition. Said Head Golf Professional Travis J. Hall: "The driving range is so spacious that we never run out of perfect grass to hit off of, or do you have to wait for an open hitting area. The short game area has a sand trap and plenty of space to practice any type of short game shot. We also have two very large putting greens that are always in excellent condition."

Hall came to the Bayonet at Puppy Creek from The Country Club of North Carolina packing more than 10 years of experience as an instructor. He played college golf at Florida Atlantic University, and then spent three years playing the Florida mini-tours during which he worked with or observed the instruction of several top teachers, including David Leadbetter, Wayne DeFrancesco, Todd Anderson, Martin Hall, and Jane Frost. Hall's playing accomplishments include seven victories in New England Section PGA events and a trip to the second stage of U.S. Open qualifying in 2002.

"The best quality of Bayonet at Puppy Creek is that now, with the clubhouse complete, we are a high-quality, full-service facility," said Hall. "We have all the amenities a family of golfers is looking for. The clubhouse houses a dining area and golf shop. Of course, there's our championship golf course. All things that as a teacher and promoter of the game of golf make my job a very enjoyable endeavor."

Meanwhile, Joe Poole lives on the first fairway, and pops in and out of the club several times a day. His brainchild has become known as the area's premier public golf facility. While Bayonet at Puppy Creek may be slightly off the beaten path, you'll find few complaints from members and guests who play more than 30,000 rounds there per year.

For tee times and special golf packages featuring Bayonet at Puppy Creek and the Fayetteville area, visit GolfOnTheReady.com or call 800-577-3787.

Learn more about the March Madness Package featuring golf at Bayonet, Cypress Lakes and Keith Hills, plus two night accommodations at the Baymont Inn & Suites starting at $214 per person.

Contacts: Martin Armes, 919-608-7260, martinarmes@nc.rr.com
Brad King, 336-306-9219, king@bradkingcommunications.com