Strantz Fantz Club
Mike Strantz designed only seven original courses and remodeled two others in his fifty short years on this Earth. This 'club' was born to highlight the work of our favorite golf course architect of all-time and to aid in the promotion (and hopefully the preservation) of his work for generations to come.
Arguably the most polarizing course designer that ever lived, chances are good that if you've found your way to this page, you more than likely agree that his courses contain some of the most interesting - and challenging - golf holes ever created.
Whether you're trying to figure out which one of his courses you should play first or you've played them all, we invite you to 'Join The Club' on Instagram by following @StrantzFantzClub or join us for a day at our next 'IRON MAVERICK' outing - you won't regret either, we promise!
Click on the courses below for some fun, quick-hitting facts and a link to each course's site:
The Courses
CALEDONIA
THE GOLF & FISH CLUBYear Opened: 1994
Notables: #1 Public Course on Grand Strand (SC Golf Panel), Every Top 100 You Can Play list
STONEHOUSE
Year Opened: 1996Reopened: 2019
Notables: Best New Upscale Public '96 (Golf Digest), Reopened late 2019, not yet played by us
ROYAL NEW KENT
Year Opened: 1997Reopened: 2019
Notables: Best New Upscale Public '97 (Golf Digest), 16th Hardest Course in America ('07 Golf Digest), Hosted 2019 Iron Maverick
TRUE BLUE
Year Opened: 1998Notables: Nearly Every Top 100 You Can Play List, across the street (litterally) from Caledonia.
TOBACCO ROAD
Year Opened: 1999Notables: Best New Upscale '99 (Golf Digest), 10th Hardest Course in America ('07 Golf Digest), Top 50 in World (Golf Course Architecture)
TOT HILL FARM
Year Opened: 2000Notables: 7th Hardest Course in America (Golf Digest '07)
BULLS BAY
Year Opened: 2001Notables: Host 'The Hootie' - a top collegiate tournament annually, Strantz's only private course of original 7
SILVER CREEK VALLEY
Year Opened: 1992Strantz Remodel: 2002
Notables: Have not played...yet
MONTEREY PENINSULA
THE SHORE COURSEYear Opened: 1960
Strantz Remodel: 2004
Notables: Top 100 US (all of them), Co-host to AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Have not played... yet!
The Iron Maverick
In early 2019, two years after their closures, Richmond/Williamsburg area Strantz designs Royal New Kent & Stonehouse Golf Clubs, each under new and separate ownership, were scheduled to reopen. We immediately started planning a trip to play them, but paused for a moment and thought maybe there is something bigger at play here.
We thought, "What if we invited folks to come play with us and do something as crazy as some of Mike's most thrilling designs?"
Fast forward to September 2019 - THE IRON MAVERICK makes its debut with nearly 50 players gathered - with a 50 year age difference that hailed from nine states - for a blend of Strantz tribute & Golf Iron Man, played on a course as tough as iron itself built by the Maverick himself. Records were broken, adrenaline was pumped and good times, no... GREAT TIMES were had & memories made by all! We hope to see you at the next one...
And make no mistake, there will be a next one! Click here for details on THE IRON MAVERICK II, coming to you from the trio of South Carolina Strantz courses in September 2021!
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
