The first course at Dismal River was designed by Jack Nicklaus's design company, and disappointing when compared to the sublime golf nearby at the Sand Hills Club. Though the endless rolling dunes appear ready-made for golf, unless able to carefully construct a walkable layout and avoid the overly steep and gratuitious areas, the course will lack flow and cohesion. So it was with the White Course when first built.

Thankfully some improvements have been made since opening, and while the best shots and sitelines are now superb this course is still a distance behind Tom Doak's Red Course at Dismal River, not to mention the best golf available in the Sand Hills region.