Designed by Donald Ross and remarkably well preserved, though dated and somewhat run down, Teugega is a genuine American gem that few people have heard of but true Ross fans will delight in discovering.

After Ross’s wife died, the legendary architect apparently spent time with a female companion who lived nearby and as a result he is said to have spent a considerable amount of time personally working on these holes. It shows too, as the routing and design features are very clever, there is plenty of variety in the holes and the set of par threes are outstanding. The two long threes include one that falls downhill toward a chase-in green with a big slope off the back traps, while the other heads toward a target obscured beyond a bunkered ridge. The shorter holes are also really fine, the green on the 7th is a cool target surrounded by sand and with a frontal scoop in the putting surface while the 15th heads into a unique half-pipe green that Ross appears to have scooped out of the top of a small hillock.

Teugega is a charming, out-of-the-way golf experience that is perfect for both true Ross devotees as well as those confused as to whether they enjoy his work and who mistakenly believe that tracks like Oak Hill and Oakland Hills are truly reflective of his design style. This course is how most Ross courses first looked and played, it’s too short now for strong, modern golfers but the best holes are terrific and it’s great fun for the average amateur to play.