CHERAW, S.C. — Cheraw State Park Golf Course has reopened following an approximately $1.5 million renovation that included new greens, bunker improvements and irrigation upgrades, breathing new life into the state-owned layout.
The renovation was celebrated with a November 2 reopening ceremony that also included a groundbreaking for five new golf villas, part of a broader effort to enhance the park’s appeal as a golf getaway.
For the 18-hole Tom Jackson design, which opened in 1992, the renovation represents a significant upgrade while preserving the course’s original character.
Head golf professional Josh Slawiak said the centerpiece of the project was the replacement of the course’s 30-year-old Tifdwarf bermudagrass greens with TifEagle, a modern ultradwarf variety that provides a smoother, more consistent putting surface.
The new greens were sprigged, with their original sizes and contours preserved, allowing Cheraw to maintain the character and challenge of Jackson’s design while significantly improving putting conditions.
“The Tifdwarf greens were a little grainy,” he said. “There isn’t much grain in the TifEagle greens. The putts roll more smoothly and true to the line.”
The renovation extended beyond the putting surfaces. The course’s irrigation system and pump house were upgraded, while 13 bunkers received attention, primarily to address drainage problems and improve long-term maintenance.
The bunker work, completed in-house, focused on areas that had been prone to holding water following heavy rainfall. Crews installed new drainage and reduced the size of several bunkers, including those on the third and eighth holes. One of two bunkers on the right side of the approach to the ninth green was also eliminated.
Slawiak said the changes were designed to accomplish several objectives, including reducing maintenance demands, improving aesthetics improving pace of play.
A peaceful setting remains Cheraw’s greatest asset
While the renovated greens and bunkers will attract attention, Slawiak believes Cheraw’s greatest strength remains something that construction crews didn’t need to touch: its natural surroundings.
The par-72 layout stretches to 7,000 yards from the back tees, winding through a forest of towering longleaf pines. Unlike many modern golf developments, Cheraw’s fairways aren’t bordered by residential neighborhoods, creating a sense of solitude that has become increasingly difficult to find.
“I think the tranquil quality we offer is most appealing,” Slawiak said. “The calmness, the peacefulness. We aren’t lined with homes. When you are on the golf course, there are lots of longleaf pines. When you are out there, you feel like you are by yourself.”
New golf villas to expand stay-and-play opportunities
The course improvements are only part of the investment underway at Cheraw State Park.
Officials also recently broke ground on five planned golf villas that will provide additional overnight accommodations and expand the park’s ability to attract golfers interested in multi-day visits.
The villas are planned to feature four bedrooms, two bathrooms, spacious kitchen and living areas, covered porches and outdoor gathering spaces.
The project is expected to be completed in early 2028.
Combined with the renovation, the villas could help Cheraw attract more golf groups seeking a relaxed, affordable alternative to larger resort destinations.
For golfers interested in visiting, Cheraw’s regular green fees are $55 Monday through Thursday and $65 Friday through Sunday and holidays, with discounted senior rates. The course also offers stay-and-play rates.
More than three decades after opening, Cheraw State Park Golf Course has emerged from its renovation with improved playing conditions and plans for expanded lodging, while retaining the peaceful atmosphere that has always defined it.
