Among the many golf course designers who shaped the landscape of the American South during the twentieth century, few left a mark as distinctive or as lasting as George Cobb. A South Carolina native and one of the most prolific designers of his era, Cobb created courses that blended natural terrain with strategic challenge in ways that remain compelling to this day. His legacy is felt across the Southeast — and right here in Spartanburg.
Cobb’s most famous work includes the Augusta National Par-3 Course, the intimate nine-hole layout at Augusta National Golf Club that serves as one of the most cherished traditions in the sport. Played each Wednesday during Masters week, the Par-3 Contest on Cobb’s design has become a beloved ceremony of the sport — a moment of lightness and family before the intensity of the major championship. His fingerprints on Augusta National connect him permanently to the pinnacle of professional golf.
Beyond Augusta, Cobb also shaped Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, which has grown into one of the premier venues in American golf. Quail Hollow has hosted multiple PGA Championships and remains a demanding test for the world’s best players, a tribute to the enduring quality of the original design Cobb established on that rolling North Carolina property.
In 1979, Cobb turned his attention to Spartanburg, designing what would become Palmetto Hills Golf Club. The course was originally nicknamed “The Widowmaker” by locals — a nod to the demanding elevation changes, the narrow landing zones, and the course’s willingness to punish errant shots. That reputation has softened over the years, but the challenge Cobb built into the property remains very much intact.
Palmetto Hills features Champion Bermuda greens that provide a smooth, consistent putting surface throughout the growing season. The greens complex and their subtle breaks reward players who study their lines carefully and understand how the slopes relate to the surrounding topography. Cobb’s trademark attention to green design — a hallmark carried over from his Augusta work — is evident throughout the layout.
The course’s signature hole is the par-3 14th, a downhill masterpiece that drops approximately 50 feet from tee to green over a carry of 180 yards. The visual drama of the tee shot, combined with the precise club selection required to account for the elevation change, makes it one of the most memorable holes in Spartanburg County. It is the kind of hole that stays with a golfer long after the round is finished — the mark of great design.
Beyond its design pedigree, Palmetto Hills stands out as one of the most affordable golf experiences in the Spartanburg market, making it an accessible hidden gem for local golfers who want to walk a layout with genuine design heritage without the premium price tag.
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Q: What is George Cobb best known for in golf course design?
A: George Cobb is best known for designing the Augusta National Par-3 Course, home of the Masters Par-3 Contest, and for his contributions to Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte — a course that has hosted multiple PGA Championships. He was one of the most prolific golf course architects in the American South during the mid-twentieth century.
Q: What makes the 14th hole at Palmetto Hills Golf Club special?
A: The par-3 14th at Palmetto Hills is a 180-yard downhill hole with a dramatic 50-foot elevation drop from tee to green. The combination of visual challenge, precise yardage management required by the elevation change, and the beauty of the setting make it the signature hole on the course and one of the most memorable par-3s in Spartanburg County.
Q: When was Palmetto Hills Golf Club in Spartanburg designed and by whom?
A: Palmetto Hills Golf Club was designed by George Cobb and opened in 1979. Originally nicknamed “The Widowmaker” for its demanding terrain and elevation changes, the course features Champion Bermuda greens and remains one of the most affordable and historically significant golf courses in the Spartanburg area.
