Candyroot Lodge is a new public golf resort being developed in the Sandhills of South Carolina by proprietors Ethan and Aaron Oberman, featuring minimalist course design and a focus on walking, wellness and accessible play.
The first of four planned 18-hole courses, designed by Mike Koprowski, is two-thirds through rough shaping with irrigation and drainage installed and was scheduled for preview play in November with a grand opening targeted for Spring 2027. The master plan by Hart Howerton anticipates lodging, restorative wellness amenities such as hot-cold therapy and miles of trails, plus a lighted short course and a modest clubhouse called The Hang.
Candyroot matters because it challenges the state’s private-club trend by offering high-caliber, walkable golf to a broader audience, improving regional access for day players and travelers and supporting a next-generation roster of architects in public-course design.
Public Golf Resort Concepts
Candyroot Opens a Public Course in South Carolina
Trend Themes
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Walkable Golf Experiences — A new model of public-access, walkable golf that pairs pedestrian-friendly routing with casual pacing and day-player appeal, broadening participation beyond traditional cart-centric play.
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Minimalist Course Design — Courses emphasizing strategic routing, reduced earthwork and native landscapes that lower construction and maintenance intensity while spotlighting architectural finesse.
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Wellness-integrated Resorts — Public golf resorts combining restorative amenities, trails and thermal therapies to position golf as part of broader health and leisure experiences.
Industry Implications
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Golf Course Development — Smaller-scale, publicly accessible projects and designs tailored for walking play that shift developer focus from exclusive memberships to diversified visitor revenue streams.
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Wellness Hospitality — Lodging operators incorporating spa, hot-cold therapy and active-restorative programming alongside outdoor sport offerings to attract wellness-minded leisure travelers.
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Recreational Tourism — Regional tourism strategies that leverage accessible, high-quality public courses and trail networks to extend stays and draw a broader demographic of day and destination visitors.