Candyroot Lodge is introducing a new kind of golf destination to South Carolina, combining large-scale course development with a strong wellness focus in the Sandhills just outside Jefferson. The 1,210-acre project is set across rolling, sandy terrain in the heart of the Carolina Sandhills, with plans for up to four 18-hole courses, a par-3 layout, lodging, and a full suite of wellness amenities—positioning it as both a golf retreat and a lifestyle destination.
Courtesy of Candyroot Lodge
The first course, designed by Mike Koprowski, is already in motion with preview play slated for November and a full opening targeted for spring 2027. Koprowski, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer whose first course, Broomsedge, earned national recognition as one of the best new courses in the country, is shaping a layout that leans heavily into the land. The design follows the natural Sandhills terrain with minimal shaping, fewer bunkers, and native grasses, now further defined by serpentine fairways, ridgeline greens, semi-blind shots, and dramatic visual misdirection created by the land’s natural elevation changes.
Courtesy of Candyroot Lodge
“Candyroot is turning out to be a really old-school test of golf, more than I ever imagined during the pre-construction stages,” said Koprowski.
“Every time I think about adding a feature, I realize the land doesn’t need or want it. The greens are small by modern standards and significantly tilted. There’s a relative economy of bunkering, as the native grasses and serpentine fairway lines create most of the strategy. Some drives and approaches are semi-blind, as the landforms are just too beautiful to knock down with a bulldozer. With the entire course benched into the side of a descending sandhill, your eyes constantly lie about what’s uphill and what’s down. The visual misdirection is intense, and I think it’s going to enthrall golfers.”
Courtesy of Candyroot Lodge
The course sits on rolling, sandy ridgelines that descend toward Buffalo Creek. Design features include smaller greens, varied contours, and ground-based play options influenced by the site’s natural topography.
What makes this project stand out is its positioning—while many new high-end golf developments in the region are private, Candyroot Lodge is planned as a public-access destination. The broader vision, led by Hart Howerton as master planner and landscape architect, introduces a more holistic experience that extends beyond golf, including a par-3 course with night play, hot and cold therapy facilities with saunas and steam rooms, strength training spaces, and miles of connected trails designed to support movement, recovery, and time outdoors.
Courtesy of Candyroot Lodge
Positioned within one of the fastest-growing regions in the country—with South Carolina ranked as the fastest-growing state in 2025 and neighboring North Carolina third—Candyroot is being built to serve both destination travelers and a rapidly expanding regional audience. The project’s name itself, inspired by a native plant that thrives in sandy soil, reflects a concept that is deeply tied to the land, shaping a long-term vision rooted in nature, accessibility, and repeat play.
