Candyroot Lodge, an elevated public golf retreat set across 1,210 acres of rolling, sandy terrain in the heart of the Carolina Sandhills, has announced that preview play on its first 18-hole course will begin Oct. 28, 2026.
Designed by next-generation golf architect Mike Koprowski, the course has reached a significant milestone with shaping now complete and grassing underway.
The course celebrates movement and variety with serpentine fairways, ridgeline greens and ground game shot making. It captures the rhythm of the Sandhills and the timeless art of ground game golf.
Preview play will offer golfers an early opportunity to experience the course as Candyroot continues to take shape as a new golf destination.
Beginning Oct. 28, golfers can experience the course through “A Day at Candyroot,” a $175 day-pass available Wednesday through Sunday. The pass includes golf, with guests welcome to play as many holes as they desire, select food and beverage and a welcome pouch with a scorecard, tees, ball marker and a Candyroot-branded water bottle.
A forecaddie will be required and is not included in the day-pass fee. To preserve the experience during this initial phase, golfers will be capped at 40 per day.
Candyroot’s first course marks the beginning of a larger vision for the property, which is being thoughtfully planned by project architect, landscape architect and master planner Hart Howerton.
Located just an hour from both Charlotte and Columbia in South Carolina, Candyroot will include four championship courses, a par-3 course with night play designed by U.S. Women’s Open Champion Michelle Wie West, design-forward lodging and restorative wellness amenities.
As part of a long-term vision unfolding over the next few years, guests will be able to enjoy hot-cold therapy including saunas and steam rooms, strength training facilities, miles of connected trails and immersive nature experiences such as forest listening, yoga and outdoor wellness programming.
Preview play passes will be available for purchase beginning Sept 8, 2026, at Candyroot.com.