Bayonet at Puppy Creek

Bayonet at Puppy Creek is a daily-fee golf course in Raeford, North Carolina, designed by Willard Byrd and opened in the late 1970s. Byrd, a prolific architect based in the Carolinas during the mid-to-late twentieth century, created numerous courses throughout the region, typically working with the rolling terrain and pine forests characteristic of the North Carolina Sandhills and surrounding areas. The course takes its name from nearby Puppy Creek, a tributary in this part of Hoke County, which lies in the state's southeastern Coastal Plain. The layout reflects Byrd's straightforward design approach, routing holes through stands of longleaf and loblolly pine with modest elevation changes and natural sandy soils. Water features, likely including Puppy Creek itself or associated wetlands, come into play on several holes. The course serves the Raeford community and the broader Fayetteville area, providing accessible public golf in a region with strong military ties due to the proximity of Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg). Bayonet at Puppy Creek operates as a traditional public facility, offering a relatively uncomplicated test of golf suited to a range of skill levels. The course benefits from the natural drainage common to Sandhills-adjacent terrain, and its tree-lined fairways and modest greens reflect the practical design sensibilities of its era. It remains a local option for golfers seeking an affordable round in the pine country of southeastern North Carolina.