Carolina Lakes Golf Course

Carolina Lakes Golf Course serves Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina, designed by Ed Riccoboni and opened in the mid-1990s. The course operates as a military facility, providing recreational golf for active-duty personnel, retirees, and their families stationed at or visiting the base. Riccoboni, who designed numerous courses across the Carolinas during this period, created a layout that balances accessibility for players of varying skill levels with enough strategic interest to reward regular play. The course takes its name from the water features that appear throughout the property, characteristic of the South Carolina Midlands terrain. The relatively flat topography is punctuated by ponds and wetland areas that come into play on several holes, requiring thoughtful course management. Mature pines and hardwoods frame many fairways, providing definition and occasional risk-reward scenarios for players attempting to cut corners or reach par fives in two. As a military course, Carolina Lakes emphasizes playability and pace of play while maintaining conditions suitable for regular recreational golf. The facility serves an important role in base life, offering service members and their families an affordable outlet for the game. The course hosts base tournaments and provides a welcoming environment for golfers who may be stationed at Shaw temporarily or throughout their careers, contributing to morale and community building within the military installation.