Laurel at Houndslake Country Club

Houndslake Country Club's Laurel course sits in Aiken, South Carolina, a historic equestrian community in the state's western Sandhills region. Joe Lee designed the course during his prolific period from the 1960s through the 1980s, when he created layouts throughout the Southeast and Florida. Lee typically worked with the natural terrain available, and the Aiken area offers rolling topography with sandy soils, longleaf pine corridors, and hardwood stands that provide definition and character to golf holes.

The course serves a residential country club community where golf operates alongside the region's traditional sporting culture. Aiken itself has long been known for thoroughbred training facilities and polo, drawing seasonal residents since the late nineteenth century. Houndslake reflects this heritage in its name and setting, integrating golf into a landscape shaped by equestrian tradition.

Lee's design approach generally emphasized playability for members while incorporating strategic interest through green complexes and hazard placement. At Houndslake, the routing likely takes advantage of elevation changes and natural corridors, characteristics common to Sandhills courses in the Carolinas. The club maintains the course for year-round member play, benefiting from the region's mild winters and the well-draining soils typical of this geography. The facility includes traditional country club amenities and serves as a social center for its membership, consistent with Aiken's established club culture.