CLEMSON — Golf Digest magazine gave Clemson University’s John E. Walker Sr. Golf Course 4.5 out of 5 stars in the 2008-2009 edition of “Best Places to Play.”

Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” is compiled biannually. The magazine's Bret Hopman said roughly 20,000 readers of Golf Digest posted online evaluations of the complete experience at golf courses, including the courses themselves, the quality of service, the playing pace, the course conditions and the value players receive for their money. The ratings were applied to a five-star scale. A rating of four stars signifies the course is "outstanding." Approximately 6,000 North American golf courses were evaluated in this year’s edition.

Brent Jessup, golf professional at the Walker course, believes that players like the course conditions, the playability of the course at any skill level and the Clemson campus location. The consistently excellent conditions and good service, as well as reasonable prices, keep golfers coming back, he said.

The Walker course offers memberships as well as public access.

“There are a lot of good courses in the upstate, but we’re open to the public. Anybody can play,” said course superintendent Don Garrett. “We try to be good all the time, on the greens, the tees and the fairways. I think the rating reflects that people have enjoyed playing here. ”

The Walker course is a public golf course located on the shores of Hartwell Lake and is home to the Clemson University golf team. The course consists of 18 holes, including the signature Tiger Paw 17th hole, a par-3 hole in which the green and sand traps form the image of a tiger paw. The course opened to the public in October 1995.

Clemson students perform research on the course in a number of areas, from turf-grass management to civil engineering. Students also receive a discount for playing.

“We want students to have pride in their golf course,” Garrett said. “We’re here for the university.”

The Walker course is named in honor of Col. John E. Walker, a 1926 Clemson alumnus. Walker played football and received a bachelor's degree in engineering before serving in World War II.

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