Introducing, Milkstone
The first course to take root at Candyroot
Dear Early Candyroot Crew,
Greetings from the Sandhills.
We’re excited to share a first update from the ground, along with a little backstory behind a name you’ll be hearing much more of: Milkstone.
When we walked this site back in December, just as shaping began on Candyroot’s first golf course, we started noticing fragments of milky white quartz scattered throughout the property. They weren’t obvious at first. But once we saw them, they seemed to be everywhere.
This milky-white stone has been part of the land for millions of years, shaped slowly by time, water, and erosion. Standing there, it was hard not to imagine this place in a completely different context, when the coastline sat much closer and the ground beneath our feet was shaped as much by the sea as by anything else. This scattering of stones remains proof of that history.
Given our deep belief in the power of place, and our appreciation for a name with a little personality, Milkstone was born. That same spirit is guiding the work now underway.
Architect Mike Koprowski is currently shaping Milkstone, and progress has been both thoughtful and swift. Roughly seven holes have already taken form, and remarkably, not a single truckload of dirt has been hauled in or out. The land is truly speaking for itself.
Mike’s original routing has remained largely intact, with one meaningful evolution: the first hole has shifted from a long par-5 into a shorter par-5 (or a long par-4 for stronger players) setting a more welcoming tone right out of the gate. Beyond that, greens and tees have moved as they naturally do, but nothing dramatic.
Among the biggest surprises so far? Countless small micro-movements revealed through shaping, exposing the land’s natural texture and nuance. As Mike put it, “these movements add even more character to the fairways, and we’ve just left them all alone, careful not to smoosh them out with a dozer blade.”
With that, Milkstone is officially taking shape, and the development of Candyroot as a golf retreat has truly begun. From where we stand, we couldn’t be more excited about what’s unfolding.
More soon,
Ethan
Co-Founder, Candyroot Lodge
Vision & Design