Established in 1996, Larkin Golf Club is an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Clyde Johnson. Sited on the rolling hills of a former dairy farm, Larkin uses the peaks and valleys to its advantage. The result is a course with tremendous variety, interest and natural beauty. Both nines start out playing downhill, then wind up and down the slopes of the site down to the flat lands adjacent to the Third Creek. The front nine returns to the hills before finishing while the back nine stays low along Third Creek. Each nine has dramatic finishing holes.
Course designer Clyde Johnston is the son of PGA golf professional and former golf coach at Wake Forest College, C.B. “Johnny” Johnston. Clyde spent his youth playing golf as well as working on the golf course maintenance staff at his father’s golf course. He became interested in golf course design by watching his father design and build several courses while in grade school. Clyde Johnston pursued a career in golf course design first by attending and graduating with a degree in Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University in 1973. Since the formation of Clyde Johnston Designs, Inc., Johnston had worked on and completed over 100 golf course projects in his career, both new courses and renovations. Among his award-winning golf course design work is Cherry Blossom Golf Course (“America’s Best New Affordable Public Courses for 2002” – Golf Digest); Old South Golf Links (“Top Ten New Public Courses of 1992” – Golf