This is a course set in a 55+ community. It was built and designed by the community. You can tell the local clubs didn't have input into this layout.
- It's not bad. It's a simple layout playing within a community park.
- The course is essentially in a wide open field. Hole #1 has a little tree protection. #6 is the course's best, most varied, and most scenic layout. #9 incorporates a smidge of elevation. The other holes are all open, some with slight dogleg aspects to them (of which #2 is the best) and others are relatively straight.
- Shoot, I already described the entire layout in two bulletin points. Let's see. Hmmm.
- #6 really is a pretty layout. It's 225 feet from the short tees & 324 from the long. You start in the open, aiming at a basket protected by mature trees, with a pond 50 feet past the basket. Anything sailing long may actually find water.
- Dual tees, both of which are easily visible. Also, very nice tee signs.
- Course has a general easy to follow, clockwise flow.
- Course is designated as for community residents only. I had no issue playing. I'm guessing individuals probably won't arouse suspicion. Groups of young people/whippersnappers/the younger generation may be more noticeable.
- Excellent place to practice field work. From #3's tee to #6 basket, you've got about 1,000 feet of open field to work with.

A simple layout with little to no variety. The short holes range from 189 to 234 feet. Yes, that's correct. Simply throw 210 feet on every hole and you're putting for birdie. At least the longs range from 248 to 419; although, 7 of 9 range between 291 to 396. So again, not much variance.
- #2 through 5 are all essentially the same layout. The woods hug the left side of the fairway with the open field to the right. The amount of dogleg varies from hole to hole. But, just throw a sweeping shot on every hole and let your disc fade back to the basket. #7 - 9 are all relatively straight shots. So another stretch of rinse and repeat.
- To the left of #5 is a short trail that leads to the Catawba River. It makes you think how nice it would have been to put a hole there.
- Course isn't aimed at advanced players. That said, a course like this would yield a big scoring disparity between different skill levels. Those who can park 350 foot tee shots are going to be closer to 9 under whereas those of us who are hoping just to be putting, are going to be closer to even or a couple under for the round.
- Watch for other park goers. One resident decided he was going to use the field for his iron game. Brought out a bunch of balls and a couple clubs. He only aimed somewhat in my direction.
- Random tangent. I found out there's another Carolina Lakes DGC in Sanford, NC, 2.5 hours to the east. Nothing like posting a review, wondering why it didn't show up, to discover you were writing for the wrong course. Guess I'll have to play that course so I can compare to see which one is better.

There's nothing inherently wrong with this course. It's got the bones of a suitable course. It just isn't all that much fun.
- For any local in the Charlotte region, this is a 9-hole version of Frank Liske Park in Concord. I was standing on the 4th tee, looking at the tee sign for the distance, and was shocked that I was only on #4. My brain had already shut off and I would have imagined I was already on #7 or 8. Not a ringing endorsement.
- There's debate about how this course should be named on this site. The technical name of the community is Sun City Carolina Lakes. Sun City is the parent company. Residents in here refer to their community as Carolina Lakes primarily. The name of the park inside of (Sun City) Carolina Lakes is Water's Edge Park. So, Water's Edge Park at Sun City Carolina Lakes DGC?
- To add to the confusion, the actual town its located in is also under debate. Some places have it listed as Indian Land while others have it as Fort Mill. Well, Indian Land is the closest town. Fort Mill is in a different county. My parents live nearby. Growing up, we lived in unincorporated land before it was annexed by Charlotte. During that time, their official address listed them as part of a different town. Ah, fun times not getting mail delivered.
- Oh yes, the course. Courses like this just aren't all that fun for me. On a good day versus a bad day, my final score won't vary by more than a couple strokes. Barring a fluky round with multiple holes-in-one, I'll probably get a couple birdies, mostly pars, and maybe a bogey due to a bad shot. A bad day means those birdies are pars instead due to missed putts.
- That said, if I could walk here, and knew I'd have the course to myself, this would be a perfectly suitable neighborhood course.
- I'm giving this a 1.0 rating, which is slightly below average for 9-hole layouts. There's just nothing memorable here to make anyone want to return. I'd rather play a shorter, easier, but varied layout (such as Fewell Park in Rock Hill) than this layout.