Willowbrook Plantation named one of the top 50 courses by Golf for Women, offers players of all levels a challenging round with beautiful scenery. This course takes you back in time to the late 1700’s where it used to be a rice plantation, and believe us, the beauty has not been lost. Each hole offers a unique challenge making it the perfect course for your next golf weekend getaway.
Your putter will be key in scoring well on these fast bent grass greens.? You can play just nine holes, play it twice to get in 18 or combine it with the Avocet course for 27 holes.
In the fall of 1993, Wild Wing introduced the Avocet. Designed as a signature course by Larry Nelson, two-time PGA Champion and 1983 US Open Winner, and Jeff Brauer, the Avocet is a course where each hole is memorable for its enjoyment, aesthetics and playability. All 18 holes are challenging, but fair tests of a player’s skills. Creative contouring presents elevated tees and greens, double fairways, grass bunkers and even a double green two holes. Water plays a strategic role in the design of the Avocet and with all Par 5’s and Par 3’s orienting to different points on the compass, each season’s prevailing winds come into play. Multiple tees on each hole offer endless and changing challenges. The Avocet was recognized by Golf Digest as one of “The Top 10 Best New Resort Courses in America,” for 1994.
4.5 star rated and one of the Be$t Buy$ of Myrtle Beach. Located south of Myrtle Beach on U.S. 17. This is one of Golf Master Jim’s favorite courses. Designed by Florida designer Ron Garl, It has the best of everything. Two island greens (a par 3 and a par 4), more sand than on most small deserts, (bring plenty of orange fluorescent balls) and 7 holes in the marshes. South Carolina’s Course of the Year in 2001. The world class practice facility features a 43,000 square foot putting green and multilevel pitching and chipping areas. The Tradition is a Low Country Championship course with wide fairways and undulating greens. “HIT for the green” as in grass because if it isn’t green, you’re going to be in some of the largest, deepest waste bunkers in Myrtle Beach. Superb large upscale clubhouse.
River Club is a semi-private facility and the only course on the south end of the Grand Strand with Bent grass greens. True to its name, you will find (but hopefully not often) water on 15 of the 18 holes. Couple the water with over 100 sand traps and you have a very challenging layout to deal with. Long hitters may find some room off the tees but the approach shots better be on the money. The par 5 18th hole offers risk and reward to those who can carry the water twice for a possible chance at eagle on the horseshoe shaped hole.
“The only time you will be permitted to handle your clubs is while playing with them.” From the moment you arrive, each guest is treated like royalty. From the white-gloved caddy master who greets you at the gates, to the club assistants who clean your clubs and shine your shoes after your round, The “Granddaddy” takes great pride in its impeccable level of service. On warm, sunny days, you will be treated to a refreshing mimosa on the course. When the wind blows and there is a nip in the air, you can expect hot chocolate on the first tee and a cup of fresh homemade low-country clam chowder, prepared and served over an open fire from an old black kettle. We welcome you to play the Myrtle Beach’s oldest course (1927) thus its nickname of the Granddaddy and see for yourself why it is so enjoyable to play this par 71 course. The golf course was constructed as a complement to the famed Ocean Forest Hotel and was to be a playground for the rich and famous. Upon the destruction of the hotel, the golf course at Pine Lakes was the only thing remaining. The course has been remodeled over the years and has evolved from the original 27-hole layout to an 18-hole course which is currently on the National Register of Historical Places. Pine Lakes Re opened in March 2009, as Craig Schreiner was contracted to redesign the course. His passion for golf and its architecture is a natural fit in maintaining the historical integrity associated with Robert White’s original design.
Challenging, but equally beautiful, Pawley’s Plantation by Jack Nicklaus offers a scenic event with every round. Among the most unforgettable features are a tremendous double green, a dramatic split fairway, and breathtaking lake and marsh views. A 300 yard dike bulk-headed for cart traffic leads to a set of tees where the golfer can play the par 3 #13 from a distance of 40 to 145 yards – both shots are across the marsh. This signature course ranked among the top courses in South Carolina in Golf Digest’s 1997 Rankings.
The Pine Hills course at Myrtlewood will challenge your short game with its smaller greens. It is a shotmakers course with sharp doglegs, numerous sand bunkers, and multi-tiered greens. Plain and simple, it is tight and tough. If you are not on your game, the strokes will add up fast.
The Palmetto course at Myrtlewood is the newer of the two and one of the central beach classics. It is traditional in design. It offers wide fairways and large and it is well trapped. As you are wrapping up your round, the 18th hole runs along the intra-coastal waterway. Very picturesque to say the least. The Myrtlewood complex has an excellent practice facility for you to work out the kinks before you tee off.
The West Course at the Myrtle Beach National complex is the longest yardage course from the tips of the 3 courses. You will find this course to be somewhat forgiving with its wide fairways and decent size greens. However, strategically placed bunkers, natural hazards and tall hardwood trees protecting the doglegs will make you think a bit before you try to rip one.
Southcreek is winds through a mix of coastal wetlands and hardwood forests. Of the three courses at the Myrtle Beach National complex, this is certainly the most target oriented golf course. At just over 6400 from the tips, it requires less distance but greater accuracy. Numerous waste areas and well-protected greens place a premium on course management and shot making ability.
King’s North is a result of redesign work done by Arnold Palmer and his group in 1996. Palmer recreated the North course by moving over 400,000 cubic yards of dirt, adding bulkheading, 600 hardwood trees and 7,000 azaleas to go along with the enlarged Crenshaw Bentgrass greens, lakes and bunkers. You will have plenty of water to consider as you navigate this layout. One of the most dramatic and unique holes in golf is the par 5 6th hole nicknamed “The Gambler”. It features an island fairway which offers golfers a risk-reward short cut opportunity to the green for a chance at an eagle. You need two precise shots to benefit from the short cut otherwise danger lurks and your looking at perhaps a double bogey instead.
If a player can tame the Long Bay Club, he or she may feel confident enough to take on the Golden Bear as this Jack Nicklaus designed course is considered by many as one of the more difficult layouts on the Grand Strand. This links style course has countless large man-made mounds and can be quite a challenge near the green. Where did some of the dirt come from for the mounding? Why the numerous bottomless bunkers that surround the small Bermuda landing areas. One of the most recognizable holes in golf is the par 4 #10 hole with the striking horseshoe waste bunker that runs up to the green. Bring your A game.
Litchfield Country Club was among the initial eight courses built on the Grand Strand (1966). It was also the first course built in the Pawleys Island/Litchfield area. Through the years, the course has maintained its original design of friendly green-side pathways for bump and run approach shots. The mature tree-lined fairways wind amid giant oaks and shimmering lakes from the original rice plantation that it was built on. If you like ‘traditional’ designed courses, you will find Litchfield to your liking.
Grande Dunes Resort course is the FINEST Golf Course in Myrtle Beach. The maintenance is superb. 5 holes along the Intracoastal Waterway are on high buffs with ocean breezes blowing across the course. The Spanish style clubhouse is very upscale with excellent food and cold beverages in the lounge. The 19th hole is one of the best on the beach. The large practice area from a chipping and separate putting course. You can chose from 6 tees with yardage from 5,353 to 7,618. The greens are huge with some interesting undulations. Bring your “A” game.
Burning Ridge Golf Country Club Myrtle Beach, S.C.This pro style course is located just west of Myrtle Beach on U.S. 501 and Burning Ridge has been selected as the Myrtle Beach 2006 Golf Course of the Year. It features gently rolling fairways, towering pines, undulating greens and plenty of lakes. This course is a shot makers test built for tournament play. The biggest challenge here is that most of the greens are elevated with moderate undulations and plenty of green side bunkers. This course proves, “Its not how you drive… but how you arrive!”
Blackmoor is located just south of Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet on S.C. Hwy 707.Wild turkeys, gators and deer can be seen on the course as you are in a pristine natural area. “Hit every shot in your bag” is Gary Players idea of how to play golf…and Blackmoor fits that description to a tee. Many challenging holes of risk and reward. Cut the dogleg and be on the green…fall short and you’re in the marsh. Moderate undulating and average to large greens and plenty of greenside bunkers. Several holes have dual fairways. Some of the shorter holes are the most challenging as you have?to decide to “go for it” or lay back. This is a thinking man’s course. Go brain dead and record a snowman. Most fairways are average in width with few fairway bunkers. 400 year old oaks and majestic pines border most of the fairways. Want to see the course, visit its website to see the area’s only live course web cam!
At Arcadian Shores Golf Club you can expect to be put to the test. With 64 creatively placed sand bunkers, natural lakes, and large Bermuda greens, this is certainly a course to remember. Although the course is a challenge, it is designed for all golfers alike with a selection of five tee boxes. Holes #2 and #18 were voted as a part of the Dream 18, making this course a must play.
