So, when do I start to think about my annual fall trip to Myrtle Beach? Oh, about the day after I return from the previous annual trip.
Needless to say, I have a soft spot for Myrtle Beach, one that seems to be growing softer even after 30 plus years of heading to the golf mecca.
In early October I had a chance to play several of the area’s top courses: Tidewater Golf Club, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, True Blue Golf Club and Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club. Gems all, and if you only get to Myrtle once, these should be on your list.
Strategically nestled along the Intracoastal Waterway, Tidewater Golf Club is a beauty . . . and a beast. It’s certainly worthy of the industry and media accolades accorded it over the years. It was designed in 1990 by Ken Tomlinson, who did a masterful job of weaving the course around the saltwater marshes, while framing the judicious mix of tough and generous holes with the waterway as a stunning backdrop.
The conditions in early October were terrific, the manicured fairways making it easy to pinch iron shots into some of the best greens you’ll find in Myrtle Beach. Both seasoned ball strikers and higher handicappers can enjoy the Tidewater experience, though it’s important to remember that the ball doesn’t fly as far at sea level. So even for better players, the 6,323 white tees should prove more than enough of a test.
Check out Tidewater’s website (www.tidewatergolf.com/#sthash.KOWjoR0l.dpbs) for some great deals on fall, spring and summer packages.
Caledonia and True Blue are often mentioned in the same breath, and for good reason. They’re sister courses located within shouting distance of one another on Pawleys Island. Both were designed by the late Mike Strantz, who cut his design teeth working under Tom Fazio. Strantz was named by Golfweek magazine in 2000 as one of the top 10 greatest golf architects of all time.
Caledonia and True Blue alone would be enough to cement any course architect’s legacy. Needless to say, both consistently top the list of the best courses in Myrtle Beach.
Caledonia is quite unlike any of the many other fine courses that dot the Grand Strand landscape. Built in 1994 on an old rice plantation, Caledonia is one of those courses where you walk away saying ‘every hole is different’. Put it this way, there’s plenty of competition for a signature hole. Big hitters would be unwise to pooh-pooh the yardage, the back tees clocking in at a relatively short, at least on paper, 6,526 yards. I found the next deck at 6,121 yards to be more than enough, what with the tight, tree-lined fairways, gnarly rough, well-bunkered greens, and strategically placed water hazards. There isn’t a par 3 over 175 yards, yet each required a precision iron shot because of the undulating greens and traps guarding them. Particularly tough is the stretch from the 12th hole to the 16th, five consecutive par 4s that can make or break a round. Conquering them makes the lovely 18th over the marsh an even more special way to finish.
The adjacent True Blue , which opened in 1998, is acknowledged by some as Strantz’s masterpiece. Flush with native grasses and vegetation, the course is Strantz’s homage of sorts to Pine Valley and Pinehurst #2. He built it on the site of the historic True Blue Plantation, and you can almost feel that history in the air as you navigate the natural beauty that abounds. While the landing areas are generous, cavernous waste bunkers and water hazards at every turn can nibble away at a good round. As with Caledonia, no two holes are alike, and few courses so cleverly blend drama and dread with fun and excitement. The white tees at 6,375 yards provide a stiff challenge, but if you’re Bubba long and feeling especially adventurous, you can step back to the Golds at 7,126 yards.
Pawleys Plantation was an absolutely pleasant surprise. Sure, it’s a Jack Nicklaus design, so even going in sight unseen I figured it would be to my liking. What I wasn’t expecting was some of Nicklaus’ boldest work, particularly the back nine. The eye openers start on the approach shot at 12, the green framed on the left by the expansive marsh that’s a stunning backdrop for most of the remaining holes. To quote Nicklaus, “the course is designed to reward the player who plays intelligently,” and that’s pretty much the approach you need from 13 on. The latter is a devious little par 3, with nothing but marsh between the tee and the green, which is encompassed by a bulkhead that runs all the way from the 12th green. From there on, every hole requires a pinpoint tee shot and precision approach. Get distracted by the surroundings, which is easy to do, and it’s even easier to make a big number.
Caledonia, True Blue and Pawleys Plantation also offer fall, spring and summer packages, which can be found on their websites.
Finally, I should note that the reception and service at all of these courses — from the bag drop to the pro shop to the starter’s hut — was first rate, just as it should be at every course.
For more information on these golf courses, visit their web sites:
https://tidewatergolf.com/#sthash.XiHnb74G.dpbs
