Fellow GCAer Bart Bradley and I played the Beresford Creek course at Daniel Island last week. Thanks to Roger Wolfe for setting us up. Beresford Creek is a 2000 Fazio design. Unlike some on this board, I don’t think Fazio is the anti-Christ. But he is also far from my favorite. I’ve played 25 or so of his courses and generally find them very solid, enjoyable to play, but rarely great. Beresford Creek pretty much fits that bill. Is it unique or singularly outstanding? Probably not. Is it worth a play if you get a chance? Absolutely. You’ll find a course with enough really good holes to counter the mundane ones that hold it back.
Pros: For a housing development course, the homes are set well back and are noticeable only on a few holes. A really solid set of par 5s. Nice variety to the Par 4s. A good mixture of fun and challenge.
Cons: Although housing doesn’t encroach upon play, I suspect it impacted the routing in spots. Par 3s are extremely underwhelming. Not much of a walking course. A bit too much water for my taste.
The course stretches to 7202 yds from the tips. We played one tee up at 6849 yds. However, consistent with most Fazio courses I have played, the course played much shorter than the marked yardage. Here is a tour:
#1 – 465 yard par 4 – A good, tough opening hole. Drive must steer clear of the right fairway bunker.
The approach requires a long iron to a green with more contour than shows in this picture.
#2 – 393 yard par 4 – Another solid par 4. In order to get the best angle to the green, you need to challenge the marsh and trees on the left side.
Play it safe to the right side and you have to contend with the right front greenside bunker on your approach.
#3 – 551 yard par 5 – In my opinion, this is the best hole on the course and likely the most strategic. From the tee, you either play short or left of the fairway bunkers.
From the fairway, you can play conservatively and lay up short or right of the left fairway bunkers, leaving a shot of about 150 yards. Or you can be slightly more aggressive and play beyond the bunkers on the left, leaving a shot of less than 100 yards. Or you can have a go for the green.
If you choose the first option, the right side does not provide as good an angle…
… as the left side.
And if you choose the second option, the resulting short wedge still requires some care.
#4 – 187 yard par 3 – Nothing of note on this mail in job par 3.
#5 – 362 yard par 4 – Not much strategy here. Just an iron or fairway wood off the tee…
…and a short iron approach.
#6 – 434 yard par 4 – After a couple of pedestrian holes, we’re back on track with a strong par 4. From the tee…
…and the approach.
#7 – 358 yard par 4 – And then a decent cape hole. The tee shot can either be played conservatively between the bunkers or aggressively over the right bunker, bringing water into play.
The green has more movement to it than can be seen here.
And these guys are hanging around back in case you go long.
#8 – 584 yard par 3 – Another good par 5, this time a 3 shotter. Unfortunately, I only have a single pic from the tee,
#9 – 209 yard par 3 – The best of the par 3s, which isn’t saying much.
#10 – 576 yard par 5 – The back nine starts with another very good par 5. The yardage is a bit deceptive. A big drive…
…will leave a chance to go for the green, but the better play is probably a layup to the right, which leaves a simple wedge for the 3rd.
#11 – 412 yard par 4 – I didn’t like this one much. Too many bunkers on the opposite side of the fairway from the water.
The approach.
#12 – 398 yard par 4 – But the mundane 11th is followed by a terrific 12th. The safe play is short of the right bunker. But that leaves a full or partially blind approach. The aggressive line is over the left bunker.
I like this green site.
#13 – 448 yard par 4 – A challenging if not inspiring hole. From the tee…
…and the approach.
#14 – 410 yard par 4 – OK, I know this is another Fazio tree in the fairway hole. But I actually like this one. The best angle to the green is to squeeze your tee shot between the tree and the bunkers on the left.
If like me, you bail out right, here is what you’ve got.
#15 – 238 yard par 3 – Another boring par 3.
#16 – 530 yard par 5 – A fun reachable par 5.
But the bunker guarding the front right of the green is brutal.
#17 – 198 yard par 3 – Thankfully, the last of the par 3s. Its not necessarily good. But at least they’re all done now.
#18 – 449 yard par 4 – A tough finisher. The drive is a bit disorienting…
…the approach is not.
So there you have it. While Beresford Creek probably won’t change your life, I also doubt it will disappoint.
Ed