Myrtle Beach Top Ten

[Paul Westland]

Gentlemen All!  I have never been to Myrtle Beach and have no plans at present to do so; an associate will be there next week, he relies on my advice , and I on thine....True Blue?... etc....?    Cheers Ya'll....

[Craig Rokke]

I haven't been there in about 6 years, but I would suspect
that, in no particular order, the following half dozen are among the best:

Heathland
Caledonia
Wild Wing-Avocet
Tidewater
Oyster Bay
The Dunes

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

I have tried to group them into relative groups.  I would reccomend that your associate try to get the "Myrtle Beach Golfholiday" catalog (although it may be too late for him) but they may have the information online as well.  But their catalog has the most extensive list of information on all of the golf courses in Myrtle Beach as well as a map showing where they are located.  If you have never been there it is important where each course is located as the commute from Winyah Bay in the South to Rivers Edge on the northern etreme is probably nearly 1.5 hrs.

Anyway here are the ones that I have played and know about:

The Reserve GC @ Litchfield (Private)
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club
TPC Myrtle Beach
Tidewater GC
Rivers Edge GC
Grande Dunes
Barefoot Resort (Dye)
Wachesaw Plantation (Private)
Pawleys Plantation
Barefoot Resort (Norman Cse.)

True Blue GC
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
Barefoot Landing (Love)
Diamond Back GC
Prestwick GC
Heathlands at The Ledgends
The Kings North at MB National
Moorland at the Ledgends
Glen Dornoch GC
Oyster Bay Golf Links

Parkland at the Ledgends
Wild Wing (Woodstork)
The Wizard GC
Heather Glen Golf links
Belle Terre (Championship)
Shaftsbury Glen GC
Witch GC, The
Man o' War
Arrowhead CC
Carolina National

Winyah Bay
International World Tour GL
DeBordieu (Private)
Belle Terre (Short)
International Club
Heritage Club
Arcadian Shores
Wachesaw East
Wild WingGC ( Falcon)
Myrtle Beach National (West)
Myrtle Beach National (South)

Tradition, the
The Long Bay Club
River Oaks GC
Seagull GC
Myrtlewood GC (Palmetto)
Baytree (Silver)
Litchfield Plantation
Blackmoor GC
Aberdeen CC
Wilbrook CC
Baytree (Green)
Wicked Stick GC
Waterway Hills GC
Indian Wells GC
Deer Track GC
Indigo Creek GC
Wedgefield Plantation


Good luck with the trip.

[John_Conley]

While derided by some, a deciling system is helpful to Mr. Westland.

[Mike_Cirba]

I mostly agree with Turboe's list, and Craig's list is very solid;

On Turboe's I would only move TPC Myrtle Beach, Grande Dunes, and Pawley's Plantation to the second or third decile, and move up Caledonia, Heathland at Legends, and either True Blue or Glen Dornoch to the first.

Barefoot Resort (Norman) was a real pleasant surprise, but housing is being built and will inevitably detract quite a bit.

[Brad Klein]

For what's it's worth:

-Caledonia: brilliant, tight, fun (before Strantz went nuts)

-True Blue: wacky, over the top, a slog (right across the street from Caledonia, and done after Strantz went nuts)

-Wicked Stick: a waste of a good parking lot

-Dunes: classic RTJ when he was still creative and interesting

-Myrtle Beach National/King's North: Arnold goes overboard

-Wizard: goofy irish castle for a clubhouse is a better place to spend 4 hours than the wide-open golf course

-Man O'War: it has back-to-back island greens; too bad it doesn't have the Irish clubhouse

-Wachesaw-East: interesting mix of solid holes and overly narrow ones through wetlands

-The Tradition: very strong Ron Garl design with good angles and scrub

[adam jessie]

I just returned from a week in MB and would have say that the best thing to do is rather than wasting a day in MB, rent a car and drive to Pinehurst.and play #2.  

I think that it would be a better use of money than paying the outragous green fees that most of the courses are trying to get right now.  

Adam J

[Nick_Ficorelli]

no one has yet mentioned "the Witch", although probably not top ten.
 I can assure you ,you will find nothing worse than Long Bay.  Arrowhead should also be avoided.

[APBernstein]

Play Caledonia ten times.  It's as simple as that.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Mike,

I would not argue too hard against any of your thoughts/comments.  That is just where I had them in my computer from 6 years of history.  A couple of comments.

While I love Caledonia, and enjoy playing there I just have a little trouble with any course that has a par three of about 95yards (or something like that) from the back tees not falling atleast slightly in my personal ratings.  It almost seems like they had a great course designed, and all the sudden someone said, "hey you know we need another hole to make 18, and what about a driving range?"  "No problem we will just take a little part of our parking lot away and put in a 90 yd par three and the driving range can just be a hitting net."

Also I have heard TPC took a beating a few years ago with some weather.  I played it before that I thougt the course was pretty strong.

As far as the rates go in Myrtle dont know about this very week, but if you are smart enough to come before or after peak season, I think you will find it has some of the most reasonable rates you will find anywhere.  This time of year the diference of a week can mean double the price.

[APBernstein]

Turboe:

I disagree with your thoughts about Caledonia.  I personally enjoyed the 9th quite a bit.  Obviously, the routing is cramped, but in no way does the hole look like an afterthought.  It reminded me of the lowcountry's version of the 13th at Merion, whatever that means.

As for a driving range, who needs one.

[Paul Westland]

Thank you for cogent directives on this topic-destination.  To Turboe: your decilations are most welcome, and Brad Klein, close to gospel; Andrew Bernstein: "repetition is recognition", in the words of Gertrude Stein...... I will offer what report I can when my associate returns in ten days or so.  My mission is to return to  St Andrews this August -September; I remain starry-eyed, and confidently yours...PW...all on a workingman's wages......

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Andrew,

I did not say that the 9th was not enjoyable, but I do think it feels as though it was a factor of not having enough room.  I also think the timing could be better if you are forced to have that hole on a course (as unfortunate as it is) but to also have it as the closing hole on a side is unfortunate timing.

I can recall a scenario that one could imagine, except I dont have to imagine it, as it actually happened to me.  I was playing it about 4 years ago (ironically enough the last time I have played it also) with my best friend, and life long golfing nemesis who had flown in for the weekend.  We had our usual grudge match on the line.  When we got to the course that morning we were told that we would be starting on the back nine on that day.  Yes, you guessed it, with the match all square walking off our 17th hole (#8) what did we have for a fitting finish to this epic match.  Thats right a stout 105yd shot for our 18th (#9).  Just not what you picture for a strong finishing hole. (ps it finished all square so it isnt sour grapes)

Again I love the course, I will probably play it again.  And wholeheartedly reccomend it to any and all.  But I still think this hole is a little underachieving and keeps it from truely being an elite level layout.  Notice I didnt say "Good" layout I think it is very enjoyable, but it could have been better.  It is unfortunate because I remember the other holes as quite strong.

But then again it has been sometime since I have been there, and I do have that somewhat anticlimatic finishing experience that keeps popping into mind.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

ARRRGH!!!!!

Now I too have been hit by what I call the "Crazy Eights" syndrome, that happens everytime you type a "#eight" as a number (#8) which is transformed into one of those smiley faces.

[APBernstein]

Turboe:

I understand your criticism on the hole (even though it isn't truely that strong).  Still, I can see where you are coming from.

However, let me ask you this: would you complain about the 13th hole had you started on the 14th in a shotgun?  Or any hole in a shotgun situation?  I consider the 9th to be the hole between the 8th and 10th.  Starting on the back-nine is not something that the architect should alter a hole for much less change the entire routing.

Granted, the routing at Caledonia is very tight.  The 9th very well may be a "victim" of space.  However, you say it is still an enjoyable hole, correct.  So who cares if it was wedged into the space it enjoys.  If Strantz designed a good, enjoyable hole on 105 yards of land, then great.  I think that is just further testament to the great routing.

Andrew

[Justin Zook]

What about Pine Lakes International Golf and Country Club???  I enjoyed that course.  Nice break from some of the mass produced golf courses down there.

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Interesting that you mention Pine Lakes.  What does everyone think of this course.  I was explaining to someone the other day that although I have played 57 courses in the MB area, I have never played "The Granddaddy".

I was just wondering how the course is?

[Theresa Stotler]

Adding my two cents:
Prestwick an early Dye course, some tight holes, similar to Sea Pines, without the 18th hole.
Willbrook Planation, some housing but a good test of golfing skills.

[Jamie Duffner]

I haven't been to MB in about 8 years, but all I can remember is playing Jack's Long Bay and thinking it was the most atrocious course I've ever seen or played.   Avoid it!

[Nick_Ficorelli]

Play Caldonia
       Heathland
       The Dunes
       Tidewater
and them play them again

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Nick,

Cant go wrong there, unless you are operating on a non-Ficorelli budget. Then some of those might be tough.

I have always told people dollar for dollar I wouldnt miss Heathland. Especially if it is a wet winter/spring (which this isnt, but just FYI) I think Heathland drains the best of many of the courses I have played in MB.  Many years when other courses were a quagmire, Heathland retains some semblance of firmness.

I do not know what Caledonia commands in Greensfees these days,  but I do know the other two (Tidewater & The Dunes), and they can be a little steep for some.

Anyone know how Caledonia stacks up in the Greensfee department?

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Has anyone else played the new Shaftesbury Glen course down in MB?  I would like to hear what anyone thinks of it.  It is supposed to be somewhat of a tribute to Tillinghast and Winged Foot.  Not replica holes, but a flavor.

I was looking back at my list and probably it should have been a little higher than where I put it.  Amazingly enough for such a new course, it may have some of the finest conditioned greens I have ever seen in the MB area.

Anyone else seen it?