South Carolina Lowcountry around Beaufort is a treasure trove of wonderful golf. Most notable are Secession Golf Club and Chechessee Creek Club. Secession plays around and through picturesque marshlands where distant views abound. Chechessee has its own marshlands but will best be remembered for the corridors of live oak and mature pines and the sensitive way that trees have been removed so as to provide a feeling of openness with views across multiple fairways.
The 3rd jewel of this Triple Crown of golf in the area is Old Tabby Links on Spring Island just a couple of miles further down the road from Chechessee. The island is approximately 3,000 acres most of which is preserved with only 410 home sites available with only a handful of tasteful homes visible from the course. An Arnold Palmer/ Ed Seay design built in 1992 provides a wholly different experience than either of the other courses. The front 9 weaves it way through private corridors of old live oak trees, the next six wander through former quail hunting lands while the final three border the ubiquitous marshlands.
In 2012 Brandon Johnson of Palmer Design embarked on a major renovation of the course. While maintaining the original routing greens, bunkers and surrounds were rebuilt to compliment the widening of fairways that opened up alternate angles of play. At the same time the amount of irrigated turf was reduced as was the overall square footage of bunkers. While there is only 4 feet of natural elevation change the shaping leaves one with the feel of a course of subtle contour. The greens are memorable for the variety of size, shape, orientation and boldness of contours.
Naïve in most things Coastal Carolina, I initially thought that the course was named for a cat. In fact “tabby” is a type of concrete made by burning oyster shells to make lime which was then mixed with water, sand, ash and broken oyster shells. Tabby concrete work is incorporated into various holes throughout the course and beyond the 9
th green the ruins of an 1850s tabby mansion overlooks marshland, the Broad River and Parris Island.
First hole 425 yd. par 4https://flic.kr/p/KexfXZ]
Opening tee shot sets tone for the round. A natural sandy expanse occupies the foreground. The optics of the bunker at the end of the waste area and the towering trees surround the tee complex to produce an attention grabbing tee shot from the start.
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2nd shot from left: While there is room on the left straying too far left leaves a difficult angle, while nestling up next to bunker provides best angle to far right pin locations.
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2nd shot from right: Positioning a tee shot just right of center provides an open avenue to green. Shots drifting to far right fairway edge, away from bunker, will contend with a sneaky overhanging oak branch for the second shot. Open green front provides a low shot option.
Second Hole 425 yd. par 4 https://flic.kr/p/LKMnx7]
Classic risk-reward tee shot. Single fairway bunker sets up good target lines. Successfully taking on the water’s edge leaves you with a much shorter second shot. Conservative shots played left result in longer approach or contending with lone tree left of fairway.
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A small greenside bunker surrounded by fairway cut guards left pin locations. Subtle flowing on grade green surrounds allow for recovery options.
Third Hole 160 yd. Par 3https://flic.kr/p/27yRamD]
Tricky tee shot over a fronting pond to a shallow green that is slightly angled away from line of play. Front left pin locations are to a very skinny wing of green. Distance control is paramount in navigating pond or avoiding funneling contour in back middle of green.
Fourth Hole 590 yd. Par 5 https://flic.kr/p/LP5ohw]
Towering pines and oaks that surround this tee provide the perfect vertical feature to work the ball around on this right to left hole. Tall pines through the fairway make distance control and placement key as long shots center and right will have to contend with overhanging trees on second shot.
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nd shot: Taken from position A in the fairway. Notice trees to right. Tee shots going beyond this point will put those into play and asking player to get creative to execute successful layup shots.
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rd shot: Taken from a conservative or laidback position from the center of the fairway. Your position off the tee and/or the days pin location will help determine best layup position to attack flag. Centerline tree creates another interesting set of choices to consider when playing second and third shots. Originally two large pines existed then one died and was removed and during restoration the fairway was widened to the right to provide options. The second tree died, as pictured, and has since been removed and 2 new pines have replaced them.
Fifth Hole 380 yd. Par 4 https://flic.kr/p/28UfHox]
Another tee shot framed by tall pines and overhanging branches that slightly obscure true width of golf hole. Two fairway bunkers, short right and long left, signal key lines of attack depending on pin location. Hole can play as reachable or short 4 where position off tee sets up short iron/wedge approach.
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Position from left center of fairway. Tall pine with over hanging branches may determine trajectory of approach shots from far left. This position provides access around fronting bunker to front left and back middle pins.
Sixth Hole 200 yd. Par 3 https://flic.kr/p/28UfnfX]
A beautiful, fun and focus getting tee shot. The short cross bunker ties into feeding slope that provides ground game option to attack hole. Old Tabby wall sets up a heroic play to a far left pin locations. Contoured green leaves fast putts from above the hole.
Seventh Hole 410 yd. Par 4 https://flic.kr/p/27RJNoA]
This is taken from the far right edge of the fairway providing an ideal line into green. Plays short and left of this position may have to contend with overhanging tree limbs.
Eighth Hole 410 yd. Par 4https://flic.kr/p/28UnPQs]
A fairly generous fairway awaits after threading the needle created by the oaks and pines. Hugging one side or the other will give you an advantage to far right or left pin locations.
Ninth Hole 535 yd. Par 5 https://flic.kr/p/27ATtN2]
Glimpses of the tidal marsh coast backdrop shine through the trees on this tee shot. A vast sandy waste area sets up a tee shot that is deceptively tricky as the fairway edges are extended to the far left and right tree lines introducing angle, trajectory, placement and distance control considerations.
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Approach shot on this reachable par 5. I am told that prior to renovation the pond on the right extended across the fairway necessitating a layup and eliminating the ground game.
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The bold contour in the chipping area behind the green provides a stern test if the pin is back left as the green runs away. This shaping is indicative of what is found elsewhere on the course. The Old Tabby ruins in the background complements the scene.
Tenth Hole 400 yd. Par https://flic.kr/p/26fhGfQ]
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With water left and a green that runs on a right to left diagonal along the water, this tee shot asks that you get as close to the right fairway bunker as you dare.
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But don’ go in them as it may be difficult to carry the 140 yds. To the green.
Eleventh Hole 405 yard Par 4 https://flic.kr/p/LSymFS]
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Eleven is likely my favorite hole on the course with left and right tee boxes. From the longer left tee box an imposing bunker originates a hogsback that runs diagonally across the fairway to a series of centerline bunkers. There is more room than appears over the right side of the initial bunker. From the right tee (shown) you can see the hogsback running from bunker to bunker.
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]The right tee box can play as a driveable par 4. For those of us with lesser skills the ideal 1
st shot is over the end of the hogsback to a pitching wedge or so in. The closest bunker on the right is still 50 yds. out from the green.
Twelth Hole 605 yard Par 5
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A large live oak tree just right of center @ 168 yds. out puts a premium on tee shot. Taking on the water, that runs the entire left side, provides the best angle to a layup greenside of the oak.
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From just beyond the live oak is the ideal approach to the green.
Thirteenth Hole 185 yd. Par 3 https://flic.kr/p/26fjag1]
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The second largest green on course offers plenty of intriguing pin location off water edge that utilize broad feeding slope off of left. Bold internal contours allow plays off slopes to access the feeding back bowl pin location, sling it of back board to access far back right pin or skillfully play off dividing ridge in middle of green to work shot onto lower tier.
Fourteenth Hole 425 yd. Par 4 https://flic.kr/p/27ULyZ9]
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While the front 9 played through tree lined corridors the back nine has a more open feel.
Fifteenth Hole 385 yd. Par 4 https://flic.kr/p/28VRAWu]
An expansive sandy waste area and small, but strategically positioned, centerline cross bunkers highlight this tee shot to an extremely wide fairway. Taking pin position into account will help set op the proper approach to this island green complex (no photo;-(
Sixteenth Hole 540 yd. Par 5
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Sixteen brings us back to the marshland and the turn toward the clubhouse. Two staggered cross bunkers protect the aggressive attack and conservative lay up on this reachable par 5. Plays to the far right of the fairway provide the best angle into a left pin location.
Seventeenh Hole 200 yd. Par 3
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A picturesque and exacting tee shot.. Forward tees and a front pin make for an exhilarating short hole while playing from the back tees to a deep pin turns hole into a demanding 3 shot hole. Internal contours allow middle of the green plays to access far right pins dangling over the water
Eighteenth Hole 455 yd. Par 4
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Not where I wished to be but fear of water left me with this shot to this small green set against the backdrop of the Chechessee River.
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View from behind green showing back board and middle tier bisecting green.
The End