May River GC @ Palmetto Bluff - You won't believe it!

[RE Blanks]

And if you want credibility Mr Gracely, I will show you my bank account.  That should be enough street-cred for you...............

barf

[Top100Guru]

John;

I wouldnt haul you off behind a woodshed, Id' just beat you like a red-headed step-child in front of everybody......just kidding

Now, enough said on this Secession Biz.....as I stated in a previous posting, "I" believe that Secession GC is a "total experience" place....and that is what I tried to convey to Mr. Brown, in fact, I privately e-mailed him and asked him to offer his "private" opinions on Secession so that we could discuss.....no response was ever given from Mark Brown.

I love Secession, the place, my fellow members, the clubhouse, the staff, the caddies, and the course too. Maybe being a scratch golfer makes it more enjpyable for me and less so for higher handicaps, with all the marsh, and especially on windy days, but on GCA threads such as this one, we should all be able to express our opinions without needless character assasinations (I am sure I have previously been guilty as well)

I am sure MRGC will go on to be one of the "Preiminent clubs of its type" (non-private/upscale) in the carolina lowcountry, as will Secession continue to be "The Premier Club of it's type" (totally private) in the Carolina lowcountry. There are plenty of clubs to choose from for golfers of all abilities and and wallet sizes. MRGC and SGC can easily co-exist and be enjoyed even while being a mere 40 miles apart. I wish MRGC all the best. I am sure I will be playing it before too long and I will no doubt enjoy "The MRGC Experience", albeit in a different light.

[Mark Brown]

GCA members

1. This is not what I tried to start. I merely wanted to give you a brief overview of the May River course because it's the best new course opened in the HHI area since Chechessee Creek.

2. I do not want to stir-up any personal battles. I just try to give honest opinions as a design nut and other opinions are fine.

3.I was a member at Secession for 3 years. Secession is an excellent golf experience and a good course. I ranked the course 8th in an area with more than 20 very good courses. Others rank it higher.

4.Mr. McConkey: I sent a fairly lengthy critique to you about Secession and I don't know why you didn't receive it. I'll post it today. I apologize that the first one didn't reach you.

5.The name and theme of Secession is a great one in that SC
was the first state to secede from the Union. It's just a clubby, marketing name, in a good sense. They have Blue/Gray matches etc. The members are very good players and are not Southern Rednecks. I love playing there every now and then.

I think we can all coexist because we all like to play many different courses and then discuss them, not defend them

6. Palmetto Bluff: it is what it is. It was going to be totally private early on and then they decided to build a small resort inn and let them play the course. It also has a small town area on the water that is open to the public. Members and guests (who I believe have to be property owners) and inn guests can play the May River Course. That's isn't anything out of the ordinary. They decided to share part of the most beautiful site in the Lowcountry with visitors. Their policies reflect their overall master plan for 20,000 acres on which there's only going to be 2500 homes. Quite generous of them.
They're also protecting the environment at all costs and have untouchable preserves.

Yes, I wish you and I could get on the course more often but I'm not wealthy, and that's their perogative.

What's wrong is they have not been consistent with who they have let play there because they dont know if they want raters, writers and Vips coming there. I'll check and see what their official policy is now.

cheers! Gotta to go - playing Secession today.

[Anthony_Nysse]

Mark,
  We need to get together. I applaud your efforts.
  To everyone else and get this thread back on track, I REALLY ENJOYED PLAYING MAY RIVER GOLF CLUB

You know, I think that this is no longer a Discussion Group. It's a OPINION Group cause verytime someone posts theri opinion they are just hanging themselves in front of everyone...what a shame

[Mark Brown]

Mr. Klangone,

Did it ever occur to you that they probably built the small inn  and charge $300 (I'm not sure of the exact rate) per night because the people who would pay that may be good real estate prospects.

Essentially the golf course is very private, and if Seminole can choose to be private why not May River. It's their money.
I don't think they are trying to be snooty. Their doing their job and sometimes it comes across that way.

[Andy Hughes]

Mark et al,
Thanks for the news/commentary re May River.  Is there any chance of you posting pictures of it or of Secession? I spent 4 years of school in SC, and I miss the coastal look/feel of the Low Country. The closest I get anymore is talking to my buddy in Greenville  
How is Callawassie doing these days? I played there 100 years ago, and have never heard a peep about it since
Andy

[klangone]

Mr Brown,

If they charge $600+ for room and round, they are not very private.  You cannot be high and mighty if you allow the general public to come and play for a price.  Seminole's doors are not open to the highest public bidder, as well as many other classy private clubs.  Whether the golf staff is snooty is another matter.  I guess they can accept or reject anyone........unless you decide to plunk down the AMEX.

As far as the inn being used as a sales tool for property prospects, I really do not know.  I do know Colleton allowed prospects to stay in their cottages for a nominal fee while getting the tour.  

Palmetto Bluff sounds like a nice place, but in the end it is a high-end resort enitity ala Troon North.

[Mark Brown]

Klangone,

I understand your point, but if you come down and experience it all, I think you would look at it in a different way. The only place that I know is absolutely strictly private is Augusta National, although they let 20 or 30 media people play on Monday after the tournament. That's the only course in the U.S. and UK that I had to get the very generous help
of Rees Jones to play with a member.

If you're coming this way let me know. I would enjoy talking to you in person and playing a round of golf at Secession and possibly May River

All the Best,

Mark

[Mark Brown]

Andy,

I'll try to get some photos and post them. Callawassie is alive and not totally well. Conditoning has been a problem on the original 18, particularly on the greens and there's a new nine thats OK but it's new Fazio with wide fairways. Doesn't quite fit with the original 18.

But the original back nine is one of the most exacting and dramatic 9 holes in the Lowcountry.

[Andy Hughes]

I'll try to get some photos and post them. Callawassie is alive and not totally well. Conditoning has been a problem on the original 18, particularly on the greens and there's a new nine thats OK but it's new Fazio with wide fairways. Doesn't quite fit with the original 18.
But the original back nine is one of the most exacting and dramatic 9 holes in the Lowcountry.

Mark,
There was just 18 holes when I was last at Callawassie.  Pity about the conditioning, as I very much enjoyed the course--though it has been so long I really don't remember details.  I do recall a par 5 playing back towards the marsh (maybe 16 or so) and then a par 3 along the marsh and a par 4 along the marsh. Yeah, that must have been 16-18.  I'm sure its wrong, as it was Fazio, but I agree with you, that back nine was good stuff and certainly beautiful.
Andy

[RE Blanks]

Mark Brown
I think the one thing you fail to see about MR is that it isn't really as private as you think.  Anyone can play there if they want to buy a lot or house.  At Augusta National no matter how much money you have you can not 'buy your way in'.  I have been fortunate to play MR 7 or 8 times, becasue of a family connection and agree it really is a fantastic place.  The whole place is private not just the golf course.

[Michael Moore]

I have before me the February 2005 issue of GOLF magazine. On pages 108 and 109, leading off an article entitled "Top 10 You Can Play", is a giant photograph of thew fourteenth hole at May River Golf Club of Palmetto Bluff.

It don't get much more public than that.

[S. Huffstutler]

 "Who knows what type of nouveau riche are going to be there"

Ha! That remark has made my day. I am laughing so hard...I can't think of a more crass and self serving remark that could have been made. Thank you...thank you very much.
Do you ever wonder why the help hates you?


Ha

Steve

[Michael Whitaker]

I attended the media day when Jack Nicklaus played the ceremonial "opening round" and took a number of photos of the front nine. Didn't get to see the back. Here are my photos:

The "First" drive. Check out the MacGregor persimmon driver.


Jack presents the autographed driver to the club.


The walk up #1 (429 yard par 4).


View from middle of 1st fairway.


View from tee on #2 (206 yard par 3)


Close up front of green.


2nd green... note contour.


View from tee on 3 (428 yard par 4)


Approach from middle of fairway.


View from left of green.


View from back-left of green.


View from 4th tee (535 yard par 5)


Middle of fairway position for second.


A zoom in from previous spot.


A layup to the right leaves this approach.


View from 5th tee (421yard par 4)


Approach shot on 5 - note the diagonal.


View from right side of 5th green.


View from 6th tee (164 yard par 3)


Side view of 6th green.


View from 7th tee - 296 yard par 4.


Zoom in from previous position.


Approach position on 7.


Zoom in from previous position.


View from 8th tee - 533 par 5 (notice small bunker in middle of fairway).


A little closer view of the fairway bunker (268 to front, 276 to carry).


Go LEFT of fairway bunker and you're looking at this.


Go RIGHT of fairway bunker and you're looking at this.


Approach position for a third shot on 8.


A zoom in from previous spot.


View from 9th tee.


Tee shot on nine - 471 yard par 4.


From the point of Jack's 2nd shot on nine (about 190 yards).


The 9th Green

[JakaB]

After viewing those pics this place is hardly world class...I don't get it.   Is the land in this part of the country so poor that this is the best people can expect....and I'm a huge Nicklaus fan..why in the hell are those turd pines still in the bunkers..

[RE Blanks]

jk - ever been to south carolina low country?  What did you expect?

[JakaB]

I've only been to Kiawah Island....The Ocean Course is world class but that surely isn't what is called low country..

[Anthony_Nysse]

John,
  Kiawah is different that HHI...see May River before you knock it....it's VERY good

[JakaB]

I'm off to bed and I won't be able to sleep if I think I might have offended any of the good people who may have worked on this project...please keep in mind I was only replying to this comment by Mark Brown on the first post of the thread..

"Hard to tell on first playing with winter color, but I think top 100 (maybe top 50 or higher) on Golfweek rankings. Worth a trip. Very unique course."

Sorry...
 

[S. Huffstutler]

Turd Pines? Ha...that's the second laugh I've gotten from this thread. A good name for them.

Steve

[Mike_Sweeney]

Michael Whitacker thanks for posting those pictures, I personally would love to play that course after seeing those.

JakaB,

Short 4's, long 4's diagonal carries on tees shots, directional bunkers in the fairways, wide holes, narrower holes, medium and long 3. How much more variety could you want? The only thing I might see as a flaw is the number of push-up greens, but that is hard to see. Both the 5's seem to tempt the player with a number of options.

You are the only one that said "world class".

Ken,

Time to dent that bank account and send in your contribution. Par is 72 at Deepdale right? http://www.golfclubatlas.com/CONTACT_US.html

PS. Since Langone (Wall Street king) and Nicklaus (Golf king)got slammed on this thread, I thought it was appropriate to slam the "Asphalt king"

[JakaB]

JakaB,


You are the only one that said "world class".

Mike...Golfweek top 100 and $600 for room and golf = World Class....or it should.

[Mike_Sweeney]

Please define "World Class", and no cheating by peaking at Golfweek.com.

[JakaB]

Mike,

Congrats on all the press Autism is currently getting...I have a good feeling it will eventually lead to a cure or better treatment...look in the mirror my friend and you will see a World Class dad....it's one of those know it when you see it kind of things..

[Mike_Sweeney]

Jaka,

Now that you are part of the team, maybe you can get your new buddy Langone to buy a GCA foursome as his old partner just gave $25 million.  

"Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot, Inc. and chairman of the board of The Marcus Foundation, has generously donated $25 million to fund the creation of Autism Speaks."

PS. There are two other Dads of Autistics on this board (that I know of), so it is not just me.

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