COURSE REVIEW

Come to Farmstead Golf Links and play a hole that starts in S.C., ends in N.C.

By Tim McDonald,
National Golf Editor

CALABASH, N.C. (Feb. 28, 2006) - Pity the poor sap who doesn't know the deal at No. 18 at Farmstead Golf Links. He's just played 17 holes, battling the wind that sweeps over the open landscape. He's a little tired, a little sunburned, a little wind battered, looking forward to a nice, interesting closing hole and a beer in the clubhouse.

He glances at the tee marker as he pulls up. It takes a moment to register. He yanks his head around and takes a second look, and from the clubhouse you can see his jaw drop.

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Seven hundred and 76 yards. Par 6. At first, he thinks it's a joke or a misprint. Then he sees his buddies chuckling among themselves. That's right, Nancy, a 767-yard par 6, 712 from the blue tees. Even if you play from the white tees, it's 679 yards. The ladies have 664 yards to take that long journey.

No. 18 may or may not be a gimmick, but whatever it is, it sure brings them in. And it almost always has the same reaction from newcomers.

"Wow," Assistant Professional Jason Monahan said. "That's what they say. The statements they make range from, 'I've never heard of a par 6, I've never played a par 6' or 'I can't wait to play a par 6.' A lot of folks who read up on us know it's there, and that's why they come."

It's a classic case of 'if you build it they will come,' and it works. And usually, they come back for the rest of the course.

"Once they get out here, between the overall layout, the conditions and the laid-back staff," they come back," Monahan said. "We receive an awful lot of repeat business."

Ron Richards, for example. "I have a discount card that lets me play over 100 courses here," he said. "And I choose to come here a lot. "

It's easy to see why. Farmstead advertises itself as a links course, and it comes closer to most that make that promise. It's wide open and rolling, there are few tree-lined fairways, and when conditions are right, or ripe, the fairways are fast and firm, giving you extra roll, unlike so many other soggy courses on the Grand Strand.

The funny thing is, No. 18 isn't the hardest hole on the course, by a long shot. In fact, it carries only the eighth handicap. Regulars love it, rejecting the idea of it being a gimmick.

"No, not at all," said Richards. "It's a legitimate par 6. The only time it's hard is when you try to play it like a par 5."

No. 1, a 420-yard par 4 is more difficult, as is the 453-yard 16th, a visually intimidating hole that's a sharp, dogleg right with a fairway banked on the left, sloping briskly down to a waste area right. Farmstead has a number of interesting - and harder - holes that are playable and fun, and that's what brings them back. Play to the 150-yard markers and you'll have your share of birdie putts.

The course has a very natural feel, not all pumped up, as it travels through two states: there's a little, stone marker pointing out the state boundary, so beware, once you get into South Carolina, no beer cart girl. They can't sell beverages in a different state.

With no obstructions, the wind can really howl and make a three- or even four-club difference, tough on the holes that play slightly uphill. There is water on the course, but perhaps a bigger obstacle is the homeowner along the fifth fairway with the electrified fence and three German Shepherds. That's not counting the snakes or fire ants.

Stay and play

Sea Trail has one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom accommodations, as well as mini-suites and luxury suites from $72 to $386 a night.

It's on the southernmost coast of North Carolina, and most of the golf villas are on the fairways of the courses, within walking distance of the Byrd/Jones clubhouse and the Magnolia Restaurant. The villas have full kitchens and the plantation has tennis, swimming and fitness centers. It's a terrific place to play the plantation's three courses, as well as the other courses located here at the northernmost Grand Stand.

River Oaks Golf Plantation, just to the west of the Intracoastal Waterway, is also a good, centrally located place for golfers to stay and play Myrtle Beach. It's easy to go north or south via Highway 17, and it's close to Broadway at the Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

They have one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, many of them overlooking the fairways of the 27-hole golf course on the property. It's also within walking distance of both Fantasy Harbour and the Waccamaw Pottery shopping complex. There are also indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis and walking trails.

Dining out

Myrtle Beach has more than 1,600 restaurants and they aren't all fried fast food. In fact, the area has some nice eateries: Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Frank's Restaurant and Bar on Pawleys Island, Bella Napoli, Islamorada Fish Company, just to name a few. The buffet at Sea Trail Plantation is said to be excellent.

Fast fact

No. 18 starts with a drive onto a South Carolina fairway and ends when you putt out on the North Carolina green.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.