 |
|
|
In fact, three of Myrtle Beach's top golf courses, each of which rated in Golf Digest's Top 100, all border each other: Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, True Blue and the Heritage Club.
It makes for perhaps the Grand Strand's most renowned block of golf courses, and the Heritage Club easily holds its own, offering its own Lowcountry charm and exceptional shot values. It's set between two former rice and indigo plantations, True Blue and Midway, on over 600 acres. Today, a slave memorial sits just to the left of the fifth hole. It's a fitting site, given the countless live oaks that line the fairway on the right side that adds to the historic ambiance of the hole.
What may be even more memorable than the plantation vibe is the extraordinary green complexes, built by the Young family of Legends Golf Group. Practically each green here has multiple levels and can stretch over 50 yards in depth, so noting pin positions is especially important, as a front location can mean a two-club difference versus a back.
Despite a yardage over 7,100 yards from the championship tees (6,600 from the blues), golfers are not going to overpower the Heritage Club. So, be sure to warm up with a few 3-woods and irons off the tee to go with your driver. Many holes feature sharp doglegs and pinched landing zones, especially the short, par-4 ninth hole that darts sharply right and uphill with a pinched landing zone.
From there, the entire back nine is a fantastic stretch, arguably the best side in Pawleys Island, with a blend of forested and open water holes along the Waccamaw River. The par-3 13th hole is up to 230 yards, all carry over water to a green over 50 yards deep. The 14th has plenty of chances to yield a Top-Flite to the water gods, with a fairway sharply dog-legging around a river, then curling in front of an elevated, sharply two-tiered green.
The course is highlighted by the dramatic 18th hole, which plays around a river to the right, which also sneaks in front of the green. It can be reached in two shots only if you take an aggressive line with a hook over trees. Otherwise, you're left with a third shot from about 100 yards over water into the massive green.
Heritage Club: The Verdict
A course in the Legends Golf Group, the Heritage Club blends Carolina plantation eye candy with tremendous hole variety and challenge. The greens are some of the largest and most sloping in the Grand Strand. It's the kind of course low-handicappers will especially love, with a challenging slope/rating of 75.3/145 and par-71 yardage of 7,118, It's certainly one of those courses you'll want to play a second time after learning the ideal landing zones and green depths.
The Heritage Club is a considerable bargain compared to its upscale neighbors True Blue and Caledonia, with peak season rates topping out at $125, though as with most Grand Strand golf courses, it can be booked cheaper though a golf package and in the off season. There is a complete driving range and practice area on site as well, something the compact Caledonia cannot say.
The Heritage Club did experience some issues with its bermuda greens in 2007, a result of some salt water that made it into the water supply, which can damage Bermuda turf. The greenskeepers say that problem is long gone, and during our time of visit, the greens were in good shape.
June 5, 2008
Caledonia