COURSE REVIEW

Lake Marion Golf Course has new greens, no weeping willow, fewer complaints

SANTEE, S.C. (Sept. 14, 2004) ? Now that the big weeping willow tree on No. 6 has been cut down and new greens have been installed, officials at Lake Marion Golf Course say they shouldn?t be hearing as many complaints.

The willow tree once obscured virtually the entire view of the green on the par-3 sixth, and the condition of the greens prompted more than a few gripes.

The course closed in June to resurface its greens from common Bermuda to miniverde Bermudgrass, which is supposed to provide a truer and faster putting surface, while being easier to maintain.

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"Miniverde gives us greater flexibility and will save the club money in the long run," said superintendent Gene Scarborough. "We still have some work to do."

In September, a day before the official re-opening, the greens were in good shape, though they had not totally grown in in some spots.

Lake Marion is one of the two courses at the Santee Cooper Resort, and like other courses in the Santee area, depends heavily on package deals with golfers. And, since it?s less than 200 yards off Interstate-95, it pulls in more than its share of curious golfers battling the semis on their way to and from Florida.

Seniors like the course, designed by Eddie Riccoboni and opened in 1978, for its thought-provoking holes and the fact they don?t have to be gorillas off the tee.

At 6,670 yards, it is a tad longer than its sister course, the Santee Cooper Country Club course.

"The greens are much bigger over here, so even though you can hit the greens easier, putting is more important," said head pro Todd Miller. "They?re a little more slopy."

Though the course sits astride Lake Marion, it has precious few lake views, aside from the view off the 18th green.

Still, it?s a fairly scenic course, winding though mature pines. Though the lake never comes into play, water does on five holes.

Nor are there many bunkers. The few bunkers there are, however, are placed well in strategic terms, guarding the mid-sized to large greens. Plenty of room to miss, too: there isn?t much rough.

The most demanding hole is No. 3, one of the longer par-4s on the course, which requires an approach past the tree guarding the left side of the green, which slopes right to left and back to front.

The par-5s are short and are reachable in two, especially if you like taking chances.

"People enjoy the par-5s," Miller said. "There?s some risk-reward, lots of chances for birdies. Younger guys like the longer course, seniors tend to like this one."

No. 8, a 316-yard par-4, is short, but can be treacherous. There?s a pond in the center and to the left in the fairway. Mounds are on the right about 15-200 yards depending on which tees you play from, and the second shot is uphill to an elevated green guarded by two big bunkers.

On the back nine, the 425 yard, par-4 12th hole plays as the longest par on the course. The fairway slopes hard to the left, and the largest green on the course makes up for the uphill approach. Avoid the two big trees on the right.

Another "decision" hole is No. 14, a 320-yard par-4. You can try to carry the ponds and pine trees to reach the green, or play it safe and hit it 175 yards to the middle of the fairway, leaving 125 yards to the green.

"I really like that course," said Levon Carter, a 12-handicapper retiree from Virginia who was due to play the course the next day with friends. "I don?t hit it that long any more. I don?t need to be playing any 8,000-yard courses."

The verdict

Lake Marion is a typical Santee golf course. Not overly long, it offers enough risk-reward shots to keep it interesting, and it?s maintained well. Seniors can reach greens playing it safe, and long hitters can take some chances for birdies.

One wishes the architect had made better use of the lake, and being so close to I-95, the course doesn?t offer a particularly bucolic experience for being so deep in the South Carolina sticks, though it has less homes along the layout than the country club course.

But, for the price ? coupons are available that allow a foursome to play for $75 with cart in November through February ? it?s a bargain.

Places to stay

Lake Marion offers various golf/hotel packages. Call (800) 854-2554.

The Bed & Breakfast of Sumter has four rooms priced from $75-100 with private baths and fireplaces, and a veranda overlooking Memorial Park.

Quality Inn & Suites does golf/hotel packages, and recently underwent a $2 million renovation.

Clark?s Inn and Restaurant has relatively cheap rooms, though the restaurant is a tad pricey for the budget-minded.

Other than that, there are the usual interstate, chain motels.

Places to eat

LT?s Restaurant serves seafood, including oysters, shrimp, crab legs and catfish caught from the local lakes.

The Santee Resort Restaurant and Lounge is open under new management, featuring ladies night with half-price drinksThursday, Friday and Saturday, and karaoke with Johnny Ringo.

Five miles east of Santee is Mill Creek Food & Spirits, for "casual lakefront dining, and there is free van service to The Alpine or Gator Tail Restaurant, about 10 minutes outside of Santee.

Fast fact

Lake Marion is about 110,000 acres and was created in the early 1940s when the Santee Dam was built on the Santee River. Presto ? instant tourism.