COURSE REVIEW

Daly's Wicked Stick comes up short on all its promise

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Nov. 2, 2004) - The stairs go down into the tiniest of bunkers. When you see the stairs on the first hole, you envision the meteor-crater-sized bunkers surely coming up later that will justify this design touch. Sure, the stairs look a tad ridiculous on this baby bunker, but you reason they're only setting the stage for greater things.

In fact, seeing the bunker stairs on No. 1 gets you excited about the challenges ahead.

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Only the expected behemoth bunkers never come. No matter how long you wait and reason, and wait and reason, it is just more and more baby bunkers with stairs, indentations barely deep enough to swallow up the average-sized toddler let alone the average-sized golfer. It is almost like the course designers expected a stampede of Mini Me golfers and planned accordingly. At least, that's the best you can figure after finishing 18.

This pretty much sums up the experience of playing Wicked Stick. It will leave you scratching your head. John Daly's first signature course (a Clyde Johnston design) carries such promise and yet often fails to deliver on it.

Looking out from the first tee down a rolling green fairway, the future of the round seems so bright you feel like you've gotta wear shades. It is immediately apparent the groundskeeper is on top of his game. Everything looks great. There are just enough obstacles on this 336-yard par-4 to make things interesting without starting the round with too much stress.

A few holes in though and Wicked Stick's dysfunctional dual personality starts coming out. No. 3 -- a wide open 565-yard par-5 -- appears like it belongs on another course. It does not seem to fit into Wicked Stick's links-style design. As this keeps happening again and again, the course's true character does emerge. It is a split character.

Wicked Stick plays like an unwieldy meld of a links-style design and John Daly's "Grip It and Rip It" philosophy. There are undulating fairways combined with enough extra landing space to park some 747s. This course attempts to set up precision golf while rendering those obstacles largely obsolete with its Daly-sized margins for error.

What's the point of a bunch of carefully-arranged baby bunkers if a golfer can simply go around them any which way?

Wicked Stick comes across like a fawning goody two-shoes, dying to please any which way. Of course trying to be everything for everybody might carry some advantages.

"It's a good course for a group because it can play to all handicaps,'' said Noel Sampson, group leader for a band of 48 golfers from Maryland who are playing Wicked Stick for the second straight year. "And it gives you a bunch of different looks. Usually all the guys can find a hole or two they really enjoy."

If you forget what Wicked Stick could be, what it promised to be, it is an easy place to have a good time.

Most of the rangers are devoted old-time golfers like Ernie Murator. Murator first started coming to Myrtle Beach in 1980, back when he figures there were about 30 courses on the Grand Strand. He quickly fell in love with the people-friendly golf and moved in as soon as he retired. Now Murator works and lives at Wicked Stick. His house is right off the 16th tee. Right off. If you flub your drive, you're rattling Ernie's windows.

Of course, Ernie would probably just smile and tell a funny story about the last time a duffer launched a Titleist into his living room. This is a guy who's forgotten more golf than most hackers will ever experience. Murator's hoping to play all 120 Grand Strand courses now. And he's more than willing to share his knowledge on any of them.

The rest of the rangers at Wicked Stick share Murator's lighthearted love of golf. These are not the cold-faced sentries, eager to give a hassle, you find at some courses.

"Our job is to make sure everyone's having a good time,'' Murator said. "That's pretty much it."

Fifteen minutes between tee times makes it a little easier for the Wicked Stick rangers to do their job. For a course that draws a lot of golfers with its Daly link, the pace of play is surprisingly good.

Still, Wicked Stick's dual personality keeps coming out. The par-4 14th offers an impressive water expanse right off the tee and a great view of the Loews across the street. And suddenly the groundskeeper no longer looks so flawless. No. 15 is a little run down with rough patches in the fairway. Forget those shades.

No. 15 also includes a floating ceramic alligator head in the pond guarding the green. On one hand, it is a nice lighthearted touch. On the other, it reminds you of just how far removed Wicked Stick is from any real nature.

This course is right off Highway 17 the way a Wendy's is right off 17. Some of its holes practically hug the road. It also weaves through its subdivision not once, not twice, but four times. You see plenty of neighborhood getting from hole to hole. It almost looks like they put in extra houses around the holes after the initial build because of extra demand.

Then you get to No. 18, a 528-yard, par-5 and are again opened up to the possibilities of Wicked Stick. It is a dogleg left with water guarding the green and three of those mini-bunkers bunched together to the right. This is hole that forces a golfer to pick a window. For once, no easy detour is in sight.

You can even hear the birds chirping on 18. Of course, you can also hear the traffic whizzing by.

Welcome to Wicked Stick. Still not quite sure what it is.

The Verdict

If you forget the John Daly tie-in and the course's own snazzy logo, Wicked Stick is just another one of the 120 courses on the Grand Strand. Chances are you can find a more satisfying, consistent experience elsewhere. Still if you are determined to play it, make sure to take advantage of the people persons here. Talk to one of the golf nut rangers, get tips about Wicked Stick and other tracks. The staff is Wicked Stick's lifeblood, which is probably a good thing considering many of them seem to live in condos right off the course.

The par 3s are fun to play, probably because they most closely fit into Clyde Johnston's attempted links-style design. The 265-yard par-3 No. 7 is a challenge that will have you talking (or muttering) about it after the round. The par 5s are mammoth, ranging from 528 to 611 on the back (Daly) tees. They test with length while providing plenty of wiggle room landing areas. You have to really work to end up out of bounds here.

For the most part, the greens are in good shape and the flags are placed in relatively benign locations. It would all add up to a relaxing round of golf, if you could just stop wondering when the course's promised, hinted-at character is ever going to reveal itself.

Places to eat

Dick's Last Resort ((843) 272-7794) offers 74 brands of beer and promises "irreverent service." Yes, it is one of those places that tries to make a joke out of gruff service. Still it does feature live music and no cover. The NASCAR Cafe ((843) 946-7223) is an assault on the senses even before you step in the door. Its gaudy souvenir trappings tower over Highway 17. If you must go, it is best to skip the overpriced burgers and just hit the NASCAR shop.

Advertising itself as a steakhouse in the tradition of Brooklyn's famed Peter Luger may be heresy, but New York Prime ((843) 448-8081) is nevertheless touted by many golfers. Expect to pay top dollar though.

Places to stay

Myrtlewood Villas (through Myrtle Beach Travel at 1-866-409-2177) offers roomy condos that are just right for groups of golfers. There are pools on site and plenty of shopping options nearby. Village at the Glens (through Carolina Golf Travel at 1-866-409-2177) provides a condo and your very own putting green in the courtyard. The Glens service can also include arranging daily breakfasts at nearby restaurants.