COURSE REVIEWS

Wild Wing's Falcon, Wood Stork and Hummingbird take flight

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (May 13, 2003) - Every Thursday afternoon at five o'clock during the summer, a dedicated group of local golfers make their way to Wild Wing Plantation to play in a weekly nine-hole league. The mercury may be pushing 90 and the humidity somewhere thereabouts.

But the price is right, the company is good, and the courses are first-rate.

• Brunswick County golf • Tidewater golf club • More course reviews

"You won't find a better deal and with four courses, we get to play them all by the time it is over," says Marina Howard, a summer league participant for four years running.

When asked for her favorite course, Howard doesn't hesitate.

"I love the Avocet Course," she says.

But?

"I could see myself learning to love the Wood Stork, too."

They don't get the press the Avocet Course does, and during the peak spring and fall golf seasons, they don't get as much play. But Wild Wing's Falcon, Wood Stork and Hummingbird courses offer three different flavors of golf that some locals have come to appreciate as much as their higher profile nest mate.

Wood Stork was the first course to open at Wild Wing back in 1991. The Willard Byrd designed layout appeals to golfers for a number of reasons. First, it is the only track on site with distinctly different front and back nines. The opening set was routed through natural inland scrub vegetation. The finishing holes, in stark contrast, meander through an indigenous pine forest.

"We call it a parkland style setting because is literally feels like a walk through the park," says Wild Wing general manager Tim Tilma.

With only two forced carries and most of the water hazards placed along the sides of the fairways and greens, Wood Stork is also a popular with female golfers. The bunkering is aesthetic, for the most part, and the green fronts are open and accessible via the ground.

There are even a couple signs Wood Stork may have originally been conceived as the property's marquee course. It is the only layout that comes in at the turn. And the 549-yard par-5 18th plays into the clubhouse, where the entire hole is visible from Wishbone's restaurant.

In terms of pure name recognition, the Falcon Course is the leader in the clubhouse. Renowned golf course architect Rees Jones - lauded for his restoration of U.S. Open venues - is the designer of record. The Falcon's most memorable design element (and most photographed) is the "Sahara" style bunker that runs the entire length of the 12th and 13th holes.

The course is influenced by (and routed around) two 26-acre lakes that (surprisingly) come into play on only five holes. Overall, the greens are smaller than those on the Wood Stork and Avocet and the fairways are devoid of trees. Jones uses his unique bunker designs and artful green complexes to set the course apart from its three siblings.

"Wood Stork and Falcon are tied in terms of popularity and price," says Tilma. "The Wood Stork appeals to average golfers while better players like the Falcon."

Indeed, the Falcon slopes out at 134 from the tips while Wood Stork comes in at a manageable 130. But as anyone who has played it will attest, the toughest track at Wild Wing goes by the relatively benign moniker of Hummingbird.

Hummingbird - also designed by Byrd - is an imposing collection of 18 holes that appear to have arisen from a myriad of protected wetlands. The course requires surgical precision on tee and approach shots and generally speaking, more hard thinking than a Mensa meeting.

As such, the course's popularity suffers at the hands of the average golfer.

"Hummingbird we position at the bottom of the pricing because of demand," says Tilma. "Not because of conditions, or challenge or quality of design. Just demand. It is the least favorite among high handicappers and resort golfers coming down from the north. But if you are a good golfer, you'll appreciate the amount of strategy it calls for."

No less that 14 holes are influence by the aforementioned quagmires. And it is not simply a matter of blasting tee shots over forced carries. Water comes into play on the sides of fairways, behind greens, before greens and just about everywhere.

"Some average golfers will complain about it but it has a proven tournament record," Tilma says. "We hosted a Hooters Tour event here and the players loved it. It is also a good scramble course because there's so much risk reward. One guy can go for it and the other can lay up. There are so many options."

Not unlike Wild Wing as a whole. Avocet's unique mounding, Wood Stork's distinct nines, Falcon's innovative bunkering and Hummingbird's water-soaked wares make for one of the most diverse golf complexes in the Grand Strand.

Stay and play

Wild Wing Resort Rentals offers two bedroom, two bathroom villas with two double beds per person. The villas have a large living room, cozy dining area, full kitchen, washer/dryer, cable TV and outdoor pool. For more information on villa rentals and golf packages log on to myrtlebeachgolf.com/wild-wing-resort/index.htm.

Chow

Wishbones answers the call with some of the best golf course eats in the Grand Strand. The stylish restaurant is located in the clubhouse overlooking the Wood Stork Course. For casual fare, the Players Pub is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and diner.