Marsh Madness:
Best marsh holes
of Myrtle Beach

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

SUNSET BEACH, N.C. (March 10, 2004) -- "It's marsh madness, baby!"

OK, let's not go there. We will all get enough of that in the weeks to come. For now, let's head back to the marsh, scene of our last full-fledged feature, "The Best Marsh Courses of Myrtle Beach." Every semi-entertaining yarn deserves a sequel. With apologies to Bad Boys II, it's the Best Marsh Holes of Myrtle Beach.

13th at Oyster Bay Golf Links -- The flashed-up, concrete retaining wall looks like something out of the post nuclear war world in Terminator 3. It does, however, provide a stunning visual element on this already dramatic 330-yard par 4. Marsh lines the entire right side of the hole and comes into play on the tee and approach shots.

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17th at Oyster Bay Golf Links -- This signature par 3 isn't on the marsh, so much as it is in a pond. But the watery island green makes it a hole worthy of mention among Marsh Madness' best. The elongated green actually sets up better for the back tees than it does the forward and middle. Tips anyone?

5th on Heron Nine at Carolina National -- An Angelina Jolie golf hole -- looks good, but dangerous as hell. From the tips and back tees, it calls for a mid-iron tee shot over two bunkers to a Jessica Simpson (ridiculously shallow) green. From the middle and forward tees, the hole plays in an entirely different direction -- out toward the river -- and makes better use of the green shape.

5th on Ibis Nine at Carolina National -- Good short to mid-iron par-3 perched in front of the Lockwood Folly. The river isn't in play, but its reed-chocked marshes make for a postcard backdrop. Ibis No. 5 lacks the drama of Heron No. 5, but is more playable from the black and gold tees.

4th at Heritage Club -- If there is one hole along the Grand Strand that appears to be from another era, it's this 440-yard par-4. Moss draped live oaks line the entire hole, with one really big one standing at attention on the left side of the fairway. A small cemetery left of the green holds the graves of Captain William Vaux and his infant son, who died from malaria. Million dollar yachts and sailboats provide an interesting contrast as they ramble by on the Intracoastal Waterway. Bogeys go unnoticed.

13th at Heritage Club -- At 235-yards from the cranks and all carry over water, this bad boy is considered one of the toughest par 3s on the Strand. Mike Strantz redesigned the hole in the mid 90s while working across the street at the Caledonia Golf and Fish Club.

18th at Heritage Club -- A par 5, dogleg left finishing hole that harkens back to the age of strategy infused shotmaking. Driver off the tee if you dare, but the safe play is a fairway wood down the middle. Water lines the entire right side and juts in front of the two-tiered green.

13th and 17th at Pawleys Plantation -- And twins . OK, so these two par-3s are about as similar as Danny DeVito and Auhnuld. But because they share the same narrow isthmus of cart path, they are often grouped together. The 17th is actually a good golf hole, calling for a mid-iron over water to a receptive green. The 13th is a pitching wedge over gunky marsh, through a buzzing crosswind to a somewhat frumpy, unreceptive putting surface.

9th at Rivers Edge -- A polarizing par 5 that much like Tom Cruise, inspires two emotions -- unconditional love and deep-seeded hatred. The 570-yard dogleg left hop scotches the Shallotte River not once, but twice. And getting on in two is made all but impossible by a green complex as narrow as Rush's political agenda.

17th at Rivers Edge -- A long, bending par 5 with a split fairway to spice things up a bit. The approach shot is over water to a green guarded by a sinewy live oak. The pin is almost always tucked behind the tree, taking birdie out of play for most weekend warriors.

9th at Glen Dornoch -- The consummate Intracoastal Waterway hole. The 460-yard par-4 plays right along the drink and is dissected about 300 yards out by a crop of small pot bunkers. The narrow green is flanked by no less than ten

16th at Glen Dornoch -- Architect Clyde Johnston likes to refer to this as his minimalist hole. The Hilton Head based designer let the land do the talking on this Herculean downhill par 4. At 431-yards from the tips, it's a mouthful. Also the start of one of the best finishing stretches in town.

3rd at Tidewater -- Signature hole at one of the Strand's signature courses. Pin placement and wind direction are everything on this devilish par 3. The three-tiered (count 'em) green is fortified by three gaping bunkers on the right and the bogs of the Intracoastal Waterway on the left.

4th at Tidewater -- A par 4 that bends left along the marsh, separated only by a waste bunker below the fairway. With the wind blowing in off the Atlantic, the approach shot is all knee-buckle.

Have a favorite marsh hole you'd like to share with Shane Sharp? Contact him at our reader feedback page.

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.