FEATURE

Myrtle Beach's image
moves more upscale

By Brandon Tucker,
Staff Writer

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (July 22, 2003) -- Don't look now, but there's yet another upscale golf destination to choose from in the Carolinas: Myrtle Beach. That's right, the former bargain basement golf capital of the Southeast has the quality to go with it's quantity.

The move toward the decidedly upscale began in earnest with the opening of Pawley's Plantation in 1988. Jack Nicklaus had made a name for himself in the Lowcountry with his work at Harbour Town in the late '60s, and the Golden Bear's return to Pawleys Island was considered a major coup at the time.

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The construction boom during the mid-to-late 1990s proved beyond a doubt that a major overhaul of Myrtle Beach's golf course inventory was underway. Courses such as Blackmoor (1990), True Blue (1998), the Tournament Players Club of Myrtle Beach (1999), Tiger's Eye (2000) and Grande Dunes (2001) came along in rapid fire fashion. Premium courses on the Grand Strand became part of the golfing landscape, and part of the area's golfing culture.

Here's an inside look at some of the Grand Strand's seminal, high-dollar courses.

The Honor Roll

Caledonia Golf and Fish Club -- Built in 1995, this bucolic plantation course was Mike Strantz's first solo design. Strantz apprenticed with Tom Fazio, but opted to take his design approach in an entirely different direction. Caledonia has received national accolades from just about every golf publication on the planet. The course's two-century-old plantation atmosphere, immaculate conditioning and outstanding service often overshadow its short, yet challenging layout. Peak season price tag: $150

Tidewater Plantation: Not many courses built in the '90s can be described as a classic. But then, they're not in the same league as Tidewater. Course officials cite "course age" as a reason it slipped in recent rankings to 85th on Golf Magazine's "Top 100 You Can Play" list. Still, any discussion of the top course in the Grand Strand must include this dramatic layout on the shores of the Intracoastal Waterway. The new Tif Eagle greens are highlights of the breathtaking condition of the course. Peak season price tag: $176

TPC of Myrtle Beach: Tournament Players Club courses are known for their dramatic finishing holes, and the TPC of Myrtle Beach is no exception. The final two holes are vintage TPC. The par-3 17th plays 185 yards from the tips to a peninsula green. The 18th is a risky par-5 with high drama, eagles or bogeys in mind . The TPC was home to the Senior Tour Championship for two years, before it jetted to Oklahoma City for a bigger sponsor and earlier date. Greens fees include free range balls, breakfast bars, yardage books and bottled water. Peak season price tag: $165

Barefoot Resort Fazio, Dye, Love III, and Norman courses -- Is there a better design foursome anywhere in the country, all at one resort? Love III design firm admits to laying out one of its best courses here. The property is stunning, winding through old plantation grounds. The Fazio Course is a bit shorter than the Love Course at 6,800 yards, but Fazios' trademark bunkering and massive, undulating greens make the track just as challenging. The Dye course, which eventually may go private, is the most daunting of the four at more than 7,300 yards. The Norman course pairs scenic beauty with penal, harsh reality and is considered the toughest of the three resort courses. Peak season price tag: $150

True Blue -- Fresh off his sweet success at Caledonia, Strantz put to rest any fear of a sophomore slump. Caledonia is straight forward, on the shorter side and golfer-friendly. True Blue, on the other hand, is brash, longer, and more deceptive. True Blue has a reputation as "Caledonia on steroids." The average golfer struggled with True Blue's sheer muscle and overt deception. But several design changes have tamed the course a bit, though True Blue is still a beast to play. Built in 1998, the course has matured and recent renovations to the greens have put the course back in tip-top shape. Peak season price tag: $115.

Grande Dunes -- The latest of the luxurious Grand Strand venues on the North Strand is Grande Dunes. With one course complete, another on the way, and $20 billion in housing and development coming over the next 20 years, Grande Dunes will occupy a massive chunk of the North Strand. A four-star resort hotel and an additional, 18-hole course designed by Nick Price on the way, to boot. The course was designed by Roger Rulewich, who worked under the late Robert Trent Jones. His revamping of Medinah for the PGA Championship in 1999, Valderamma and the Dunes Club have made one of the most sought after designers in the new millennium. The course plays an unfathomable 7,618 yards from the gold tees, but five other sets of tees make the course appealing to golfers of all lengths. Grande Dunes was rated a Top 10 Place you can Play by Golf Magazine in 2000. Its peak season price tag: $165.

Solid Seconds

Tiger's Eye: The "Crown Jewel" at the Ocean Ridge Plantation in the North Strand. The real bite at Tiger's Eye is its fast, sloping greens. It is widely considered one of the 10 best tracks at the beach. $112

Carolina National: A pure coastal course perched delicately upon scenic wetlands. Subtle shaping and bunkering give the course an ultra modern design flavor. The conditioning of the fairways and greens are awesome, but the scenery at Carolina National is what takes your breath away. $100.

Pawleys Plantation: This Jack Nicklaus design helped pioneer high-echelon golf in Myrtle Beach. After 15 years, it still holds its own. Pawleys Plantation put plantation-style layouts back on the map. The back nine may be the finest nine in the Grand Strand. $125

Prestwick: Not only one of the best links-style courses, but one of the best courses in the Grand Strand. The Pete and P.B. Dye design is difficult, but it provides steps into its deep, timber-lined pot bunkers. Peak season price: $99

Blackmoor: The setting for Blackmoor on Murrells Inlet is a low-elevation swampland once used to farm rice. The surrounding wildlife including fauna, alligators, turkey and deer are a pleasure to spy during the round. Peak season price: $93.

Glen Dornoch Golf Club: The course sits on 270 pristine acres of the North Strand, meandering through mature trees down to the inter-coastal waterway. Glen Dornoch's layout was inspired by the Scottish design principles of the legendary Donald Ross. Peak season price: $125.

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.