FEATURE STORY

Swamp things: A look
at Myrtle Beach's top
marsh golf courses

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Oct. 16, 2006) - It doesn't make much sense, does it?

Every year thousands of golfers descend on Myrtle Beach - many of them hacks who might play a round every couple of months - and rush to the renowned waterfront golf courses that are easy on the eyes but demanding on golf-ball rations.

Shouldn't these duffers stick to the easier inland courses, where tree act like bumpers that give stray shots at least a chance of kicking back into civilization?

Of course not. The dramatic marsh courses are raison d'etre for a Myrtle Beach trip, the thing that lures golfers of all skill levels from their weekend courses in the Northeast and Midwest in search wetter pastures.

"If you're from Ohio or New Jersey, it's fantastic to play holes like this," says Carson Courage who sells golf vacation packages for Myrtle Beach Golf Associates.

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"They're visually intimidating, though. A lot of people leave enjoying these holes, but don't necessarily want to play them on a daily basis."

No Myrtle Beach course extends all the way out to the Atlantic; that territory is mostly reserved for high-end real estate. But plenty of tracks track the Intracoastal Waterway, a collection of marsh and rivers that stretches down most of the Grand Strand. Some holes are separated from the drink by only a few wooden planks.

These are the holes out-of-towners come to see and play - but they aren't for the squeamish. Lots of water not only means dramatic beauty but challenging hazards. Forced carries abound, in front of the tee box, behind the green - or both. So bring an extra dozen balls and head to the Grand Strand's best waterfront courses.

Tidewater Golf Club: It's generally acknowledged that Rees Jones did most of the heavy architectural lifting here before legal complications led to Ken Tomlinson - a tax attorney - being given design credit. No matter: Whoever was the real brain behind Tidewater, he designed a gem.

"It's a gorgeous course, with overhanging oaks, marsh everywhere and high bluffs overlooking the sun-sparkled Intracoastal Waterway, complete with cruising sailboats and dotted with local fishermen," TravelGolf.com's Tim McDonald wrote in his review. "Everywhere you look, the conditioning is top-notch, even in the autumn when many other Strand courses are suffering."

Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links: The three finishing holes at Glen Dornoch are ranked among the area's toughest and most scenic. The 16th sets the tone, with a daring approach shot downhill to a green surrounded by water. The par-3 17 features mounts and pot bunkers right of the green and water left.

The 18th is a gambler's finisher. From the tee you can try and cut off some fairway, as long as you can carry the 220 yards over the waterway - and the casino and entertainment boats sailing in the line of flight.

River's Edge: Seven holes play along the marsh at River's Edge, and the design by Arnold Palmer's group, headed by Erik Larsen, throws plenty of twists and turns at you.

"It's a little bit of everything," Head Professional Bart Romano said. "It's got a links-like layout, being on the river, and it's a lot like the older Scottish courses on the ocean. The inland holes are like Pinehurst: a traditional feel, American golf."

The par-5 ninth is a demanding 570-yard hole with a forced carry of 50 to 200 yards over the marsh, depending on the line you take.

Pawley's Plantation: You've got to wait for it at Jack Nicklaus' Pawley's Plantation, which is a tale of two settings.

The first 11 holes are plantation-style golf, with tall oaks shading the fairway on each side. Things start getting wet at the 12th - but be careful what you wish for. The par-3 13th and 17th holes have greens and that's about it, with marsh all over between tee and pin. The backdrop of the 16th is an expanse of water, and the same marsh lines all of the 443-yard, par-4 18th.

Honorable mentions: Other courses featuring dramatic waterfront holes include Grande Dunes Country Club, the Norman course at Barefoot Resort, Pearl Golf Course, Oyster Bay, Carolina National Golf Course and Sea Trail.