Hole of the Week:
The 9th Hole at Man O'War
is a Surreal Test of Golf

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

May 17, 1999
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Once upon a time there was a lake -- a man made lake dropped into the midst of inland Myrtle Beach with the purpose of accommodating a golf course. This golf course, The Man O' War Golf course, is the subject of this fairy tale.

And despite any chicken and egg arguments that may occur regarding the lake and the course, this totally unique ccc is a sight to behold and a playing experience that could blow your mind.

There is no shortage of water in Myrtle Beach. Nor is there a shortage of courses that make wonderful use of the wetlands around them. But the Man O' War is surreal, what with many of its holes literally superimposed upon the watery landscape. Director of Golf Wayne Weldon describes Man O' War as a classic layout with a modern flavor.

Adds Weldon, "The course is built around 100 acres of lake. But the fairways are wide and the greens are big. The course is very playable, but it is very intimidating when you see it."

The back nine may feature back to back island greens, but no hole at Man O' War truly jumps into a player's psyche like the 9th - a par 4 that sports an island fairway, no less. Let's go inside the 9th.

The Hole: The 9th hole at Man of War, a par 4 that plays 433 yards from the racks. Fairways are Bermuda grass and greens are Bentgrass. Since it opened in 1996, Man O' War is widely known as having some of the best greens on the Strand.

Architect: Dan Maples

The Layout: The tee box requires a carry over water and bunkers flank the left side of the fairway. A solid drive will leave a mid iron approach shot to a large, undulating green. An island fairway, water is omnipresent along the entire length of the short stuff. A pin placement in the back of the green adds almost 20 yards to the hole.

The Strategy: "I pick out some trees that are way off in the distance that are a target for me," says Weldon. "I hit my drive down the center with a little draw. If you can hug the bunkers on the left and hit a long drive, you can end up with a eight or nine iron to the green. If you land in the bunkers, that's an automatic bogey."

The Average Golfer: Should view this hole like a par 5 or a war-time maneuver, according to Weldon. The objective being to get in and get out without completely blowing up.

"Goal number one is to find dry land on the tee shot," says Weldon. "On the second shot you may have to take a wood so favor the right hand side because the terrain rolls off to the left and there is water to the left. You have to hit over a large bunker that protects the green so once again don't pull it left."

Don't Play: A hard hook off the tee, as it will be dead upon arrival. "The best situation you'll get is in the bunker," adds Weldon, "and the worst is in the water."

Play the Hole: According to Weldon the hole is pretty at night, but as far as playability there is no difference as to what time of day the hole is played.

Inside the numbers: The 9th Hole is the No. 7 handicap hole. "I have no idea why it is not No. 1," says Weldon. "It was rated before I got here."

FROM THE FRINGE - Wayne Weldon has a love hate relationship with the 9th Hole; you can hear it in his voice when he describes the hole. "I was one hole away from the course record," says Weldon, "and I was playing the 9th as the last hole, because I had played the front nine first. I bogeyed the 9th and missed the course record by one stroke."

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