Open since 1996, The Wizard Golf Course is one of three golf courses under the Mystical Golf umbrella – along with The Witch and Man O’ War – in the Myrtle Beach area. Dan Maples designed the course, as he did the other two. Maples and his design-and-construction team moved more than a million cubic feet of land to create The Wizard, sculpting a windswept landscape meant to remind visiting golfers of the links of Scotland. As a result, the course is an engaging one, though not overly taxing. It has served Grand Strand locals and frequent visitors alike for more than two decades now.
The Wizard derives a great deal of its appeal from its playability for all levels of golfers. It offers four well-spaced sets of tees, from the 6,721-yard Championship set (with a Rating of 71.7 and a Slope of 129) down to the 4,972-yard Ladies tees (71.2/121). Unlike many area courses, where golfers are relieved to escape most holes with pars or bogeys, the Wizard will regularly yield a few birdies after well-played shots, especially given the normally excellent condition of the course’s bentgrass greens. There are few forced carries, and when they are present, they tend to be short.
That’s not to say The Wizard is a complete pushover, however, as the course closes with consecutive island greens. However, in both cases, there is a good amount of room to miss on either side, which gives many players the opportunity to complete the round with the same ball they started with. The other main water hazard on the course comes in the form of a stream that meanders through the property and provides some strategic
concern. In addition, some renovations a few years ago accomplished the goal of freshening the course’s look, as the project helped install a number of sod-walled pot bunkers, calling to mind many of the hazards that make many of Great Britain and Ireland’s golf courses famous.
Finally, The Wizard’s clubhouse is one of the most distinctive you are likely to encounter in your travels, as it resembles a rugged Scottish castle. It’s a perfect reminder of the fun vibe The Wizard’s overseers have brought to Myrtle Beach golf with this facility.