Prestwick Country
Club is a Dye Gem

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

For one, open it to the public. Prestwick Country Club opened its doors in 1989, but as a private country club, only those willing to cough up the initiation fee and monthly dues were allowed to grace its traditional golfing beauty.

But invariably one of the bastions of daily fee golf, Myrtle Beach rejected the notion of exclusivity at this mid-Strand layout. In other words, Prestwick was the proud recipient of a mere 12,000 rounds per year from its members - a solid number if you want to charge the equivalent of a luxury box at the Staples Center for monthly dues.

In 1995, Prestwick ownership decided it was time for a change, the keys to this Dye collaboration were handed over to the public. Memberships still exist, with members getting priority tee times and other perks.

But if you want to test your links course mettle at Prestwick, the red carpet will be rolled out for you as if you were paying your dues on time every month.

If going public with a Dye designed course was not enough to bolster play, Prestwick sought out one of the young, up and coming head professionals of the Myrtle Beach golf scene to head up golf operations.

Jay Smith, formerly the head pro at Blackmoor, took over the reigns at Prestwick in May of 1999.

"This was a great move for me," says Smith, gazing out upon his newfound empire. "I have always wanted to be somewhere were there are members. You have the challenge of dealing with two different groups - the members and the guests."

But Prestwick offers more than just private club pleasantries and a superior staff. Pete Dye may be one of the most acclaimed golf architects of the late twentieth century, and he and son Paul Burke deliver the goods at Prestwick.

"I think this is one of the best layouts you will find down here in this part of Myrtle Beach," adds Smith. "I even said that when I was at Blackmoor. It has a real flow to it that some courses are missing."

As impressive as its routing is Prestwick's adherence to the design principles of the great links courses of the British Isles. In 1963, Dye and wife Alice took a career-influencing trip to tour the classical golf courses of Scotland.

It was at the original Scottish Prestwick, Prestwick Country Club's namesake, that Dye first encountered the use of railroad ties as retaining wall for green complexes and bunkers.

One of the most "hands-on" designers in the business, Dye and son took it upon themselves to make sure that the layout at Prestwick Country Club was constructed to the letter of the original blueprints.

"Both the Dyes were out here all the time during construction," says Smith. "They looked over the project almost everyday, making sure it was how they wanted and intended it to be."

In the Dye spirit, there was enough earth moved in building Prestwick Country Club to construct a small planet - 1.3 million cubic yards to be exact. Says Smith, "the entire lake that separates the ninth and eighteenth holes was dug out."

Due up Tuesday, the Prestwick Breakdown - Shane Sharp takes a closer look at Prestwick's Layout

The Deal: Prestwick Country Club 1001 Links Rd. Myrtle Beach , SC 29575. For tee times call 1-888-250-1767.