Heritage Club in Pawleys Island

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.c. - Heritage Club head professional Mac Main is in a good mood everyday - no exceptions. And why not? Everyday, he gets to head for the less congested, Lowcountry charms of Pawleys Island, turn his car into the live oak lined driveway of the Heritage Club, and head up the ranks of what has become recognized as one the south Strand's premier golfing facilities.

Golf Digest recently awarded Heritage Club four and a half stars in its 2000 edition of "Places to Play," an honor reserved for only five other Myrtle Beach area courses, and a half star increase from the magazine's last rankings.

"Our main focus at this course is customer service, and it played a big part in that decision I would think," says Main. "The Legends Group courses have all made an effort at improving customer service to the next level. That may be why you see the (Legends) Mooreland Course on there as well. Our conditions have not changed much, so I don't think it was that."

The conditions that Main refers to are impeccable, with the only exception being the greens, which are rebounding nicely from a winter bout with "poa". But the true highlight of the Heritage Club may be the overall experience, which is as southern as Gone with the Wind, sweet tea, and grits.

Heritage was built on two former rice plantations - the True Blue and Midway - and the area between holes No. 4 and 5 was actually the gateway between the two plantations. The facility is anchored by what may be the Grand Strand's most revered clubhouse and proshop - a structure that many players mistake as being the original plantation house.

"The original plantation house sat in front of this one," adds Main. "A lot of the people come to the south to experience the whole southern style setting, and this clubhouse does it. I think that it (the clubhouse) and our customer service is what separates us from the other plantation-style courses in this area.

Built in 1986 by Myrtle Beach mogul Larry Young, Heritage Club is actually one of the more venerable plantation courses of the south Strand. The course's routing, and many of its design attributes have been credited to Dan Maples, who also designed Young's Marsh Harbor and Oyster Bay courses. But word has it that Young played a big part in the design of the course himself.

Much like the antebellum south, the golf course at the Heritage Club is a picture of contrasts. At just over 6090 yards from the white tees, and a slope rating of 129, Heritage can present itself as a player friendly layout that offers average golfers the opportunity to use short irons on approach shots, and long irons off the tees.

But from the tips, the Heritage Club may be one of the tougher tests of golf in the Grand Strand. The course plays to 7040 yards from the gold tees, and a slope rating of 142. If you opt for the white or blue tees (which you should unless you are a scratch golfer), you should at least step back and take a look at the course from the golds.

"When I play from the white tees I see one course, " says Main who can often be found playing with the courses' members on the weekdays. "But when I am playing the course myself, I play from the back tees and it is a totally different course. To me the fourth hole stands out on the front nine as the best hole on the front nine, and maybe the course."

But picking a "best hole" at the Heritage is like trying to decide between a Mint Julep and a Southern Comfort on the rocks. Outside of the 4th hole, the front nine features a number of solid, if not memorable holes.

But the back nine, which is both longer and stocked with more Lowcountry marshland and water hazards, sports at least two holes that could battle for signature honors. The par-3, 13th could be the toughest one shoter on the Strand from the tips, as it requires a 225-yard carry over water into the wind to a green that is only twenty-two yards wide in the center.

The par-5 eighteenth plays to 490 yards from the white tees and 530 yards from the golds, and features water down the entire right side of the fairway, as well as an approach shot over the drink to a two-tiered peninsula green.

"As far as I am concerned, the 18th has to be one of the better finishing holes around here," says Main. "It is a great risk/reward hole where you can go for the green in two, and it makes for an exciting ending to tournaments that we host here."

They Never had a Thing for Logistics

During the "War of Northern Aggression," as southerners are prone to referring to the Civil War, the south had some great generals and brave troops, but oftentimes came up short in matters of logistics. The placement of the parking facilities and practice facilities at the Heritage Club didn't escape this southern shortcoming.

Upon arriving at Heritage, players can drop their clubs at the bag drop and then drive back down the scenic driveway to the parking lot. There is a golf cart shuttle that runs between the clubhouse and the parking lot every couple of minutes, but if you are in a hurry you'll need to walk back up along the narrow road and do a little SUV dodging.

Likewise, the Heritage's practice range is located on the far end of the parking lot, and nowhere near the first tee. In fact, for most of the day, golf carts are not allowed down at the practice range and players must take the shuttle back down.

It is conceivable that you will have to drop off your clubs, take the shuttle back to the bag drop and pick them up, take the shuttle back to the practice range, walk back up along the driveway, get them loaded on the cart, and then head off to play.

But if this little arrangement keeps you from enjoying one of Myrtle Beach's best tracks then you are the type of person that wouldn't date Cindy Crawford because of that little mole to the side of her mouth.

Directions

From I-95 North:

Take I-95 N. Take the I-20-SPUR EAST exit, exit number 160A, towards FLORENCE. Merge onto I-20 SPUR E. Turn LEFT onto US-76 E. Stay straight to go onto SC-576 E. SC-576 E becomes US-501 BR S. US-501 BR S becomes US-501 S. Stay on US-501 about 41 miles.Take HWY. 17 S towards Surfside/Georgetown approximately 28 miles. Turn right at heritage Plantation sign onto Beaumont Dr. Go to end approximately 2 miles and turn right. Gatehouse will be on the left.

From I-95 South:

Take I-95 S. Take the SC-38 exit, exit number 181, towards LATTA(SC-917)/MARION. Turn LEFT onto SC-38.Turn RIGHT onto US-501. Take the US-501-BR ramp towards MARION(SC-576)/FLORENCE. Turn LEFT onto US-501 BR S. US-501 BR S becomes US-501 S. Stay on US-501 about 41 miles.Take HWY. 17 S towards Surfside/Georgetown approximately 28 miles. Turn right at heritage Plantation sign onto Beaumont Dr. Go to end approximately 2 miles and turn right. Gatehouse will be on the left.

Course Information

Pro Shop (843) 237-3424
Tee Times (800) 552-2660
Web Site - www.legendsgolf.com
Head Pro - Mac Main

Where to Eat

For the best ribs in Myrtle Beach, and maybe all of South Carolina, hit T-Bones on U.S. 17 in Murrells Inlet on the way back up to Myrtle Beach. For pub fare and a rustic atmosphere, try the Pawleys Island Tavern and Restaurant located along U.S. 17 in Pawleys Island.

If seafood is your game, Murrells Inlet is the only place to go. Take your pick from the litter of joints along the scenic Murrells strip, but you can't go wrong with Devine's, Drunken Jacks, or Lee's Inlet House.