South Grand Strand Offers Great Golf and Old Southern Flavor

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

May 9, 1999

SHANE SHARP IN THE SOUTH STRAND: THE SECOND IN A THREE-PART SERIES ON GOLF IN MYRTLE BEACH'S HIDDEN GOLF HEAVEN.

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. -- It's a golf club, it's a fish club, just what is it? "It" is the Caledonia Golf and Fish Club and its every golfer's dream come true. Many a summer's night may have found you on your front porch, having a cold one with your neighbor, dreaming up your next golfing vacation.

"I know! What if we could find one venue where we could play 18 holes in the morning, scarf down a huge lunch and a few beers, and then pick up a box of stogies and a box of bait and head out for some lake fishing," you say.

"Yea," your neighbor says, his eyes glossed over and a bit of drool hanging from his mouth. "That would be choice."

Enter Caledonia, where you literally have to carry some water hazards with anglers giving it their best shot. Caledonia is as classically southern of a establishment as you will find. . .period. Built on an old rice plantation, the Caledonia's original property owners used to meet every Thursday to socialize, fish and hunt on the old Civil War plantation.

The original plantation was named by its founder, Dr. Robert Nesbit, a Scottish immigrant who named it Caledonia, the ancient Roman name for Scotland. Dr. Nesbit acquired the plantation in the 1700's by marrying Elizabeth Pawley whose family originally founded Pawleys Island and after whom Pawleys Island is named.

The concept is so perfect, let's not forget the course. Designed by Mike Strantz, Caledonia features some of the most creative mounding in the South Strand and the layout is compact and efficient. The Par 70 is misleading, and much like Lee's troops, the course's slope rating of 132 should be the first clue that Caledonia's 6,526 yards will not be easily tamed.

Caledonia is so antebellum, you expect a bunch of gray coats to come rolling out of the plantation-style clubhouse with cigars and scotch whiskeys in hand. Not to mention that the club's Lowcountry kitchen is widely recognized as the premier place to belly up for home cooked chow among the South Strand courses .

Keeping with the Mike Strantz theme, the next stop on the South Strand Lowcountry Tour is True Blue. Aside from their architect, Caledonia and True Blue have about as much in common as Clemson Tiger and South Carolina Gamecock fans.

Where Caledonia is somewhat traditional and classic in its feel, True Blue is modern and reeks of Pete Dye and Tom Fazio. As the promotional materials boast, "True Blue is built upon the site of an old indigo and rice plantation and features uncommon natural elevations and naturally rugged terrain. The rough, sandy areas have been retained and provide striking contrast to the immaculate greens, tees and fairways."

Sounds great right? Well it is - but there are some shots, even some holes at True Blue that may appear impossible for the average golfer to play. With waste bunkers lining almost every hole, it is almost as if True Blue was superimposed on a beach. But for aficionados of modern course design, and an others seeking a "True" challenge of golf, True Blue is a must play.

Jumping back to the north ever so slightly is the Ron Garl creation known simply as the Tradition. The "Tradition" ironically, has only been in operation in Pawleys Island since 1995. But Garl's championship course has impressed itself upon South Strand golf by offering up wide fairways and large undulating greens on a what you see is what you get type of golf course.

While courses like Caledonia and True Blue are praised for their sensitivity to the natural landscape, Garl has done golfers a favor by setting the likes of the Tradition upon what was essentially a pine tree infested beach. (See Hole of the Week Feature).

Par-5's and Par-3's are oftentimes the holes that impress themselves upon golfers memories - even after too many cold ones at the 19th hole you may be able to recall that eagle putt you had on a short Par-5, or the near hole in one you had on a short Par-3. But Par-4's are the essence of any golf course, and the Tradition has some of the best. Holes 16 through 18 fit the bill, with the Par-4 18th weighing in at a robust 455 yards. Try paring that hole with a strong Lowcountry Wind in your face.

NEXT WEEK, THE FINAL SEGMENT OF THE SOUTH STRAND.