Tradition Golf Club Sleepy Favorite in South Strand

In a region of the Grand Strand that is quickly making a name for itself with newer courses like the Caledonia Golf and Fish Club and Gary Player's True Blue, and established layouts such as Pawleys Plantation, the Tradition Golf Club may be the sleepy favorite of the whole bunch.

If you are looking for a course that resembles the one you used to play with your father or grandfather, then this lowcountry creation is the right course for you. If you are looking for some "gimmicky" holes or flat out trickery, you may want to look elsewhere.

"This is an extremely traditional layout," says Tradition Assistant Pro Wil Santanich. "We have some of the best Bermuda greens on the beach."

The Tradition is an enticing compilation of well-defined, tree-lined fairways, clever bunkering with sand as soft as Cindy Crawford's lips, and greens that have stood up to the test of hurricane Floyd and laughed in its general direction.

"This is one of the best draining courses on the Strand," adds Santanich. "We only lost about seventy trees to the hurricane, and they were not vital in making the course what it is. Essentially, we were unscathed."

And unscathed is what your handicap may remain if you can hit greens in regulation at Tradition. Despite their speedy nature (approaching nine on the stimpmeter), the greens hold like offensive lineman on a blown pass play.

But what makes the Tradition a sleepy favorite amongst its South Strand brethren? First, course designer Ron Garl is a hidden gem himself among more well known, and frequently represented course architects such as Willard Byrd, Clyde Johnston and Gene Hamm. Garl has a distinct appreciation for "playability" that is often lacking in more tricked up layouts.

Second, Tradition appeals to a wide variety of players, as evidenced by the course's level of repeat play. Women may even find the course more exciting than men, what with the Tradition sporting two sets of ladies tees. Not to mention, the course was rated as one of the top 50 in the nation by "Golf for Women."

Finally, the Tradition rates high in two areas that don't necessarily influence the quality of the course, but are a heavy influence on repeat play: practice facilities and service. The practice range features a number of pins to fire at, generous stations, and even the underrated Sam 2000 swing aides.

The service can only be described as "country-clubesque," with attendants that greet you at your care and are actually willing participants in some early morning golf conversation. The only glaring omission from the service department accolades was the beverage cart service. In short, get what you need when you see it, because you may not see it again until its too late.

• Past Myrtle Beach course reviews and features

The 165-yard, par-3 second hole features water than runs along the left side of the hole from tee to green. Overcook anything to the left and you'll be sitting three out of the lateral hazard. The 300-yard, par-4 third hole is able to maintain its No. 10 handicap rating largely because of the generous pond that is snuggled up against the left waste bunker.

But Garl's use of water is truly at its best on the 377-yard, par-4 seventh hole, which features a veritable island green with no bail out areas for errant approach shots. The hole is slightly forgiving to the front, where a weak shot can be recovered in front of the railroad ties.

The Tradition follows up its water barrage on the No. 7 hole with the 157-yard, par-3 fifteenth hole that features yet another green almost entirely surrounded by water. Survive the fifteenth and you have the No.1 handicap hole on the course to overcome - the par-4, 399 yard No. 16 hole.

Much like Virginia Tech on the college gridiron this season, the Tradition finishes strong. The par-4, 407 yard eighteenth hole is one of the toughest on the course with a waste bunker than spans almost the entire length of the fairway, and a landing area that narrows the further you hit your tee shot.

So break out your knickers, grab your parents and grandparents, and head out to the Tradition Golf Club. Garl's newest "classic" may just become your sleepy favorite. Just don't tell Virginia Tech.

The Essentials The Tradition Golf Club at Willbrook Plantation 1027 Willbrook Blvd., Pawleys Plantation, SC 29585 (843)237-5041

The Deal Rates vary by season and time of day, so call for the latest greens fees and specials.

How to Get There I-17 south to Willbrook Plantation, about 15 minutes south of Myrtle Beach.

Shane Sharp is a senior writer for Myrtlebeachgolf.com and GolfArizona.com.