The Wizard Brings
Links Style Magic to
Grand Strand

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

But if you know Myrtle Beach, you know the self proclaimed Golf Capital of the World does not accept "no" for an answer. And answering this call, in seemingly magical fashion, is the Dan Maples designed Witch Golf Course in west Myrtle Beach.

The Grand Strand now boasts of several links style courses, such as the Legend's Heathland Course and John Daily's Wicked Stick signature course, but the Wizard may possess the most "Scotland-esque" weather conditions.

"The thing about this course is you get varying conditions," says Wizard Head Professional David O'Quinn. "There are absolutely no trees on the course, so the wind can get up there (in speed). In the morning, the course can play easy in the fog, but in the afternoon the wind kicks up and it is a totally different style course - it plays much longer in the winter and in March. It is a real test of golf."

But it is not only the weather conditions at this Maples creation that add to the overall appeal of the layout. Pound for pound, the course conditions at the Wizard can hold their own with Heathland and any other links style course on the Strand.

"The conditions are something that people always rave about here," says O'Quinn. "Our greens are the G2 bentgrass, and with the airflow that we have here, they are in perfect condition year around. They are raved about by great players and bad players. People recognize nice putting surfaces when they see them."

What not to look for when making your way around the Wizard? Don't worry, its not the beverage cart girl. In fact, many players are relieved to find out that water only comes into play on a nominal number of the Wizard's holes.

"The course is a true Scottish links course with mounding, large greens, and stone bridges that traverse the granite creeks," says O'Quinn. "We only have four holes where the lake comes into play. If you go to Scotland, you'll find the courses have very few holes with water in play."

In fact it is not until the 18th hole, which sports an island fairway and a semi island green, that players may actually feel the pressure of a water based challenge facing them.

But ask around about the most memorable experience at the Wizard, and you might find that its not the unpredictable weather conditions, the extreme mounding, or the true rolling bentgrass greens. What many players member most about the Wizard is the clubhouse - an old style Scottish castle that sits in surreal fashion upon the stark treeless landscape of the surrounding area.

Just what is this castle doing sitting off the gridlocked travel lanes of Highway 501? And just how did the Wizard get its name anyway? According to O'Quinn, it all relates back to Scotland.

"The name is from the Old Scottish legends, where the Wizard lives on the lake in a castle."

The Wizard
4601 Leeshire Blvd.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
Phone: 843-236-9393
Fax: 843-236-1923