[EDITOR'S NOTE: If you want to follow along with Tini, you can check out the official score card HERE or the Google Map HERE (It should open up to the 1st tee).
Each time I've played this course it was from the same tees we are playing in this year's Myrtle. I've included a "negatives" and "conclusion" section at the bottom if you don't want to read about each hole, which no one asked for but I decided I didn't want to work much after lunch:
#1: This is a pretty straight, short Par 4 of 350 yards. Not much danger here unless you block one right. Which I've definitely done. There are houses if you slice right through the woods and there is out of bounds there (houses really aren't in play unless you hit a monster slice. I think it's the only hole a house is anywhere near that close). Believe the green is elevated slightly. For me, easy to go either driver/wedge or 9i or even 3 wood/wedge or 9i unless you mis-hit. Saps may be able to go 5 iron/wedge. As long as you don't screw up your drive this is an easy start. Think PV's #1 with out of bounds right only a shitload nicer.
#2: Longest hole on the course - Par 5 of 553 yards. You'll want to avoid the tree line and bunker on the right off the tee (probably not an issue for you longer hitters). If you can do that should be plenty of room to work. This is a 3 shot Par 5 for anyone. Except maybe Damon, given his ability for eagles. For Shea and everyone else, putting yourself in the right position/distance is big. I apparently haven't been able to do that on this hole for the most part.
#3: 175 yd Par 3. It's all sand to the right and in front. Too far left and you may have to chip around some trees. But the green is big and deep. Most will either be on the green or in the sand on the right. If you do have a GIR beware of the 3 putt. several tiers to this long green makes long putts difficult. Or putts from any distance not on the same tier as I found out last time.
#4: 357 Yard Par 4 w/ pretty hard dogleg right. Position Position. I don't like this hole so much as there is a bunker lining the right that likes to collect your t-shot, which then can turn into a doable but mostly blind approach from the sand. For me a driver hit well goes through but a 3 wood not struck well isn't far enough. If you go too left off the tee it's a harder angle at the green.
#5: 376 Yard Par 4. I don't remember a ton about this hole. Pretty straight forward, avoid the bunkers on the right and you've got a good angle. I think I'd hit driver. Oh, and I 4 putted this last time I played it so that was fun and may be why I purposely don't remember it much. I don't remember the green being that bad I think I just pulled a Bos 'barely tapped it'.
#6: short 150 yard par 3. I don't remember a ton about this one either to be honest. pretty straight forward, avoid left bunker as it takes me at least 2 shots to get out. Oh I guess I also like to 3 putt this one..
#7: This is one of my favorites. Short 346 yard Par 4.
You can see the view from the tee there, basically it's all about placement. Club down and avoid the left and you're still left with a short iron in. It looks as though you may hit a tree limb right in front of the tee box but you won't unless you really screw it up. You will have to navigate around a tree for the approach shot so left fairway is better.
#8: 512 yard par 5. Would like to see Damon on this one. It's reachable in 2 with a good drive that gets some roll. I've thought about it before but just from the tee box before a crappy drive made me forget it. It's wide open off the tee so luckily my poor t-shots didn't hurt much. The approach shot is over water so if you're going in 2 better carry it far. If not, set up your 3rd shot for a comfortable distance. The green has 2 big tiers and if the pin's in front it's an aggressive shot to get it close from more than 150. This is one of the few spots where the water really comes into play.
#9: They threw this 110 yard par 3 in due to space issues. It's a lot of sand, which I always end up in, but other than that pretty simple.
#10: Wide open 533 yard par 5. Just avoid the sand on the right for shots 2 and 3. Reachable in 2 as the green is downhill. Hell I had a shot and almost did it once. Or at least was close enough to once before shit bagging shot #2. If you're setting up for your 3rd just follow the left of the fairway.
#11: pretty sweet par 3 of 153 yards. there's a little ray's creek size water area in front of the green but you'd have to be unlucky to hit it in there. Looks pretty but straight forward.
#12: Par 4 of 414 yards. Stay left of the trees on the tee shot. It looks like you can go over the trees on the right but likely none of us can. Plus you'll have a better angle at the green if you don't. Green has a few tiers and can be difficult if you're on the wrong part of it. This is a driver hole, at least for me.
#13: Part 4 of 380 yards. Placement placement again. Go towards the left fairway with a 3 wood or even less for some of you and you'll have no more than 150 in. I birdied this last time so you know it can't be too hard. although if you miss the green think bunkers deep like Raspberry's #11 but all the way around. Pretty hole though.
#14: Par 4 363 yards: I hit driver on this my first time and it was dumb. 3 wood or less for position as long as you don't hook it will be money. Avoid a hook on the approach, too.
#15: 441 yard Par 4: This is one of the hardest holes. Need 2 big hits to get there for me and the left is lined with a bunker that I tend to hit into every time or at least have to stand in it every time. I've scored ok there with 3 bogeys but ended up having to play each time as a par 5 and got lucky with short game if memory serves me right.
#16: 400 yard Par 4: Rated #1 handicap but I think 15 is harder. This one is all about the tee shot. The approach is over water but if you hit a good tee shot it will carry down the hill and you'll have a 9i or wedge for the approach. Unless you mis-hit it you should be over. bailing out left a bit isn't a bad idea. I hit driver there but longer hitters may not need to
#17: 148 yard par 3: Easy Par 3. Straight forward, lots of sand in front but unless it's a monsoon with wind you should be ok on this one. Not that I'm bitter about that monsoon showing up and stealing my best round ever from me last time I was there.
#18: 377 yard par 4: I've read this is the best closing hole in Myrtle. I think they're right based on what I've seen, though watching Jimmy chip at Thistle may be a hard spectacle to beat. Tee shot is a bit tight, don't think about a driver unless you're in a monsoon. This is probably a hybrid for me and a 5 iron for the Saps of the world. Second shot is over water and a fair amount of it. Essentially I've played this 3 times and twice it was windy. The one time it wasn't I still clubbed up on the approach and wound up slightly short on the fringe but was able to par (I mishit that though). The other 2 times it was windy and I mine as well have thrown my ball in the water. As I mentioned last time was a monsoon for the last few holes and the struggle pushed me to a 90. Here's a view from the flag. Handicap has it at 11, but for someone like me I think it's the 2nd or 3rd hardest on the course. However, there is a drop zone next to the green if your approach gets wet which will help me and others in our group.
Overall:
Negatives: #9 is kind of thrown in there due to space constraints. It's listed as 110 yard par 3 but looking at my oob has never played longer than 94 yards. Not easy necessarily as it's covered by bunkers and I've never not hit into one of them, but when I played it for the first time and finished on #9 it was a bit of a letdown compared to the rest of the course if you start on #10. Would be better if that 9 didn't finish on that particular hole. Those finishing on 18 will also have an awesome view from the porch of everyone else finishing. Here's a view from the porch. No place to stand and watch near #9 though if I remember correctly. In general, the back 9 is a bit better than the front in my opinion. There is also no driving range due to space. To use the range before, you have to go to True Blue which is about a mile away. They do have a really great short game area though. Being I've only played in the morning we typically skipped the range and just did some short game and went out.
Conclusion: I don't think this course is that hard. My 3 scores there are 105, 95, and 90, which are better than average scores for me. If ranking the courses I've played in Myrtle, Caledonia would be in the easier top half for sure. It's not long, even from the back tees, and there isn't a ton of trouble compared to say Thistle which I feel had water on both sides every hole - or maybe I just really sucked that day. There are a few hard holes, #18 with wind can be quite hard (without wind, not that bad, though the fact there is a drop zone makes it much easier). and 15/16. It is very strategic placement vs. power. I don't see a lot of drivers coming out of Sap's bag. Hell mine either as I hit more 3 woods than driver there. There's a decent amount of room in the fairways and the woods are mostly open enough to find your ball and chip out if you do go in deep. There are a few holes with water but not that many and I think the water placement is generally fair. I do remember the greens being tough though. Not necessarily huge breaks (though definitely some tiers in their), but subtle ones that seemed to cause me to barely miss a lot. Then again I suck so judge for yourself. Keep in mind what is harder for some may be easier for others and vice versa Most of you guys will be hitting 3 woods or irons followed by wedges or 9 irons. But the course is very pretty with the Spanish moss and azaleas, etc. When I've played it, I would agree with the 'Augusta of the Grand Strand' nickname.
When I've played there, the staff couldn't be friendlier and never saw a Marshall on the course. Then again I didn't have Saps with me and it was the off season with less golfers around so maybe don't put a ton of stock into that. I would advise against shirtlessness and leaving beer cans on the tees though. The course is so well maintained (maybe the best I've ever seen in that category - again could be time of year and # of players) that I could see them being pissy about that. Always one of my favorite courses to play. I think it, Greenbrier, The Bull (A course in Wisconsin), and TPC Tampa would be my top 4 that I've played. Grand Dunes may round out the top 5 but honestly may have been too drunk to fully remember it last time so looking forward to that as well.
~Tini
No comments:
Post a Comment