role as a mainstream designer had changed.
He rode the course and made suggestions
for improvements to a course that is already
considered among the top 15 courses of the
entire Myrtle Beach area.
TPC OF MYRTLE BEACH (1999): A
little over a year after this course opened,
Tom Watson won the Senior PGA Tour
Championship here. In many ways, hold-
ing the tournament at TPC elevated it to
the namesake respect factor already pos-
sessed by others in the Tournament Players
Club network. It would eventually change
ownership (twice, actually), but everyone
involved has worked tirelessly to making
this a must-play for any visiting player.
THE REST OF THE TRAIL
BLACKMOOR GOLF CLUB — Gary
Player’s gem hits the 30-year mark in 2020,
and it is still as popular as ever. It is high-
lighted by one of the more notable holes at
the beach, the par-4 No. 8 that includes a
narrow alley to attack the green off the tee.
FOUNDERS CLUB OF PAWLEYS
ISLAND —One of the newer designs in all
of the Myrtle Beach area opened in 2008
atop the old Sea Gull Golf Club. The updat-
ed layout features the most creative and
extensive use of beach sand around.
LITCHFIELD COUNTRY CLUB —The
oldest club on the south Strand, Litchfield
Country Club is a dogleg-heavy Willard
Byrd course that favors shot selection over
brute strength. It has been maintained to
high levels but is otherwise untouched from
its original 1966 design.
Above: Par is a good score on Tradition’s 5th. Right:
It’s easy to finish your round at Willbrook in the sand.
RIVER CLUB —Arguably one of Tom
Jackson’s best layouts, River Club features
water of varying capacities on 14 of the 18
holes. Much of it is not in play, but it frames
the course spectacularly from start to finish.
TRADITION GOLF CLUB —Named
South Carolina’s Golf Course of the
Year earlier this century, Tradition is a
super-friendly option. It is coupled with an
oversized practice facility and has been a
locals’ favorite since opening in 1996.
WACHESAW PLANTATION EAST —
Formerly the home to the LPGA’s Kathy
Ireland/Greens Competition Classic,
Wachesaw East adds a bit of a Scottish feel
to the Lowcountry golf courses that sur-
round it in three directions.
WILLBROOK PLANTATION —Teem-
ing with history, wildlife and scenery, Will-
brook is the type of property that makes
anyone appear to be a good photographer.
The Dan Maples design took all of that into
account to create a stellar environment.
GETTING THERE AND GETTING AROUND
CHEAP FLIGHTS INTO MYRTLE BEACH International can be
found out of Dulles, Reagan or even BWI. However, for those in
NoVa or points south, the drive down I-95 is usually a smooth
one (it’s also relatively fast, as it’s less than 5 hours from the
Richmond area).
Uber and Lyft are more prevalent along the northern South
Carolina coastline than they were in years past. However, if you fly
in and go with that route, ensure that you’re prepared to use the
XL versions so you’ve got room for the clubs. You’ll likely need to
schedule those a bit further in advance for early-morning rounds,
especially if you’re staying in the slightly less populated south end
around the Waccamaw Golf Trail. (Ride-share treks for dinner and
drinks won’t an issue.)
Once you’re here and have your courses and transportation lined
up, one of your first and probably second meal stops needs to be
vsga.org
the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk.
This stretch includes mid- to
high-end seafood and steak
restaurants. Dead Dog Saloon,
Bovine’s and Wicked Tuna lead a
stout lineup here. And just to the
south, but not technically part of
the Marshwalk’s main stretch,
sits Hot Fish Club, an old-school
Dead Dog Saloon
joint worth every penny.
Other suggestions on the south end include Hog Heaven BBQ &
Raw Bar, Bistro 217 and Pawleys Island Tavern. They all rest south
of the Marshwalk, but for those not looking to venture back north
into Myrtle Beach city limits during the trip, they more than allow
you to stay close to the courses you’re playing during the day.
M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 2 0 | V I R G I N I A G O L F E R
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