Archives
South Carolina
For generations, many South Carolinians have lived in the "upstate" region and owned vacation homes at the beach, a trip of no more than 3 1/2 hours from even the farthest regions of the state. In fact, Pawleys Island, just south of Myrtle Beach, claims to be America's first beach resort. Whether it is or isn't, Pawleys is just one of many golf happy areas of South Carolina, led by its neighbor immediately to the north, Myrtle Beach, which even after some pruning in the golf course ranks, can still boast about 100 layouts in the area. Farther down the coast, in the Low Country, Kiawah Island (10 golf courses within 12 miles or so) can boast of arguable the best in the state, the fabled Ocean Course by Pete Dye. But don't ignore upstate, where Greenville, a sophisticated burgh can lay claim to top 5 Chanticleer, one of Greenville Country Club's two outstanding tracks. We could go on about South Carolina golf (and reference Bluffton, Beaufort, Aiken, Columbia and other areas); we encourage you to go see for yourself.
Preview: Founders Club, Pawleys Island, SC
Pot bunkers at The Founders Club appear easy to get into and tough to get out of... You would think that the Myrtle Beach area needs another new golf course like the U.S. needs another Presidential...
Norman conquest: Reserve shows Shark restraint
To have a decent chance at par on the tough 5th hole at The Reserve, a drive down the left side is essential. Greg Norman designs golf courses the way he plays them - brawny and all or nothing...
New tee boxes don't make par 3s any easier
The 13th at Pawleys Plantation is short but capable of ruining a good round. The par 3 13th and 17th holes at Pawleys Plantation (Pawleys Island, SC) are the scariest duo of par 3s on any back nine. ...
Kings North on Myrtle Beach must-play lists
All par 3s at Kings North feature well-placed water hazards. (Photo by Elliot deBear) If the weather cooperates between Christmas and New Year's, I intend to play Arnold Palmer's Kings North course at...
Familiar courses on South Carolina's top 25 list
The Melrose Course at the Daufuskie Island Resort is one of Jack Nicklaus' earliest solo designs, and an early indication of his effective use of water and trees. A number of familiar courses made the...
A TPC course you can play, and live next to
About two thirds of the 26 Tournament Players Clubs are private, but even those available to the daily fee player can be pricey. The vaunted TPC at Sawgrass in Florida now charges more than $300 per...
Bankruptcy leaves Myrtle Beach owners adrift
TPC of Myrtle Beach in Prince Creek is just a short drive from the Seasons development whose builder, Levitt & Sons, has declared bankruptcy. Photo by Elliot DeBear The Seasons community in the...
Legends has it: Myrtle Beach community good for a few days of golf, and maybe a lifetime
Editor's Note: This marks the debut in this space for Elliot DeBear, a frequent contributor of golf course reviews at other golf sites and forums. Elliot, a senior corporate trading executive, plays...
Haig Point: Paradise at a price
Rees Jones gives you many angles from the tee box to the par 3 8th green on the Calibogue Course at Haig Point, but the marsh intrudes on all of them. One of our favorite golf courses, the Rees...
Pawleys Island course opening pushed back to February
When it opens, the Founders Club hopes its finishing hole will be compared favorably to the par 4 18th at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, where the approach shot is all carry to a huge but narrow green....
Lower prices on Daufuskie Island
The 18th at the Melrose course on Daufuskie Island is directly across the Calibogue Sound from the famed finishing hole at Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island. Note the lighthouse. I am on the...
Sandbagged on the 18th at Wild Dunes
Typically, a hulking condo building behind a green is depressing enough for a golfer, but the sandbags that line the left edge of the 18th fairway and the green at Wild Dunes' Links Course are even...