North Vs. SouthWho’ll win you over in Myrtle Beach?
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By Charlie Schroeder
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Alma Matters
Glory Days Alumni Golf Classic. Miss your college buddies? Miss beating up on your archrivals? 2007 marks the inaugural year of the Glory Days Alumni Golf Classic, a four-man 54-hole Ryder Cup-esque event in which alma maters duke it out. More than just a chance to relive your glory days, there are some serious bragging rights to be won, plus you can tailgate, down a couple cold ones and win some cool prizes. (No word yet on if there’ll be a keg stand competition.) Not to mention, it’s an affordable way to enjoy four of Myrtle Beach’s premier South Strand courses: Willbrook Plantation Golf Club, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, Pawleys Plantation and TPC of Myrtle Beach. May 16-20, 2007. www.glorydaysgolf.com
Northern De-Lights
Six tracks that will keep you coming back | | Grande Dunes Resort Course
(888) 886-8877
www.grandedunes.com
Designer: Roger G. Rulewich
Robert Trent Jones’ protégé Roger Rulewich wasn’t afraid to incorporate
water into his Grande Dunes design. The wet stuff comes into play on
nearly every hole, but makes its biggest splash on the go-for-broke (or
chicken out and lay up) 13th, a risk/reward par-5 in which water
bisects the fairway 150 yards from the green. In addition to the Resort
Course, a private Members Course codesigned by Nick Price and Craig
Schreiner opened in June 2005. | Tidewater Golf Club
(800) 446-5363
www.tide-water.com
Designer: Ken Tomlinson
Will Tidewater’s real architect please stand up? Rumors abound that it
was Rees Jones who did the heavy lifting on this course and not the
fledgling architect (but seasoned attorney) Ken Tomlinson. Regardless
of who gets final credit, Tidewater holds its own. Just see its name
sprinkled among the numerous “Best Of” lists for evidence. Case closed. |
| Glen Dornoch Golf Club
(866) 259-0558
www.glendornoch.com
Designer: Clyde Johnston
Royal Dornoch in Scotland may be one
of the greatest courses on the planet, but Glen Dornoch (Royal’s long
lost foster brother’s stepson’s half sister) is, well, a chip off the
old block. The course, just a few miles south of the North Carolina
border, opened in 1996 and isn’t a pushover (its slope rating peaks at
141). As part of the four Scottish-themed courses in the Glens Group,
Dornoch’s proximity to the Intracoastal Waterway will have your kilt
blowing in the wind. | Possum Trot Golf Club
(866) 259-0558
www.possumtrot.com
Designer: Russell Breeden
Opened in 1968, Possum remains one of the best values in Myrtle Beach.
Another course in the Glens Group, it’s known for being short and
forgiving, making it a favorite among the ladies. Men will walk away
with an ego boost too, as the white tees max out at a dainty 6,400
yards. But the best thing remains the price: For as little as $30, you
can say you played a “Scottish Course” without ever having crossed the
ocean. |
| Lion’s Paw
(800) 233-1801
www.big-cats.com
Designer: William Bird
According to numerous sources, Lion’s Paw is considered to be William
Byrd’s best work, but at times, this cat seems to be all meow and no
bite. The relatively flat design is toughened up with numerous water
hazards (the most intimidating being number 5 when it comes into play
on your tee and approach shots) and a wind that regularly blows in off
the nearby Atlantic. | Long Bay
(800) 882-3420
www.mbn.com
Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Despite being designed by the Golden Bear, Long Bay doesn’t have the
same claws as some of Nicklaus’s other designs. The 13th, a par-3 with
an island green, greets you as you drive in, but at a maximum 156
yards, it manages to remain the number 18 handicap hole. The 10th
(pictured above) brings to mind the bunker-lovin’ Pete Dye.
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