Posted By : Tilghman Golf Packages
Related Categories: Myrtle Beach golf courses
By Chris King
Heritage Club was the highest rated Myrtle Beach golf course on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Courses, ranking number 33.
Golf Digest dispatched more than 900 raters to play the best courses America has to offer, and its team of experts came to the same conclusion millions of golfers have – there are more great layouts in Myrtle Beach than any destination in the country.
Golf Digest unveiled its prestigious biennial ranking of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses” in its May issue, and the list included seven Myrtle Beach area golf courses, more than any other destination. To put that number into perspective, California (9) was the only other state to have more than seven courses on the list and Florida had just four layouts make the cut.
The highest rated Myrtle Beach golf course was No. 33 Heritage Club, followed by the Dunes Club (No. 38), Tidewater (No. 41), Caledonia (No. 66), Grand Dunes Resort Club (No. 77) and the Fazio (No. 96) and Dye courses (No. 99) at Barefoot Resort & Golf.
Golf Digest ranked courses on a scale of 1 to 10 in seven categories – shot values, resistance to scoring, design variety, memorability, aesthetics, conditioning and ambiance. The magazine didn’t list the score for America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, just the order of finish.
Heritage, Dunes Club, Caledonia, Tidewater and the Fazio Course were all ranked among the Top 100 on the 2007-08 list. Grande Dunes and the Dye Club are making their Top 100 debut, though neither is a surprise entry.
Grande Dunes is a Roger Rulewich design that features generous fairways and stunning views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The Dye Club is the third course at Barefoot Resort & Golf to earn a Top 100 ranking from Golf Digest (Love is the other). Designed by Pete Dye, the challenge is substantial but universally regarded as fair.
Built on 600 acres of property that used to be home to a pair of historic plantations, Heritage improved 13 spots in the new rankings. The course plays along the Waccamaw River and oozes lowcountry charm with an abundance of live oaks, fresh water marshes and lakes.
The Dunes Club is a member of every meaningful ranking of America’s top public courses, the only real suspense being where it will be ranked. The Robert Trent Jones design is the Grand Strand’s most decorated layout.
Tidewater is arguably the most scenic Myrtle Beach golf course. Tidewater has several holes that play along Cherry Grove Inlet and the nearby Atlantic is visible in spots.
The question at Caledonia is also where, as opposed to if, it will be ranked. Like Heritage, Caledonia is built on the grounds of an old plantation and the views are stunning. The centuries old oak trees and landscaping that rivals that of a botanical garden make the Mike Strantz design one of the area’s most popular courses.
The Fazio Course is yet another repeat member of the list. Tom Fazio is one of the game’s leading architects and his work at the Barefoot course leaves no doubt as to why. The Fazio Course is outstanding from beginning to end and equally pleasing to the eye.