 WILD WING PLANTATION Avocet (843-347-9464)
Myrtle Beach Golf Course Review
Designed as a signature course of the Wild Wing property by Larry Nelson and Jeff Brauer, the Avocet is now the only remaining layout from the group of 4 courses ( the three others, with the exception of the "Hummingbird Nine Course", have bitten the dust due to residential development). This four star golf facility (Golf Digest Places to Play) was named as South Carolina's Course of the year in 2002 and was also recognized as the Myrtle Beach golf course of the year. On our visit, we found the Avocet to be in outstanding condition from tee to green, with lush playing surfaces and fine landscaping. This was one of the only layouts we visited that over-seeded their rough as well as tees, fairways and greens.
Course features include some gently elevated tees and greens, double fairways, grass bunkers and a long double green that services the 6th and 16 holes. Water plays a strategic role in the design, as hazards come into play in some shape or form on 13 of the holes. The 14th and 18 dogleg around lakes that create risk/reward opportunities on both holes. There also are 62 intricately designed fairway and greenside sand bunkers, filled with high quality soft white sand.
Four sets of tee boxes play to distances and slopes measuring 7127 yards/132 slope, 6614 yards/125 slope, 6028 yards/116 slope and 5298 yards with a player friendly slope of 118 for women hitting from the forward tees. The course uses the Kirby Marking system, with yardage blocks posted on the fairways of all par fours and five every 25 yards from 200 to 75 yards away (250 on par fives). Yardages are also posted every 50 yards on the cart paths, and information on the day's hole locations can be gleaned from the scorecards with green shapes and the triad pin placements of each hole.
The clubhouse facilities include a pro shop, restaurant/lounge that is open for breakfast and lunch, and full banquet facilities. Practice facilities include a targeted grass range and putting green. Each cart is equipped with coolers and rear covers to protect clubs during inclement weather. This property has put all their attention into this one course, and based on our late March 2008 visit, the results are positive. We found this to be one of our favorites and one of the most enjoyable golf experiences on or trip.
Players will appreciate the variety in the design which includes large, raised, undulating bent grass putting surfaces that roll quick and true. The lush, tree lined fairways present ample landing zones, affording all levels of players with an opportunity to score well and to recover from slightly errant tee shots. Some of the mounding features are spectacular, as witnessed by the design of the par five 15th - both along the fairway and greenside. The undulations near the putting complexes result in swales and collection areas that facilitate recovery, but golfers will have to earn it as some of the up and downs from the slopes can be tricky.
Wild Wing is a beautiful golf course - aesthetically pleasing to the eye and pleasant to play - good shots are definitely rewarded here! We highly recommend a round here. For more info, visit our page for the course, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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