 PRESTWICK COUNTRY CLUB (843-293-4100)
Myrtle Beach Golf Course Review
We have had a lot of recommendations on courses to review on our initial trip to Myrtle Beach - but are surprised that we had not heard much about Prestwick Country Club. Located just off Hwy 544 midway between Hwy 17 Business and Hwy 17 Bypass, and designed by Pete and PB Dye, this course was one of the most photogenic layouts we came across. It also is one of the most fun to play! It is like two high quality courses in one, with a traditional front nine featuring a variety of holes that play mostly through a level, wooded terrain with some wonderful water features. The back nine is more open along a rolling terrain with some incredibly unique links inspired golf holes.
Throughout players will be treated to "country club" conditioning and serve - this is after all a country club! Facilities include a beautiful clubhouse with pro shop, locker rooms with showers, a well appointed restaurant/lounge plus banquet and outing facilities. There also is a nice outdoor patio that affords wonderful golf course views. Players can warm up on the targeted grass range, and a putting green and short game area with sand bunker is also on property.
On course yardages are posted every 25 yards from 200 - 75 on the fairways (Kirby System) and 150 yard stakes are also posted in the fairways of all par fours and fives. The cart paths have 100, 150 and 200 yard indicators, and color coded flags on the large undulating putting surfaces indicate the day's front, middle and back hole locations. Each cart comes equipped with coolers and with rear covers to protect golf bags during inclement weather.
The layout winds through a residential community, but the feeling is not harried - but rather is one of quiet seclusion. There are many unique features here - including the presence of 6 different tee boxes, interspersed to provide all levels of golfers with an opportunity to choose a set that matches their game. The tips play to 7086 yards with a 138 slope, while remaining tee areas measure in distance and slope: 6744 yards/134 slope, 6347 yards/126 slope, 5863 yards/116 slope, 5210 yards/121 slope for women and 4624 yards with a slope of 109 from the forward tees.
The front side sets up as a typical tree lined, traditional woodlands design, with some interesting doglegs and beautiful water hazards. Numbers four and five feature wood retaining walls around their green complexes, and each requires accurate iron play to avoid the hazards. The par five ninth is a great golf hole, as it bends slightly left around a lake. This hole gets more spectacular as you approach the green, and the view looking from the bunkers that are sculpted into perimeter mounding, towards the green with water left and the clubhouse behind, is one of the property's most memorable (photo above left).
The back side is a whole new ballgame! The par four tenth is still tree lined and features a mounded, bowl shaped fairway. Number 11 is a classic risk/reward hole, as golfers will choose how much distance they will try to cut off over a sprawling waste are that defines this dogleg right four par. After a carry over water on the par three 13th, the roller coaster ride begins with a series of holes feature gentle elevation changes along a very mounded terrain with unique green complexes defined by steep run-offs, level bunkers built into deep mounds with high grass walls, ridged and sometimes crowned putting surfaces, grass bunkers and challenging collection areas.
Creeks wind their way along the sides and also cross through fairways and in front of green complexes. Course knowledge will help golfers to succeed on this daunting back nine - and most golfers will have so much fun navigating this layout that they will want to do it again. The three finishing holes all feature spectacular water features, beginning with the visually stunning par three 16th, and following with the visually intimidating (off the tee) par five 17th. The finishing hole features the same lake (but on the other side) that helps define the ninth, and the elevated sand trap to the left of the green complex is another example of the unique design features that make this course memorable.
Now you can't say you haven't heard of this course - it should be on your "must play" list of courses to experience on a Myrtle beach golf trip. 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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