Pawleys Plantation—
a different side of Myrtle Beach
By BRUCE VITTNER
 

Tranquil would not be a term associated with most people’s vision of Myrtle Beach. Bustling, crowded, action-packed and lively would be much more common terms when describing the seventeen mile grand strand of beach, 116 golf courses and over 1,000 restaurants that fill this golf mecca.

Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club sits less than 20 miles south of downtown Myrtle Beach, but it feels like you are in a completely different world. Quiet, serene, peaceful and beautiful are words that describe this 582-acre resort and golf course community in Pawleys Island, S.C. We had the opportunity to spend a weekend at the resort, and it was the most relaxing and enjoyable times we’ve had in Myrtle Beach.

The Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course opened in 1988. It can be a “Bear” from the back tees that measure 7,026 yards with a rating of 74.3 and a slope of 132, but it offers five tee boxes that provide fair distances for all levels of play. Nicklaus is quoted in the yardage book, “I designed Pawleys Plantation to capture the natural terrain and to complement and enhance the beauty of the salt marsh and lowcountry.” He succeeded. The moss hanging from the hundreds of live oaks on the course, the many varieties of birds flying around, the natural wetlands and the beautiful salt marsh area that the course meanders through makes for a scenic as well as pleasant trip around the course.

You will always remember the dike when thinking about Pawleys. Nicklaus designed a dike that must be almost three hundred yards long and only about 12 feet wide. The whole length of the dike is one giant tee box. Five tees head to the 13th tee that measures anywhere from 145 yards down to 40 yards to a postage stamp-sized green that actually is bulk-headed out into the salt marsh. The difficulty of the hole is choosing the correct club, especially when the wind is blowing. The green actually connects to the 16th green, so there is a bailout area long and right, but you are still left with a difficult pitch if you miss it right. Short, left and long of the green will result in your ball landing in the inaccessible marsh.

The dike includes a cart path with a width for only one cart, so the tee box is scalloped with pull-in areas for players heading back over the dike to play the 17th hole from the other 5 tee boxes that range from 201 yards from the back tee with all carry over the marsh to 117 from the forward tee. The wind you had at 13 will be opposite what you have at 17, so beware. Thankfully, there is all land over the 17th green, but there is out-of-bounds long and right.

Conditioning on the course is excellent. The greens are large and contoured. The bunkering system is well-designed and most greens are quite protected. There are a few holes that have trees in the fairway. This is a Nicklaus trait that makes you decide which approach to use in heading for the green. Water can come into play on 11 holes, but especially the two on the dike and number 10. Ten is a short par 4, but the green sits just over a pond. You must lay up with your tee shot, and then choose the right club to carry the water, but not go over the green that has huge bunkers left and right.

What makes the property rise above most others in the area are the rental units. They definitely have the WOW Factor. We stayed in a two-bedroom unit that was bigger than my house. The amenities are so nice, and most have large balconies overlooking the course. As we sat out on the screened-in balcony watching the players hit to the ninth green, we couldn’t wait for our tee time. The units are available in all different sizes and you can call Jann Walker, director of marketing at 877-763-7341 to plan your stay and set up packages. How nice it is to just walk back to your condo after playing. Replays are available, and since you don’t have to drive, it is foolish not to play at least 27 holes.

The units have full kitchens and dining rooms, but there are many fine restaurants in the area including one right next to the clubhouse. Seafood is fresh and plentiful. Pawleys Plantation will offer you quite a different experience than most vacations in Myrtle Beach. They also have premier meeting facilities and a conference center on the property.

Will Aker, director of golf at the course, said, “We can design your golf package to play some of the other great courses around Pawleys Island including Caledonia, True Blue, Heritage, Litchfield and the River Club. The Phil Ritson Golf Academy is also on site. For more information visit their website at www.pawleysplantation.com.