Got Surprised

[TCCcaddie]

My dad and my uncle are going to Myrtle Beach this weekend and they said that i could come along as long as i paid my own greens fees. So they said that they were playing some courses and i want to know how good they are so i know what I'm in for. The two that are certain are Grand Dunes and Barefoot Landing's Dye course. Just wondering if anyone has played these two courses.

[flap]

Have not played Grande dunes in 2 or 3 years but LOVE the Dye course a real shotmakers delight.Played it in Oct. and it was in great shape.If you can get a play back on the Love course you will like that also.

[mookie]

TCCaddie,

You are in for a real treat, both of those course are top notch(I played both this past October). Flap is correct, the Dye course is a shot makers delight (one of the rangers told us a few years ago, keep it left on the front 9 and on the right on the back, it was great advice). The Dye course is head and shoulders above all the rest of the Barefoot courses. They are nice, but don't hold a candle to Dye.

Regarding Grande Dunes: This is probably my favorite course in Myrtle(we have been playing this every year since it opened). It is always in top-notch shape, each hole is unique and there are some really nice views. I don't know how big a hitter that you are, but if you are one and the conditions are right the 6200 yard tees play a little easy.

We are headed down to Venice, FL tomorrow morning and playing the course you recommended on Thursday(Legacy at Lakewood Ranch). I'll let you know what I think. Thanks for your recommendations by the way.

[EatDrinkSleepGolf]

Those are 2 GREAT courses, top courses in Myrtle Beach. Better bring your "A" game as those are challenging courses. Have fun!

[gortyl]

I played both in August. It was 103 degrees and we played 36 with the Dye course being the afternoon round. There were maybe three other groups on the entire course and the workers thought we were nuts (we were, especially considering we were out all night the previous three nights with little sleep). Overall, I don't really love Dye courses and this one really beat me up. I felt like every time I got up on the tee box, all I could see was freaking sand. Of course it didn't help that the heat index was about 113. If there were vultures overhead, it would have seemed like the desert. I enjoy all of the other Barefoot courses, especially the Love course.

Grande Dunes is one of our favorites as well, maybe one of our top 3. It's a fantastic resort in a great setting, a challenging, but fair track that is in immaculate shape. I think you'll enjoy this one much more than Dye's Desert, unless you really get a kick out of target golf and are adept at 80-140 yard fairway bunker shots.

[TCCcaddie]

I just got back from Myrtle last night. We played 5 courses when we were down there. Played 18 on Saturday, and 36 on Sunday and Monday. Here are the course in the order we played them.

1. Tidewater - Good layout but it had rained earlier and the course was soaked and not in good shape at all. I shot 102 . It was the first flight off the plane and i hadn't swung in about 3 months so that round was a tune up.

2. Grande Dunes - I think the third best course that i played while there. The greens and fairways were in great shape and i was striking the ball great which made the round more enjoyable. My best shot of that round was 215 yard 4 iron that i stuck to 5 feet for bird on 17. I shot 85, back on track.

3. King's North At MBN - The second best course that i played while there, a very close second. Fantastic layout, though but very fun. Greens got punched a couple of weeks ago but besides that the place was in great condition. The Gambler has to be the most interesting and fun hole i have ever played. Here a link to the picture so you can see it. http://www.mbn.com/media/courses/kings-north/6.jpg I actually birdied it. Hit a five to the island fairway and a hybrid on the green and two putted. Shot 91, was hitting the ball good but some mistakes cost me.

4. The Dunes - I think that this place was just a hair better than King's North, the reason why is because of the greens. These greens might be the best and fasted greens i have ever played, and this was in January. There were no real holes that stood out in my mind but every hole was a challenge and had great scenery. This was probably the most well kept and manicured course i have ever played. Really though course you had to have no mistakes, the slope from the whites was a ridiculous 135! Shot 87 good solid round for me.

5. The Dye Club at Barefoot - From all the hype i had heard coming from the Dunes I was ready to be blown away bye the dye, but i wasn't. I was a little underwhelmed by the condition of the course, especially the from nine. Coming from the lush sand of the Dunes i expected to be hitting our of soft sand, but even the greenside bunkers were like hitting off dirt. The layout was pretty nice, but i'm not the biggest fan of links style courses. I was dead tired and started pushing everything at the end and basically quit, i shouldn't have. , shot 94.

Flight left at 10:30 and was welcomed back to Boston with a snowstorm, which i hoped would have canceled my flight so we could go to Caledonia today but alas im back in Boston.

[EatDrinkSleepGolf]

Thanks for the trip report! Yes, The Gambler is the most popular hole in Myrtle Beach!

[neudi]

sounds like you had a blast...wish I coulda gone