WACCAMAW TRAIL COURSES APLENTY ON NEW LISTS OF BEST IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Golfweek Magazine recently released their list of top course you can play by State. The Hammock Coast Golf Trail is well-represented in the magazine’s listing of the top public-access courses in South Carolina. The top 15 courses in S.C. include Caledonia (5), True Blue (6), TPC Myrtle Beach (11), and Heritage Club (14).

The Hammock Coast Golf Trail also fared well in recent voting by the South Carolina Golf Course Ratings Panel, particularly with regard to “Best Courses in SC” (public and private) as well as “Best Value”. Ten Myrtle Beach area courses were named to the panel’s selection of South Carolina’s Top 50 Golf Courses for 2016, and three groups of courses represented on the Strand received three of the four “Best Value” awards “in recognition of a commitment to exceptional golf, facilities and customer service.” The winners and top-50 list were revealed this past weekend during the panel’s annual Spring Kickoff Outings and Awards Banquet at Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms.

Grand Strand courses in the top 50 include The Dunes Golf and Beach Club at No. 7, Caledonia (10), Tidewater Golf Club (26), Wachesaw Plantation (29), the Reserve Club (35), Heritage Club (38), True Blue (42), DeBordieu Club (43), Glen Dornoch Golf Links (44) and Pawleys Plantation (49).

Caledonia is the only newcomer to the top 10, replacing Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, and Heritage Club, Glen Dornoch and Pawleys Plantation are new to the top-50 list. Also, in the “Best Value” category, Sister courses Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Golf Club received the Best Public Club Value, due in part to their annual membership program.

The No. 1 course is the state is again the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, and Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island moved up three spots to No. 2 from 2014 voting. Sage Valley Golf Club, May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff and Greenville Country Club’s Chanticleer Course round out the top five.

The panel is composed of 125 golf enthusiasts from throughout the state and represents a diverse range of occupations, handicaps and backgrounds.

Judging criteria include routing, variety, strategy, equity, memorability, aesthetics and experience. The best courses, public or private, are selected in even-numbered years, and the best public courses are ranked in odd-numbered years.

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