5 Things You Need To Know About The Byrd Course

The Byrd Course at Sea Trail is the youngest of the facility’s three layouts, and, arguably, its best. If you are looking to maximize your enjoyment, on and off the course, at the Sunset Beach, N.C., resort, here are a few tips.

1. Think First: The Byrd Course isn’t exceptionally long (6,750 yards from the blue tees, 6,251 from the whites), and as a result, it’s not a layout that rewards players for mindlessly pounding the driver off every tee. Survey each hole and know where you want to go with the ball, because precision pays with this Byrd.
2. Short Irons Rule –Whether it’s water or sand protecting them, hitting Byrd’s well-guarded greens is vital to success and it’s not always easy to recover after a miss. Due to the size of the greens, hitting it in the right spot is also vital, another factor that rewards accuracy on the approach.

3. New Greens – The Byrd Course installed new Champion Bermuda greens in two waves. In the summer of 2008, the front nine was installed and last summer, the back nine enjoyed a makeover. As a result, Byrd’s greens have been in outstanding condition this spring and summer.

4. Don’t Believe Your Lyin’ Eyes – Yes, the greens are large and appear to have a surplus of undulation, but some of that perceived movement can be optical illusion.

“Whatever you see for break, cut that in half,” head pro Eddie Pratt says. “Don’t read to much into the break. It looks like it’s going to break more than it is.”

Consider yourself warned.

5. Don’t Leave Hungry  – If you are hungry before or after your round, don’t hesitate to eat at Magnolia’s, an onsite restaurant at Sea Trail. The food is very good.