50 and Fine: Why Litchfield Country Club is Better Than Ever

August 5, 2016
  • Litchfield Country ClubThe primary reason for Litchfield’s enduring popularity is incredibly simple – they got it right the first time. The Willard Byrd design offers a master class in classic golf course architecture. The layout, which is heavy on doglegs, is almost exactly as it was the day it opened. Sure the bunkers have been renovated and the greens replaced, but the frame of the Myrtle Beach golf course is unchanged after 50 years, a testament to the quality of Byrd’s work.
  • In short, the course is fun to play. Litchfield Country Club offers great variety, challenging players, hold for the cliche, to hit every club in the bag. Different shots, different clubs and different looks add up to more fun at this Myrtle Beach golf course.

 

 

 

  • The South Strand has one of the premier course clusters the game has to offer, and they all owe Litchfield a small debt of gratitude. The course opened the gates to Pawleys Island in 1966 and the rest is history. While many outstanding layouts have opened around it, Litchfield, like Pine Lakes, has more than maintained its place in the market.
  • To score well, players must take advantage of the par 4s. From the white tees, a quartet of par 4s play less than 350 yards and only one plays 400+ yards, so length shouldn’t be an issue on the two-shotters. Conversely, three par 3s play at least 170 yards none play less than 165, so there is a lot of meat on that bone.
  • On a course full of memorable holes, the 18th will leave you begging for a replay. The 386-yard (from the white tees) par 4 has water along the left side and requires a knee knocking carry over the same lake on the approach. With matches often hanging in the balance, No. 18 is Litchfield most dramatic hole and a great finish.

 

 

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