7 Things Golfers May Not Know About Diamondback Golf Club

Tucked away in Loris, SC, just off Highway 9, Diamondback Golf Club at Woodland Valley has quietly built one of the most loyal followings in the Myrtle Beach area — the kind of course regulars mention in hushed, protective tones, like they don’t necessarily want the secret getting out. Well, sorry regulars. Here are seven things about Diamondback that make it worth the short drive from North Myrtle Beach.

It Was a Big Deal the Moment It Opened

Diamondback opened for play in 1999, and it didn’t take long to make noise — the course was voted one of the area’s Best New Courses in 2000. For a course that’s remained relatively under-the-radar for out-of-towners ever since, that’s a pretty strong debut most golfers have completely forgotten about (or never knew in the first place).

It Was a Grass Pioneer for the Myrtle Beach Area

Long before Ultradwarf Bermuda greens became the standard across the Grand Strand, Diamondback was already ahead of the curve. It holds the distinction of being the first course in the Myrtle Beach area to feature Jensen Ultradwarf greens, meaning some of the smooth, true putting surfaces golfers now expect everywhere started showing up here first.

It’s One of the Few American-Owned-and-Operated Courses on Highway 9

In an era when so many golf properties are run by larger regional or corporate management groups, Diamondback has held onto something increasingly rare: it’s the only golf course on Highway 9 that’s American owned and operated. That independence shows up in the “down-home” hospitality regulars rave about, the kind of service that feels personal rather than corporate.

The Land Itself Does a Lot of the Work

Diamondback is routed through genuine Lowcountry woodlands and natural wetlands rather than a flattened, manufactured setting. Towering pines frame tight doglegs, and the natural terrain creates a secluded, almost hideaway feel. Golfers frequently describe the course as quiet and private, a rarity this close to a major tourist corridor.

The Par 5s Are Where the Course Shows Its Teeth

Diamondback isn’t a course that beats you up with brute length, but its risk-reward par 5s are where strategy really matters. Aggressive play can pay off in a big way here, but the same holes punish golfers who get greedy without a plan. It’s a layout that rewards course management as much as raw ball-striking.

It Plays Bigger Than You’d Expect

At 6,928 yards from the back tees with a par of 72 and a slope in the upper 130s, Diamondback carries legitimate championship teeth despite its low-key reputation. It’s demanding enough to challenge low-handicap players while staying playable and enjoyable for golfers of all abilities from the appropriate tees.

It’s Closer Than Most Visitors Realize

Despite feeling like a hidden, tucked-away escape, Diamondback sits just a short drive from North Myrtle Beach, Conway, and Little River. For a course that feels this secluded, the accessibility genuinely surprises first-time visitors.

The Bottom Line

Diamondback Golf Club at Woodland Valley has spent more than two decades quietly doing things right — pioneering better greens, staying independently owned, and routing a genuinely fun, strategic layout through real Carolina woodlands. If you’ve never made the drive out to Loris, it’s time to see what the regulars have been protecting.