Golf Course Review: Wedgefield Plantation Quietly Charms Golfers

“This is an old rice and indigo plantation that dates back to the 1740s,” said Wade Marlowe, Wedgefield’s director of golf operations. “There is a lot of history and you can feel it when you come here.”

Golfers also get the feel of a good, traditional style golf course and the challenges are straight forward. The fairways, by modern architectural standards, aren’t exceedingly wide, but players have ample room to find short grass to hit from.

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The greens are where most of the layouts 35 bunkers can be found, making Wedgefield a second shot golf course. When players pull out the flat-stick, they will find greens that are conducive to making putts, because the breaks are subtle and the surfaces consistent.

Wedgefield’s opening nine, which plays away from the river, is mostly flat and allows golfers a chance to score, particularly the third and fourth holes. The third hole, a par 3, plays 217 from the back tees but is a manageable 191 yards from the blue tees and 151 from the whites, where most people will be playing.

The fourth is a reachable par 5 – 508 yards from the blue tees and 468 from the whites – so players that hit good, straight drivers can unload on their second shot in hopes of landing an eagle putt.

Enjoy those two holes because No. 5 is the layout’s hardest. The hole is long – 436 from the tips, 417 from the whites, 401 from the blues – and water comes into play off the tee and on the approach.

The back nine has much more natural movement as the ground rises to help serve as a natural drain for rain water. Holes 11-14 have natural mounding that adds to the scenery of one of Wedgefield’s most challenging stretches. The 12th and 14th holes, both long par 4s, are the hardest on the back nine.

The 14th, Wedgefield’s signature hole, requires a drive and an approach over a lake.  It’s a beautiful hole from tee to green, setting the stage for the 17th and 18th holes, which play by the Black River. The 17th is a par 5 that backs up to the once bountiful rice fields and the river, while the home hole tees off by the water and finishes at the stately manor house.

The Verdict: If your next Myrtle Beach golf trip takes you to the South Strand, Wedgefield Plantation will provide value and scenery.

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