Legends of Golf Competition and Design Square Off in Today’s “Exceptional 8” Round of the Myrtle Beach Golf Course Designer Bracket Challenge

Two legends of the game as both players and course designers, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, put their Grand Strand signature layouts to the ultimate test against two of the six remaining titans of golf course design, as our Myrtle Beach Golf Course Designer Bracket Challenge enters its “Exceptional 8” phase today.

In addition to “The King” and “The Golden Bear,” Wednesday’s four head-to-head matchups of Myrtle Beach course designers include two architects with extensive Myrtle Beach resumes (Dan Maples and Willard Byrd) joining four of the golf industry’s legendary design figures (Mike Strantz, Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones and Pete Dye).

Are you ready to cast your vote for your favorites? Check out today’s “Exceptional 8” matchups below with each designer and their signature Myrtle Beach layouts, and visit our Instagram story to make your choices!

Exceptional 8 Matchups:

Mike Strantz (Caledonia, True Blue) vs. Dan Maples (Heritage Club, Man O’ War, Oyster Bay, Sandpiper Bay, Sea Trail-Maples Course, The Pearl, The Witch, The Wizard, Willbrook)

Jack Nicklaus (Long Bay, Pawleys Plantation) vs. Willard Byrd (Brunswick Plantation, Farmstead, International Club, Litchfield, Lockwood Folly, Lion’s Paw, Meadowlands, Sea Trail-Byrd Course)

Tom Fazio (TPC Myrtle Beach, Barefoot Resort-Fazio Course) vs. Robert Trent Jones (The Dunes Golf & Beach Club)

Arnold Palmer (King’s North, SouthCreek and West Course at Myrtle Beach National, Rivers Edge) vs. Pete Dye (Barefoot Resort-Dye Course)

Spectacular 16 Results from Monday, March 22:

Willard Byrd (Brunswick Plantation, Farmstead, International Club, Litchfield, Lockwood Folly, Lion’s Paw, Meadowlands, Sea Trail-Byrd Course) def. Rees Jones (Arcadian Shores, Sea Trail-Jones Course)

Robert Trent Jones (The Dunes Golf & Beach Club) def. P.B. Dye (Legends-Moorland Course, Prestwick)

Pete Dye (Barefoot Resort-Dye Course) def. Ken Tomlinson (Tidewater)

Tom Fazio (TPC Myrtle Beach, Barefoot Resort-Fazio Course) def. Gary Player (Blackmoor)

Jack Nicklaus (Long Bay, Pawleys Plantation) def. Gene Hamm (Azalea Sands, Beachwood, Burning Ridge, Eagle Nest, River Oaks, Hackler Course at CCU)

Arnold Palmer (King’s North, SouthCreek and West Course at Myrtle Beach National, Rivers Edge) def. Clyde Johnston (Glen Dornoch, Shaftesbury Glen, Wachesaw East)

Dan Maples (Heritage Club, Man O’ War, Oyster Bay, Sandpiper Bay, Sea Trail-Maples Course, The Pearl, The Witch, The Wizard, Willbrook) def. Fred Couples (Carolina National)

Mike Strantz (Caledonia, True Blue) def. Davis Love III (Barefoot Resort – Love Course)

Following today’s matchups, the field enters its last two phases with our “Final Fore” being contested on Friday, March 26, and the Championship Matchup set for Monday, March 29.

Stay tuned to PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com and our Instagram account as we report the winners of each round and present the Instagram story link you can click to vote for your favorite Myrtle Beach golf course designers!