The Player’s Digest: Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

On this episode, PGMB’s David Williams takes you on a tour of Mike Strantz’s masterpiece design at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club in Pawleys Island, S.C. See how Strantz worked his signature design elements into this Lowcountry gem, and hear how David suggests you approach playing many of its most renowned holes.

 

 

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club is perfect blend of scenery, and strategic golf holes that favor every skill level. A golf experience unlike anything else, Caledonia is brought to life by a true maverick of golf course design.

Mike Strantz is on the short list of greatest architects of all time. Golfweek Magazine recognized him as one of the “Top 10 Greatest Golf Architects of All Time,” and Caledonia was Strantz’s first solo design.

What makes Caledonia so special is the challenge. Only playing 6,500 yards from the Pintail Tees, length off the tee is almost neutralized. Caledonia is perfect culmination of a shot maker’s golf course.

A perfect representation of this is the par-three 9th hole. Don’t let the distance fool you. This hole is full of trouble spots. The narrow green is divided into sections. If you’re on the opposite section as the pin, you’re looking at a three-putt. Golfers must avoid the deep bunker that guards the front of the green.

Expansive waste bunkers and small greens await you at Caledonia. This is brought to life on the par-five 10th.

The teeth of the golf course start when you step on the 13th tee. The dogleg left par 4 is not long, but a laser guided approach is a must. Around this green you can really see Strantz’s genius being put to work. What appears to be a flat green from afar is meant to fool the competitor. Around this green sits nothing but a deep bunker that will make getting up and down a tall task.

The final two holes are intimidating, but getable. The par-three 17th is mini volcano green with a pot bunker on the front and waste bunker around the sides. Do not miss long here!

Arguably the most photographed hole in Myrtle Beach, the par-four 18th puts a cherry on top of what is going to be an unforgettable day. Off the tee, you need no more than a 240-yard shot. The key here is your approach. An oblong green bisected by a ridge with a bunker long left and one short right, did we mention it’s a forced carry over water? And do not forget the crowd that is bound to gather on the porch of the clubhouse.

With pristine conditions year-round, it is easy to see why this is a “must play” for golfers on their next Myrtle Beach golf trip!