Shaftesbury Glen: 5 Things You Need to Know

Shaftesbury Glen opened its generous fairways nearly 11 years ago. The course quickly became a Myrtle Beach golf favorite, earning course of the year honors; while Golf World readers voted the facility one of America’s Top 50 Golf Resorts.

While Shaftesbury Glen has compiled an impressive resume, we have five insights – beyond the quality of the course – that will help you prior to striking your first tee shot at Shaftesbury.

1. The inspiration for Shaftesbury Glen’s design lies in one of the nation’s great layouts. Paul Himmelsbach, a member of the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame and co-owner of Shaftesbury Glen, caddied at Winged Foot as a kid. He wanted the layout to be designed in the spirit of the classic A.W. Tillinghast course, hence the elevated greens and deep, finger bunkers.

2. The greens at Shaftesbury are heavily guarded, but architect Clyde Johnston didn’t make the course overly penal. The fairways are runway wide in spots and water isn’t a major factor, so anyone not named Charles Barkley should be able to get off the tee.

3. Shaftesbury is a second shot golf course. Success is dependent upon on a player’s ability to fly his or her approach onto the bentgrass putting surfaces. If you spend much time in the high-faced bunkers flanking the greens, it’s going to be a long day.

4. If you are looking for birdie holes at Shaftesbury, take advantage of the seventh and 10th holes, both are short par 4s that don’t have a surplus of sand. Avoid going right on the seventh, where fairway and greenside bunkers lurk, and the sand on the left side of the 10th hole – a good score should await.

5. Shaftesbury is one of the westernmost Myrtle Beach golf courses but it’s also one of the most easily accessible. Highways 31 and 22 connect golfers to Shaftesbury via lightly-traveled four-lane roads.

For golfers staying anywhere from North Myrtle Beach to Little River on a Myrtle Beach golf vacation, Shaftesbury is a fast, easy drive.