Shaftesbury Glen Evolves Into a Must-Play Layout

A 2016 renovation project changed the trajectory of Shaftesbury Glen Golf & Fish Club. Prior to the work, Shaftesbury was a good course, one people were happy to play, but it didn’t always inspire golfers to demand it as part of a package.

Two years later, that sentiment has changed. The elements everyone values in a golf course – conditioning, value and memorability – are traits Shaftesbury possess in abundance, and the course’s many virtues were on full display this spring.

How did Shaftesbury make the jump from being a nice-to-play course to a want-to-play layout?

— Shaftesbury is home to bentgrass greens, and they’ve been in prime condition all year. Bentgrass is widely regarded as the game’s finest putting surface and the course’s greens complexes are large and open, creating an ideal environment for the grass to thrive. These are among Myrtle Beach’s best greens, and that is always attractive.

— The renovation included the addition of more than 250,000 square feet of waste bunkers, which provide visual definition the layout previously lacked. That the changes were implemented without making the course more difficult was a bonus. How is it possible to bring that much new sand without increasing the difficulty? For starters, they are low profile bunkers, so hitting out of them isn’t that difficult, and, as a trade-off, some of the once daunting greenside bunkers were either softened or removed.

— Shaftesbury, even with the addition of the sand, has wide fairways, allowing some margin for error off the tee, but the key to success comes on the approach. Shaftesbury’s greens are elevated and protected by the fingers bunkers the layout’s inspiration – A.W. Tillinghast – made famous. Even after the softening, those greenside bunkers are best avoided.

— Did you know Shaftesbury has condos located atop its clubhouse? Didn’t think so. There are three- and four-bedroom units on the second floor of the clubhouse that are perfect for groups of 20 or smaller. The rooms are very nice, offer abundant privacy and easy access to the rest of the beach via highways 22 and 31. It’s a great place to stay.

— No matter where you stay, you will want to play Shaftesbury as part of the Ultimate Glens Group package with Glens Golf Vacations. The 4-night, 4-round deal also includes golf at Glen Dornoch, Possum Trot and Arrowhead, free lunch, free range balls and free pre-booked replays at each course. The package starts at just $385 and tops out at $485 for fall play. That’s a hard price to beat for 8 rounds of golf, 4 lunches and accommodations.