Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links General Manager Ryan McCarty is back on set with PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com’s Charlie Rymer, this time to discuss the ever-popular and scenic Clyde Johnston design just north of Myrtle Beach in Little River, S.C. Hear from Ryan on his choices of Glen Dornoch’s three best holes.
Charlie Rymer:
I’m with Ryan McCarty, and we’re going to talk some Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links. It’s a golf course that’s located right on the Intracoastal, right on the North Carolina/South Carolina border. And Ryan, people will ask me, “What are sleeper golf courses?” And people know about Glen Dornoch, but at the same time, I feel like it’s a hidden gem. People don’t talk about it as much as I think they should, because it is one heck of a good golf course.
Ryan McCarty:
Yes, it is. It is one of the most scenic golf courses down here, because it is right on the waterway, and it’s established with huge oak trees. It’s a shot placement golf course, if there ever was one. A tough golf course. Fair on some of the holes, but you have to think. You have to think your way around that golf course.
Charlie Rymer:
Yeah. Let’s dig into a few of the holes. The ninth hole, the long par four, you don’t want to go right on number nine.
Ryan McCarty:
You don’t want to go right on number nine because it actually, if you go right on number nine, your ball is actually in the waterway.
Charlie Rymer:
Yeah.
Ryan McCarty:
Wind can definitely be in play on that hole, any time of the year; summer, spring, winter, fall. But it’s a great, beautiful golf course. You see the whole Intracoastal right there on your right, beautiful oak trees on your left. And it’s actually a double green with number 18. So, big green on that one as well.
Charlie Rymer:
Yeah, yeah. I’m glad you mentioned that. It really does have a linksy feel. If you start looking at the shape of the bunkers and the fact that nine and 18 do share green. We’ll come back to 18 in a second, but let’s talk about 16 first. I think that might be the hardest hole on the golf course.
Ryan McCarty:
It is. It’s actually my favorite, my most scenic, I feel. What it is, it’s a short par four off the tee. You lay up to about 150 yards and then you actually have quite a bit elevation difference going down to a green that has marsh surrounded on all sides of it, a big oak tree on the left side of it.
Charlie Rymer:
That green’s skinny, too.
Ryan McCarty:
Skinny, very skinny, and an intimidating shot if there ever was one in Myrtle Beach. One of the most intimidating. Beautiful hole, fun to play, lot of balls in the marsh on the right there.
Charlie Rymer:
And 17’s a great par three. But when you get to 18, the 18 is … I’ve had a chance to play out there a lot, and I still hadn’t figured out how to play 18. Talk to me about the tee shot in particular and the options that are available.
Ryan McCarty:
So, 18 is a pick your poison kind of a hole. The tees are make or break. If you’re a long ball hitter, you go for everything you can. You’re hitting across the marsh, a little bit of the Intracoastal Waterway to drive the fairway. If you don’t think you can hit it that far, or if the wind is in play, which it is most of the time, you want to lay up to the right and then hit across. So, when you’re on the tee, it’s one of those, you really have to think about what you’re going to do there on that course.
Charlie Rymer:
Yeah. You pull it off, you can have a pretty easy birdie.
Ryan McCarty:
Exactly.
Charlie Rymer:
Or you can do what I normally do there, which is wreck my …
Ryan McCarty:
Exactly.
Charlie Rymer:
Round. Yeah, absolutely. So Ryan, appreciate your time.
Ryan McCarty:
Thank you.
Charlie Rymer:
I appreciate you sharing the great information on Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links. And folks, when you get in this area on a golf trip, that better be one you look at getting out and playing, because it really is a hidden gem. A beautiful golf course.
Ryan McCarty:
It’s a must play.
Charlie Rymer:
Absolutely.