The 3 Best Holes at Heritage Club

Heritage Club is the 33rd best public course in America, according to Golf Digest, so there are plenty of quality holes. We asked first assistant head pro Sean Pearson to tell us Heritage’s three best, and he obliged.

No. 4, 440-yard, par 4: As difficult as it is beautiful, No. 4 is Heritage’s toughest hole. It requires a forced carry off the tee, a large oak tree guards the left side of the fairway and a bunker looms on the right. The multi-tiered green complex is protected by bunkers and doesn’t surrender many easy birdies.

Conversely, nearly the entire length of the hole is lined by oak trees and the burial home of Mr. Pawley, the former owner of the rice plantation that used to occupy the property and the man for whom Pawleys Island was named. It’s an unforgettable hole.

No. 13, 228-yard, par 3: One of Heritage’s most treacherous holes, No. 13 has a peninsula green that is all carry over water. The hole plays over a freshwater lake and it’s a meaty shot (200 yards from the blue tees, 175 from the white) in the best of conditions.

“Depending on how the wind is blowing that day can determine whether you are going to club up or club down,” Pearson said. “Another (factor) is that it has a Volkswagen buried in the middle (of the green). You have to decide which side of the green you want to be on.”

No. 18, 506-yard, par 5: The closing hole at Heritage Club is certainly a memorable one. The dogleg left isn’t exceedingly long and players that can hook the ball around the dogleg have a chance to get home in two, but it’s risky. The peninsula green, surrounded by water on three sides, leaves little margin for error.

For that matter there isn’t much wiggle room off the tee with water on the right and out-of-bounds on the left.

“You decide off the tee if you are going to layback and make it a three-shot hole or you are going to try and go for it,” Pearson said. “You’d better be precise off the tee.”

Either way, it’s a closing hole that leaves a lasting impression.