Whispering Pines Golf Course: 5 Things You Need to Know

Whispering Pines Golf Course, Myrtle Beach’s municipal layout, has long been a local’s favorite.  

A well designed course, Whispering Pines is currently as good as it has ever been and continues to offer the value players expect from a municipal course.

Here are five things you need to know before tackling Whispering Pines:
 

1. Something Looks Different – The first nine at Whispering Pines opened in 1962, the second nine in the late 1980s, and the course remained unchanged until head pro Alan Chasteen and superintendent Bob Warner started giving it a facelift. The duo has made substantial changes to holes 1, 3, 5 and 17 with most of the changes involving the removal of trees, elevating tee boxes and moving bunkers. Parts of the layout are still undergoing work (without interfering with play), and everything will be complete by this fall.

2. Fly Over – Myrtle Beach International Airport is located (literally) yards from Whispering Pines but pine trees kept most from noticing in the past. With Harrelson Boulevard being extended to Route 17 Business, the course is now visible and the road will link the airport to the golf course. If you want to play a quick round after getting off the plane, it will be less than three minutes from the airport parking lot to the pro shop. Take advantage of the opportunity.

3. Residual Benefits – In addition to the renovations improving the layout, the removal of trees has allowed more air to circulate and the sunlight to get through. The result is improved conditions.

4. Privacy Please – Whispering Pines is a golf only facility. There are no houses or condos on the course. To underscore that point, Whispering Pines is a member of Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

5. To Play Well, You Must – Renovations have opened the course up, but Whispering Pines remains a tight layout from tee to green. Playing 6,731 yards from the tips and 6,245 yards from the white tees, length isn’t nearly as important as accuracy. For the most part, leave your driver in the bag and stripe the 3-wood. Good things await those who do.