Pinehurst Golf Resort, #2, Payne Stewart, and a beautiful North Carolina Afternoon

Clubhouse at Pinehurst Golf Resort

As a day trip this weekend, I decided to head out to Pinehurst, North Carolina.  As I am only down in NC for three more weeks, I thought that it would be worth the trip.  As I exited into the city of Pinehurst, I noticed how golf-centric the village was.  The road was surrounded by golf courses, both country clubs and public alike.  Each of them with their own little twist, and each of them making me want to stop and play.  But there was one course and resort that was on my mind: Pinehurst #2 and the resort at Pinehurst Golf Club.

Picture of Payne Stewart in the display at Pinehurst

As I was only going to visit and not actually play, I pulled into the parking lot and walked around for a little bit before heading into the clubhouse.  Upon entering the clubhouse, I noticed the displays dedicated to the past USGA and major championship winners of events at Pinehurst.  The one that caught my eye was the display dedicated to the late Payne Stewart, who won the US Open just months before the tragic plane crash that claimed his life.

Scorecard from the US Open final round

Other displays contained memorabilia from Michael Campbell's win in 2005 and Danny Lee's win at the 2008 US Amateur tournament.  Another display had replica trophies from each of the major championships and the Ryder Cup.  Here's a pic of the replica US Open trophy:

USGA US Open Replica Trophy

As I continued into the clubhouse, many golfers of all ages walked by.  I stopped in the pro shop and picked up a towel and golf ball, as I collect both.  I ventured out onto the veranda and noticed the statue of Payne Steward.  I snapped a picture of the statue, which captured the memorable fist-pump after the putt on 18 for the win in 1999.

Statue of Payne Steward near the 18th green at Pinehurst #2

Finally, I was able to see the golf courses.  From the veranda, you could get a great view of the 18th green and fairway of Pinehurst #2.  The course was in immaculate condition.  The redesign really has done wonders for the aesthetics and playability of the course.  I'm sure the course will be amazing during the 2014 US Open.  

The 18th green at Pinehurst #2

18th hole at Pinehurst #2

18th hole at Pinehurst #2

Finally, I took a short stroll towards the tee boxes of Pinehurst #3 and #5, which even though they are not as highly regarded at #2, still looked immaculate.  I think the only thing stopping me from heading into the clubhouse and scoring a tee time was the fact I did not have my clubs with me on the trip.  All in all, it was a great day and a great trip to see a beautiful part of the country.  I cannot wait to take another trip to Pinehurst, but this time I will have my clubs.

The Wizard Golf Course--Myrtle Beach, SC

My final stop in Myrtle Beach this early spring found me at The Wizard Golf Course.  A beautiful Dan Maples design located in Conway, SC, The Wizard Golf Course was a great way to finish up my vacation.  From the stunning clubhouse designed like a castle to the rolling mounds separating the fairways, The Wizard is definitely a must-stop while in Myrtle Beach.

The course opens with a dogleg right Par 5 with a lake on the right side.  Cut off as much as you think possible to make this a reachable par 5, but beware of  the water to the right.  The second hole is a short, yet scenic Par 3.  A Par 4 follows that boasts an approach shot to a tiered and elevated green.  The fourth and fifth holes are a Par 3 and 4, respectively that give you a breather before heading to hole six.  Hole six is my favorite Par 3 on the course.  A long tee shot awaits you over long fescue grass and two bunkers guard the undulating green.  A bail-out area lies short and right of the hole, but anything long will find even more long fescue.  The Par 5 seventh is a long, straight par 5 that offers my only complaint of the entire course.  I would rather see trees or bushes planted all along the right side instead of looking at an old, rundown school bus company.  The front nine finishes with a par 4 that plays shorter than the listed length and a good drive can find yourself close to the front of the green.

The back nine begins with a nice par 4 that runs straight away from the clubhouse.  The first par 5 on the back follows.  This par 5 requires a drive short of a dry creekbed that runs through the middle of the fairway.  A good drive means a long iron or wood into a wide landing area near the green.  Do not miss right, however, since the thick fescue means a guaranteed lost ball.  The next par 3 is a fun little hole with a short iron over a bunker.  A straight away par 4 follows.  The final par 5 on the course is also reachable with two good shots.  Right is safer here since left of the fairway are fescue-covered mounds and a road.  My favorite par 4 follows, as hole 15 is a short dogleg right par 4.  Any shot right of the fairway, however, spells trouble, and fairway bunkers right and left will eat up any mishit tee shot.  A par 4 with water right follows.  The 17th hole is an island green par 3 that can play up to 180 yards.  There is area short of the green, but a bunker lurks to eat any shots that may not be hit flush.  The final hole on the course is a par 4 that plays right back to the clubhouse.  The fairway is surrounded by water, making for a tough drive and approach.  The green is cut over water and plays almost like an island green as well.

At 6700 yards, The Wizard has enough length to test even the best golfers.  And the course is as well-manicured as you will find.  I recommend playing The Wizard and its sister course, Man O' War, if you decide to make a trip out to Conway during your vacation.

Here are some pictures from The Wizard Golf Course.

The Wizard Clubhouse

17th Green at The Wizard

The Second Hole at The Wizard

The 4th Fairway and Green at The Wizard

Course Review: Man O' War in Myrtle Beach, SC

Wow, it's already been 4 months since I took my maiden voyage to the golf capital of the US, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  And I haven't wrote up my review for Man O' War Golf Course yet! So here goes!

Man O' War Golf Course is a beautiful course in Conway, SC.  It belongs to the group of courses under the Mystical Golf Management, which also includes The Witch and The Wizard.  At 6900 yards from the tips, it is a challenging, yet playable golf course.

Water is the name here.  A majority of the holes have some kind of water in play.  Driving accuracy is a must here, since you can accumulate numerous penalty strokes with a few wayward tee shots.  The course starts off with a very fun par 5 that is reachable with two nice shots.  Water comes into play as you reach the approach and layup shots here.  The second is a long par 3, followed by 3 par 4s with water in play on each.  The first five holes are tough, but good shots should give you birdie opportunities.  My favorite hole on the front nine is the 9th hole, where water is in play both left and right of the fairway, and the large, sloping green is a challenge to get it close and make a putt.

The back 9 starts out pretty benign, with some par 4s that have some water in play.  13 is one of my favorite holes here, a long par 5 with woods and houses left and a fairway bunker on the left side that came into play every time I hit driver there.  It is a birdie opportunity with a good drive, but anything left is pretty much dead.  14 is a cool par 4 with an island green, and 15 is an island green par 3.  One of the only courses in the world with back-to-back island greens.  16 and 17 are basic par 4 and par 3, respectively, and the course finished with a short par 5 with water in play off the tee, approach, and layup.

All in all, Man O War was probably my favorite course down in Myrtle Beach that I played this time.  The course was in immaculate shape, and the challenges and variety kept me interested throughout.  I think I came away with an 87, which was my second round of the year so not too bad.

Now some pics:

Course Review

Sorry I've been so behind, but will write up my course reviews for The Wizard and Man o War from my Myrtle Beach trip! Hope you liked The Witch write-up!

A couple pics from The Witch

Course Review: The Witch of Myrtle Beach

Just returned from a week-long golf vacation in Myrtle Beach. After recovering from the long drive, it is time to start the blog reviews from the trip.

The first course I played in Myrtle Beach was The Witch. The course is built right into the woods and swampland and could not have had a better view. For winter, the course was in amazing shape. Hole number one is a scenic par 4 that doglegs right and gets the course off to a great start. There were really no bad holes throughout the entire course.

The first par 3 on the front nine, number 3, is a memorable hole, with swampland in front of the green and right of the hole. You must make a quality shot to get the ball close and have a chance for birdie or even a par.

The par 5s on the front nine also make the course tough but enjoyable. They are very tough to reach in 2 from the back tees, but a solid layup gives you the opportunity for a birdie after a wedge shot from the fairway.

My favorite hole on the front nine had to be the par 3 7th hole. Playing at 186 from the back tees, this hole took a solid shot to reach the green. Once on the green, the slope was extreme from back to front and made the hole even tougher.

The finishing hole on the front nine, a medium length par 4, took all the skill in the world to make 2 good shots. The fairway was completely surrounded by wetlands and the green also had wetlands in front. Though not a long hole, it was definitely not the birdie opportunity I thought it would be.

Making the turn to the back nine, you start off with a straightforward par 4 that gives you a little break. The following hole is a longer par 5 that is reachable, and is the only hole on the golf course where you have any contact with the outside world. The main highway runs along the right side of the hole.

The 12th is the longest par 3 on the course, measuring just under 200 yards to the green. It is a pretty safe hole and takes a good long iron to make the green.

The final par 5 on the course is also the shortest par 5. A good drive makes the hole reachable in two shots, which I was able to do with a 4 iron the final time I played the hole. It is completely surrounded by woods, so a good drive is vital to not make a huge number.

The next three holes give an opportunity to make a couple birdies, with a short par 3 and two medium length par 4s. The final par three on the golf course is one of my favorite holes on the back nine. Straight downhill and playing just under 180, this hole plays more for a short iron due to the elevation change. Make sure you avoid the bunker short right and everything usually will funnel towards the hole location. I was able to stick a shot to 12 feet, but this undulating green makes for difficult putts throughout.

The finishing hole on the course is another masterful design. The tee shot must find the fairway on the downhill dogleg left hole. The second shot is to an elevated green that is masked by the clubhouse in the background. It is a great way to end a great course in Myrtle Beach.

All in all, this Dan Maples design makes for a tough test for most golfers. You need to have your A game for most shots, as trouble lurks everywhere on the course. The scenery with the wetlands, pointed tree stumps, and wildlife makes for an excellent setting for the golf course. The pro shop is stocked with logo merchandise, and the snackbar provides excellent food and beverages (beer and softdrinks) at a reasonable price.

If you are heading to Myrtle Beach, I would definitely consider The Witch as a stop.

Course Review: The Bull at Pinehurst Farms

I am very lucky to be living in an area with many great golf courses.  There are courses designed by Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus within 30 minutes of my house.  I am going to rate The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, a Jack Nicklaus Design, for my first course review.

The Clubhouse at The Bull is a nice, modern building.  It is not spectacular or special or anything, but it is nice and practical.  The pro shop is small and offers logo apparel and a small selection of golf clubs.  The attendants at the desk were nice and friendly and started my day off very well.  When I was playing the driving range was all on artificial turf and mats, and not off the ground.  The range balls are included with the round, so it is nice to warm up before the round.  There are 2 practice putting greens and 1 pitching area for warm-ups.  The putting greens are very well maintained and are exactly like the greens on the course.

Arriving at the first tee, the view is excellent.  The first hole is a medium length downhill par 4 with a very wide fairway.  It is a confidence builder and really helps you get off to a good start.  It is nice to have an easy hole on this course since it gets a lot harder as you go on.  The next two holes are played along a small lake.  The long par 3 3rd hole is a fun tee shot, with a forced carry over water, and, like most Nicklaus designs, you have to fly a bunker directly in front of the green as well.  After finishing the first three holes, the fun reaally starts.  Hole 4 is a shortish par 5 that is reachable with a good drive.  The second shot is downhill and the green is elevated and perched in a small area of woods.

Upon reaching the 5th hole, you better have your A game, or you may be laying up on a par 4.  The tee shot requires a carry over a bluff, and the second shot is a forced carry over a longer cliff.  The cliff plays all along the left side of the hole.  Do not go left at all or you will be penalized.  This hole is one of the most exciting holes I have ever played.  The par 3 6th requires another carry over a canyon.  It is medium length and relatively straight forward.  Hole 7 is a signature Jack Nicklaus risk-reward par 4, where longer drivers can challenge the green.  An iron off the tee is all you need to have a legitimate birdie opportunity.  Hole 8 is another risk-reward hole.  The par 5 is reachable but requires a carry of the Onion River 15 yards short of the green.  The 9th hole does not offer you a chance to breath, as it is a straight-away long par 4 that plays straight uphill and usually in to the wind.

The back 9 starts where the front nine left off.  No rest is allowed with this long, dogleg right par 4.  I remember needing a hybrid to reach the green for the second shot.  The drive plays downhill, and there is a run-up area to land your approach short and run it up.  The 11th finally offers a little relent.  It is another driveable par 4 for the long hitters, or an iron or hybrid off the tee allows for a short iron or wedge to the green.  A lake runs along the right side of the fairway and in front of the green.  It is one of the only real birdie opportunities on the course.  This was the only hole that I birdied during my round.

Hole 12 is an unmemorable long, downhill par 3, pretty straightforward.  The 13th is a long par 5 that is definitely a lay-up.  The hole doglegs left, but has a very wide landing area both for the drive and the layup.  The green is elevated and blind to the approach.  I almost made a birdie on this hole but lipped out the 15 footer.  The course starts to fight back again with the long par 4 14th.  It is about as long a par 4 as I have ever played.  Right side is dead, so you better stay left.  Make sure you account for the couple bunkers up near the green.

Hole 15 is the most memorable hole on the back nine.  It is a medium length par 3 that is guarded on the left and front of the green by water.  Make sure to take enough club here or you will be in the water.  The wind can also be confusing on this hole as you are set back in the woods.  A bailout area is available to the right.  There is no better hole on the course than the 15th.  Bring your camera and take a picture at this hole.

Hole 16 is another fun hole, with an uphill drive and then a second shot over a ravine directly in front of the green.  During certain times of the year, the ravine is playable, but if you are too far out, it is smart to lay up in front of the ravine.  The 17th hole is my favorite par 5 on the course.  Take a driver or 3 wood off the tee and let it fly.  If you hit it far enough, you may end up near the end of the fairway.  The second shot is extremely downhill and definitely reachable.  To the right of the green and second fairway is a fescue meadow, and short of the fairway is water.  The water is not really in play.  If you are going to lay-up, though, make sure you stay left.

The walk to the 18th is very scenic.  You walk along meadow and along a lake.  The tee shot on the 18th is a carry over water with fairway bunkers along the right side of the fairway.  Stay to the left side and you have a long shot over a river to the green.  Bailout to the left, even though it is playable from the hazard along the right.  After finishing the hole, make sure you check yourself to make sure you are still breathing, and take a rest.

Overall, this is one tough challenge of golf.  The course is relentless and takes your A game throughout.  Though each hole is difficult, there is a proper place to bail out and try to recover for par.  For 60 dollars in the spring and less than 100 dollars during peak season, you cannot beat the course.  The carts are equipped with GPS and included with every round!  Make sure you check this course out the next time you are in the Southeast Wisconsin area.

The Bull at Pinehurst Farms