Beauty, Brutality, and the Back Nine: My Pawleys Plantation Experience

Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
Year Opened: 1988
Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Last Renovated: 2023 by Nicklaus Golf Design
Greens: TifEagle
Tees/Slope/Rating:
Golden Bear – 7,000 yards, 74.1/144
Green Winged Teal – 6,592 yards, 72.3/140
Redtail Hawk – 6,231 yards, 70.6/133
Egret – 5,617 yards, (M) 68.1/120; (W)73.0/132
Yellow Finch – 4,991 yards, (M) 65.3/112; (W) 69.5/120
Blue Heron – 4,081 yards, (M) 62.2/106; (W) 64.5/108

As the slope and rating numbers suggest, Pawleys Plantation Golf Club has a fearsome reputation. But the difficulty of this Nicklaus design had little to do with my struggles. I found fairways with plenty of landing room and then proceeded to screw up in every way possible from that point forward.

So, blaming my worst score in months — an even 100 — on the course would be a cop-out. Jack’s architectural work didn’t cause me to suddenly forget how to hit an iron from the middle of the fairway. But my struggles didn’t impact my thoughts on the layout.

Is Pawleys as difficult as its reputation suggests?
Would you believe me if I said, “Kind of?”

With 4 ½ forced carries (I count No. 11 as a half because the water is directly in front of the tee box and your “carry” is approximately 100 yards on a par-5. Hit the ball in this pond and you deserve the penalty.) and water that comes into play on 6 other holes, danger lurks. But outside of Nos. No. 13 and No. 17 (pictured left), both par 3s, truly knee-knocking shots are a minimum. If you are playing well, you will score well. All bets are off if it’s windy!

What defines the course?
Easy: six back nine holes that play along a tidal marsh will lead your post-round discussion. The stretch is as picturesque as any in the Myrtle Beach area, and it’s home to three of the course’s hardest holes – 13, 16 and 17. The 13th, a short one-shotter that plays to a peninsula green, is one of the area’s most recognizable holes. Make sure your phone is charged because you will want to take pictures coming down the stretch at Pawleys Plantation.

The Best Hole is?
This one is tough, but I’ll take the 399-yard (all distances Redtail Hawk tees) No. 16 (right), barely edging out No. 8. A dogleg left par-4, the 16th demands a draw off the tee to mitigate the difficulty of the course’s toughest approach. As an example, I hit a good drive, but it drifted slightly right. I was left with a 205-yard approach that I pulled left and it – somehow – came to a stop on a downslope less than a foot from going into the bunker. I hit a decent shot but with the putting surface running away from me, it kept rolling off the green and it ended up in the bunker on the other side. I won’t bore you with the rest of the details other than to say, 16 is a hole where you can make double bogey without hitting a truly bad shot. It’s a really good hole, and a legit tough one.

Scariest shot
No. 13 might attract all the attention, but No. 17, which features a much longer carry to a green that offers little width, is the course’s toughest par-3. There is nothing but 140 yards of marsh between your ball and dry land. Miss in the wrong spot and recovery becomes extremely difficult. It’s beautiful and brutal.

Yes, birdie opportunities are out there
We’ve talked a lot about the challenge, but the chance for birdie certainly exists. You almost can’t miss the fairway on the 490-yard, fourth hole so you should have wedge in hand on the approach to the par-5. Holes 10 (right) and 12 are sub 335-yard par 4s, meaning a quality wedge shot should provide a good look at birdie.

Even if your game falls apart …
As mine did, leave time for lunch and a drink at Palmetto Jacks. The food is good and the view of the 18th hole and the marsh from the clubhouse deck provide a fitting finish to what should be a memorable day.

Pawleys Plantation Scorecard
Par 3s: 9.0
Par 4s: 8.25
Par 5s: 7.5
Greens: 8.0
Overall: 8.15

Bottom Line: Pawleys Plantation Golf Club is one of Myrtle Beach’s top 10 courses.

Photos for this feature from MyrtleBeachGolfTrips Instagram Account