By the time players arrive on the fourth tee at Tidewater Golf Club, they understand why the course has long been regarded among Myrtle Beach’s best.
The gentle dogleg left plays 400 yards from the white tees and with boaters and jet skiers cruising along the tidal waters of Cherry Grove Inlet, one can almost be forgiven for getting caught up in the beauty.
A baby draw is the preferred ball flight off the tee, setting up the day’s most dramatic approach to a green ringed by cavernous bunkers.
The beauty, shot values, and challenge are Tidewater at its finest.
If playing Myrtle Beach’s best courses is a priority for your group, Tidewater needs to be on your radar, and here are five things you need to know about the experience.
– Any conversation about Tidewater begins with the layout’s beauty. Nine holes play along the Intracoastal Waterway or Cherry Grove. In addition to No. 4, the third and 12th holes are bookend par 3s along the inlet, and No. 13 is a par 5 that offers a distant view of the Atlantic Ocean. Outside of Pawleys Plantation, no course along the Grand Strand can match those views, which set the tone for your round.
– Tidewater is a ballstriker’s layout. At 6,323 yards from the white tees and 6,771 yards from the blues (don’t even think about the black tees), there is ample length and the prevailing wind off the nearby Atlantic adds to the challenge. Throw in water on 12 of 18 holes and you need to be hitting the ball crisply to score well.
– The course’s greens are an unforgettable combination of subtle and audacious. The opening four holes are a prime example. The putting surfaces feature mild undulation on Nos. 1 and 2, before the third and fourth holes require you to summon both nerve and creativity to get down in two. On a layout renowned for its beauty, the greens complexes are quiet stars.
– The par 5s are gettable – only the 521-yard 16th (all distances from white tees), which plays downhill, is longer than 481 yards – and the par 4s are a mix of daunting challenges and opportunities to score. The key to your round at Tidewater may depend on how you play an unforgettable collection of par 3s. The 3rd and 12th are as risky as they are beautiful, particularly No. 12 which demands a carry over the marshy waters of Cherry Grove. The 9th is a 162-yard one shooter to a green bordered by a marsh; the putting surface cants from right to left toward the marsh, adding to the challenge. The final par 3 is the uphill, 177-yard 17th that often plays into the wind. It’s as tough as it sounds. Survive this quartet, and a quality score should await.
– The Tidewater experience doesn’t have to end with the final putt. Joey’s Clubhouse Grille serves food made from scratch – the French fries are a must – and a drink on the clubhouse deck, overlooking the 18th green, is the perfect way to conclude a memorable day.
Tidewater is on the shortlist of Myrtle Beach’s best golf courses and under the new ownership of KemperSports, it’s only getting better.
(Photos for this feature from Tidewater Golf Club)
