Ask a golfer about Wild Wing Plantation and the answer you get will tell you a lot about how long he or she has been taking Myrtle Beach golf trips. Long-time Myrtle Beach golfers recall Wild Wing as a four-course facility that, along with Myrtle Beach National and Legends, made Highway 501 a hotbed for golf travelers. In 2005, the Hummingbird, Woodstork and Falcon courses closed, leaving Avocet as the facility’s only 18 hole layout. In the immediate aftermath of the closures, Wild Wing’s notoriety faded, as some golfers mistakenly believed all the courses were shuddered for development, but over time (and the leadership of Founders Group International) that trend has reversed itself. Wild Wing may no longer be a 72-hole behemoth, but players are again flocking to the Avocet Course. Wild Wing may no longer be a 72-hole behemoth, but players are again flocking to the Avocet Course.
As you consider the options for your next Myrtle Beach golf trip, here are five things you need to know about Avocet:
— Courses were closed at Wild Wing with the idea of developing the land BUT there is virtually no housing around Avocet. The layout plays through native wetlands, providing natural beauty to complement the design work of Jeff Brauer and former PGA Championship winner Larry Nelson. It’s just you and nature.
— Avocet is wide open, so pull out the driver and take a whack. The course plays 6,226 yards from the white tees and 6,658 from blues, so it’s not exceptionally long. Players that drive the ball well will be positioned to have a good day.
— Avocet is a straight 18-hole course. Golfers tee off on No. 1 and don’t return to the clubhouse until the final putt drops, so there is no double-teeing, providing groups the opportunity to schedule tee times at any point throughout the day.
— With nine-minutes intervals between tee times, instead of the standard eight, Schultz and his staff are able to more easily manage pace of play. That one-minute adds up throughout the day and pace of play at Wild Wing is among the best at the beach.
— Avocet is fun to play. From the double green the sixth and 17th holes share to the drivable 265-yard (white tees), par 4 14th hole, the layout is imaginative and enjoyable. If 18 holes isn’t enough, Wild Wing is also home to the Hummingbird nine (which consists of holes from the Hummingbird and Woodstork layouts). Throw in typically pristine conditions and the reasons to play at Wild Wing are many.