Luckily, playing Blackmoor less like jousting than a waltz, with many turns and undulations to an interesting rhythm. The golf course begins gently enough, with a par four, par three and par five, all of which are fairly straightforward. The pace quickens a bit with the 162 yard par three 4th hole, which plays over a pond to one of Blackmoor’s trademark small, pushed-up greens.
Then, the doglegs begin. Blackmoor, because of these, is one of the more engaging shotmaker’s courses in the Myrtle Beach area, as it gives the creative player the chance to gain some yards by shaping shots—especially left to right. This is because six of its holes—one par five and five par fours—bend to the right, making the course a right-handed fader’s delight.
On most of Blackmoor’s dogleg holes, there is an opportunity to cut at least some of the corner, making them less taxing than most for players whose shot shapes may not fit the hole so well. The best example of this is the inspired par four 8th hole, where big hitters have an opportunity to make the hole dead straight. This is because of a lane cleared through the forest turning the normally 370-yard dogleg-right hole into a 290-yard, heroic death-or-glory chance. It is one of the Grand Strand’s unique golf holes, and it is one that players will talk about both before and after their rounds, either to lament or to brag.
Sporting modest rating and slope figures of 72.0 and 129 from the 6,614-yard Black tee set, Blackmoor is thoroughly playable for golfers of all skill levels. The White set of tees, which receives the most play, measures 6,217 yards, with a rating of 70.1 and a slope of 126. This means that most players can expect to shoot a couple strokes lower than their own handicaps, an experience that always breeds confidence for the remainder of one’s golf trip. This makes Blackmoor an ideal first course for any trip.
Blackmoor also boasts one of the area’s most comprehensive practice facilities, with an accommodating grass-tee driving range, practice chipping and greenside bunker area and two putting greens. The cozy, well-appointed clubhouse has a well-stocked pro shop, friendly staff and a full-service bar and grill for pre- and post-round gatherings.
For more information about Blackmoor, visit https://myrtlebeachgolf.com/courses/show/blackmoor or call (866) 952-5555.