Gone, thankfully are the days when men ruled the links to the detriment of the fairer sex. Ladies now enjoy increased participation in the game of golf and demand, rightfully, golf courses that are playable for them. The key elements of female-friendly golf courses include greens that are open in front, a paucity of overly long holes and few imposing water hazards. Not every course can be described this way, but the following Myrtle Beach area tracks combine these elements very well.
Litchfield Country Club
One of the Grand Strand’s most venerable tracks has stood the test of time in part because it serves each of its guests well. It tends to be on the narrower and shorter side of the Myrtle Beach golf spectrum, but these features do not detract from the enjoyment derived by female golfers, who tend to be a little more accurate off the tee than their male counterparts. What little water there is on the course is usually off to the side or close to the tee boxes, making for no-brainer forced carries, where they do exist.
Willbrook Plantation Golf Club
So acclaimed for its women-friendliness that it has been named one of the top 50 golf courses in the country by Golf For Women Magazine, Willbrook enjoys a lofty perch. With a forward tee yardage of 4,963, all holes are of comfortable length without being overly repetitive. Once again, forced carries at Willbrook, while not nonexistent, are few and modest. The second shot on the par 5 15th hole required about a 50 yard carry over wetlands, but that is the biggest such ask on the course. Dozens of attractive live oaks all over the property and a relaxed atmosphere make Willbrook appealing to women and men alike.
Heathland Course at Legends Resort
The Heathland Course at Legends is an early effort by one of the world’s most popular current golf course architects: Tom Doak. Doak’s minimalist style of architecture eschews over-sculpted, Tour-difficult courses in favor of fun, playable golf. And despite many of his more recent efforts garnering more worldwide acclaim than his lone Myrtle Beach design, the Heathland course fits the axiom that the best golf courses are enjoyable for everyone. Women will particularly like the Heathland’s large putting surfaces and expansive feel combined with its modest length (only 4,904 yards from the forward set of tees). Another aspect of Doak’s design philosophy that benefits female golfers is that his courses incorporate water in a more strategic sense, rather than a penal sense, meaning that he uses diagonal and flanking water features, rather than forcing long carries over them. Once again, this is of particular relief to women golfers.
Posted 12/19/12