With over 100 championship golf courses, designed by the most respected names in the sport and tailored to every skill level, Myrtle Beach’s golf courses are as unique as the golfers who visit the area every day. Each course offers an experience all its own, making no two Myrtle Beach golf trips the same. This uniqueness is owed to the various golf course styles that can be found in the Grand Strand. In fact, the Myrtle Beach area is one of the few regions in the world where golfers can experience each of the three principle styles of golf course.
Links, parkland and desert golf courses can be found throughout the world. However, as each of these styles require different landscapes, climates and foliage, you can rarely find one single place where you can play on all three styles of courses. However, thanks to Myrtle Beach’s unique terrain and year-round mild climate, golfers can enjoy a variety of golf courses that incorporate many different styles.
This week, we will be taking a closer look at the link style of golf course.
Links style courses are the oldest style of course in the world. First popularized in Scotland, link style courses are predominantly found in coastal locations throughout the world. The term “link” is derived from the old English word “hlinc”, which means rising ground or ridge. Golfers on links style courses play on sandy terrain that receives a steady supply of wind from the ocean. The constant wind creates the iconic undulating hills, ridges and fairways that distinguish a link style course. The undulating natural features of a link style course force golfers to take more blind shots around dunes and shots from uphill and downhill lies.
Link style courses are designed with as few man-made additions as possible. As such, you will find far fewer trees and water obstacles compared to other course styles. In their place, golfers must contend with courses that are far more exposed to the elements.
One of the best examples of a link style course in the Grand Strand is Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf. Nestled in the quiet town of Little River, just a few minutes from downtown North Myrtle Beach, Glen Dornoch is a little slice of Scotland right here in South Carolina. The course’s stunning fairways wind precariously through century old live oak forests and pristine marshland, adding an air of ancient mystique and natural beauty to the course. The finishing holes on each of the course’s nines offer golfers breathtaking views of the Intracoastal Water Way.
Glen Dornoch’s beauty is matched only by its difficulty. While the first few holes are deceptively easy, allowing you a chance to warm up, playing golf on this par 72 behemoth means playing some of the toughest finishing holes in Myrtle Beach. Designed by the legendary architect, Clyde Johnson in 1996, every hole was engineered to require a golfer’s full attention. Accuracy off the tee’s and proper shot position are vital for success on this course.
The skill required for success on Glen Dornoch blend perfectly with the beautiful coastal scenery to truly capture the “back to nature” spirit of a links style course. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind round of golf, then Glen Dornoch is a must play course for your next Myrtle Beach golf vacation.
Book your tee time at Glen Dornoch when you build your own custom Myrtle Beach golf package with the Myrtle Beach Golf Authority today!
Keep Calm and Golf On Carolina!
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