True Blue Plantation

Wow, this may be the best course that we have played – visually stunning, very challenging, unique and different, lots of variety, great service, and a blast to play – a course we won't forget and can't wait to play again.   Unfortunately, our words and pictures won't be able to come close to describing this magnificent course. 

With a rating of 74.3 and a slope of 145, True Blue Plantation is not a course for the timid and it will test your nerves, shot making ability, risking taking, putting, and course management skills.  If you don't feel like you're up for the challenge, then try one of the muni courses or one of the 50 Myrtle Beach miniature golf courses.  

True Blue was designed in 1998 by Mike Stranz to take advantage of the rolling terrain and native vegetation of a once thriving indigo and rice plantation.  Shortly after designing both True Blue and its sister course, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, Mike was named by Golf World as its “Architect of the Year” and since it's opening True Blue has received countless awards including being named:

• One of “America’s Greatest 100 Public Golf Courses” by Golf Digest
• South Carolina Golf Course Ratings Panel’s list of “50 Best Courses”
• Golf Magazine’s “Top Ten Places To Play” and “Top 25 Courses in the South”
• “Top 100 Courses in America” from Golfweek

The first 4 holes are unbelievable and I swear we must have said "Wow" 20 times!  When you step up to the  first tee box (make sure you pick one of the five tee boxes that is right for your handicap and you might consider moving up a tee box!) you're in for a visual treat as well as an amazing hole that sets the stage for what you'll face on the next 17 holes.  It's a 624 yard dog leg left with a forced carry off the box to a landing zone lined by natural sand areas that run most of the length of the fairway and a narrow green surrounded by a brook in front, trees, and huge sand bunkers all around it.  And the next three holes are a blast to play and very unique with lots of sand, an island green, a dog leg around a lake with several risk reward shots, and more.  Once you get to #5 you can relax a little and look back and say "that was fun!"

And it only gets better from then on – forced carries over sand and marshes, huge and long natural sand waste areas, rolling and contoured fairways, plenty of risk reward opportunities, challenging approach shots to protected odd shaped greens some of which are elevated, water, and steep and deep bunkers of all shapes and sizes.  And unmatched beauty!  Do not let any of this discourage you from playing True Blue – you'll love it, it's truly treacherous but enjoyable and very memorable. 

The Bermuda greens are all shapes and sizes and very well protected.  You'll find bowl shaped greens, severe slope, undulation and ridges, and more.  The greens were in excellent condition when we played and about average speed.  Approach shots can be very challenging thanks to water, bunkers, waste areas, slope, and elevation – miss hits will end up in the sloping swales and collection areas off the raised greens making par a tad challenging. 

The fairways ranged from wide and forgiving to tight and tough.  Most are lined with natural sand areas that run from tee box to green.  The front nine is very isolated and plays through the trees while the back has some fairways with condos set back behind the trees and waste areas.  The fairways were in near perfect condition and the course is very well manicured and maintained.  Except for the par 3's you won't see the pin from the tee box until you get to 13!  The concrete cart paths are partial and most of the time you're driving on the fairway or through the sand waste bunkers.

Bottom line –  a fun and memorable golf course where every hole is truly unique and different and will test your accuracy off the tee box as well as your shot making skills – bring your "A" game to score well on True Blue Plantation. 

And everyone that we talked to about courses to play recommended Caledonia, which was closed for annual aerification and maintenance during our trip, so add it to your list of must plays.