Legends:Moorland: Myrtle Beach

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Course Spotlight: Great Scenery and Challenge Define Moorland

By Chris King on December 3, 2009 12:28 PM | Comments (0) The 18th hole at Moorland provides a fitting end to a memorable round of golf.

 

Standing on the 16th tee of the Moorland Course at Legends Resort, less than 313 yards and good swing of the driver stands between golfers and an elusive eagle putt. On the scorecard it would appear to be the easiest hole on the course.

 

The challenge lies in what surrounds a green that is 36 yards deep and 24 yards wide. Pot bunkers, waste bunkers, grass bunkers and an assortment of unattractive options await drives that don't end up on the dance floor. And it's great.

 

 

 

The 16th hole, affectionately referred to as Hell's Half Acre, nicely encapsulates the lure of Moorland (official site). The hole is challenging, visually appealing and, most importantly, fun to play.

 

“If you make it (on the green), you are in great shape for birdie,” Biddington said. “If you miss the green, bogey is a good score. It's the ultimate risk-reward hole.”

 

Moorland is the ultimate risk-reward course in many ways. Golf Digest ranked the layout the 37th toughest in all of America, but golfers seem to thrive on the course's challenge as opposed to running from it. Legends Resort is one of Myrtle Beach's most popular multi-course facilities, and Moorland is the resort's most requested tee time.

 

Dye used waster bunkers, pot bunkers, water and significant elevation change to create a layout that is both visually stunning and the fun to play. Moorland allows players some leeway off the tee but nearly every hole offers a strategic decision, particularly the par 5s, where risk must be weighed against potential reward.

 

Moorland features the bulkhead and stadium-style design the Dye family has made famous, but what most golfers will remember about the 7,017-yard course are its greens. The greens complexes at Moorland are among the Grand Strand's largest, including the 18th hole which is 63 yards deep.

 

Mix-in considerable undulation and there is little doubt that the wedge and putter are the most important clubs in your bag at Moorland.

 

“I always tell people, ‘Center of the green.' If you go for the flag (and miss), the greens are elevated and you are left with a wide variety of shots … If you miss the greens you are going to be in for an interesting day.”

 

An interesting day at Moorland won't include a trip into anyone's backyard. The course is completely devoid of any type of housing.

 

“You have some magnificent views with undulation and the bunkerage (on the course),” Biddington said. “That really defines the course (from a visual perspective). I'd say it's the most scenic course we have. You are out there in the wilderness.”

 

Wilderness in the case of Moorland doesn't mean an abundance of pine trees. The course is open and very few holes are tree-lined on both sides.

 

At Moorland it's you and the golf course. If you return to Legends' Scottish themed clubhouse with a score that's better than your handicap, you will do so with the knowledge that you played an excellent round of golf.

 

Par 3s

The term easy at Moorland is a relative one, but the most benign hole on each nine is a par 3. The first one-shotter, the 175-yard fifth hole, offers a large green and the chance at a comparatively easy par. You better take advantage of No. 5 because the seventh hole, when played from the tips, is the fourth longest par 3 along the Grand Strand. Even from the shortest set of men's tees, No. 7 plays 185 yards. Once you arrive at the 47-yard, deep green serious undulation awaits.

 

The 13th hole plays just 156 yards from the back tees and is Moorland's easiest hole. It's a well-placed breather coming after the demanding par 4, 12th. The final par 3, No. 17 has teeth. The relatively small green, by Moorland's standards, is nearly surrounded by a waste bunker so there is little room for error. The hole plays 194 yards from the tips, but is a manageable 160 yards from the blue tees.

 

As a whole the par 3s, with the exception of No. 7, are Moorland's easiest collection of holes, but they are by no means a pushover.

 

Par 4s

Dye provided great diversity in Moorland's par 4s. The front nine, which is considerably longer than the back, features some of the lengthiest par 4s along the Grand Strand.

 

Three front nine par 4s play more than 400 yards from the tips, including the 4th and 9th which measure 469 yards. To be clear, 99 percent of all players won't be playing from those distances so while the course is long in spots, if you are playing from the correct set of tees it's not overwhelming.

 

The third and fourth holes are memorable front nine par 4s. The third hole is a dogleg left that features water running the length of the hole on the right side. Keep your drive to the right-center of the fairway to provide the best approach angle to the green. The fourth requires brute strength off the tee and in the fairway, but the green is one of the course's flattest.

 

The back nine is more than 250 yards shorter from the blue and white tees, and that is reflected in the par 4s. The 16th is Moorland's signature hole. The drivable par 4 is a hole no one that plays the course forgets.

 

The 14th is also relatively short at 369 yards but a slight dogleg left rewards precision off the tee and leads to a blind second shot.

 

Not every back nine par 4 is shortened. The 462-yard 12th, which plays into an uphill green, is the course's hardest hole, and the 443-yard 18th is a beast to finish on.

 

Par 5s

Moorland's par 5s are the course's defining set of holes. The par 5 second is one of the layout's best holes. It features a second fairway that begins approximately 100 yards from the green and rests on an elevated plateau. The hole plays 537 yards so it's possible for long hitters to go for the green in two, but it's far from advisable with water on the right and sand on the left.

 

The sixth hole is a vulnerable par 5. It is 509 yards from the tips and offers the opportunity for birdie. The 11th offers a similar chance, and at 487 yards it's available for the taking, assuming you avoid the sand.

 

The par 5 15th hole is a true three-shot test. Four bunkers can be a factor off the tee and water dissects the fairway. The decision to carry the water on the second shot is a crucial one. If you layup in front of the water a long approach awaits but carrying the lake requires an outstanding shot. The choice is yours.

The Verdict: Moorland, a 4.5-star course according to Golf Digest, is a stout test of golf, but don't be scared by the prospect of a challenge. The layout is visually appealing and, most importantly, fun to play. If you play well, you will score well. No matter, you will remember Moorland.

 

 

 

 

5 Things You Need To Know About Moorland

By Chris King on December 3, 2009 1:51 AM | Comments (0) The Moorland Course at Legends Resort is a Myrtle Beach golf standout, but it never hurts to have a little local knowledge before attempting to tame a layout Golf Digest ranked America's 37th toughest.

 

With that in mind, here are five things you need to know about Moorland:

 

 

1. Aim for the Middle of the Green: Moorland's greens are among the largest on the Grand Strand, including the 18th which is 63 yards deep. The size of the greens doesn't even begin to speak to the sometimes ample undulation. Play it safe and aim for the middle because trouble also awaits shot the miss greens.

 

2. Take Advantage of the Par 3s: There aren't many holes at Moorland that are ripe for birdie, but the fifth and 13th, both relatively short, par 3s are a welcome respite on a demanding course.

 

3. Enjoy It: There is much talk about the challenge of Moorland, but it's a fun course to play and it's very scenic. Enjoy a round that you will remember long after you've returned from a Myrtle Beach golf trip.

 

4. Hell's Half Acre is Fun: The 16th is the course's most talked about hole with good reason. The green is reachable from every set of tees, and it's a great match play hole. Hit the green and one of the rarest of birds – an eagle on a par 4 - is within reach, miss in the wrong spot, particularly the large bunker that earned the Hell's Half Acre moniker, and trouble awaits. Regardless of your score, it's a hole to look forward to.

 

5. Length on the Front, Accuracy on the Back: The front nine at Moorland rewards long hitters and Dye provided margin for error off the tee. The front nine plays 3,379 yards from the blue tees and 3,217 from the white. The back side is 239 yards shorter from the blues and 266 yards less from the whites. If you are struggling on the front side, remain patient because opportunity may await at the turn.

 

 

 

 

 

Moorland's 3 Best Holes

By Chris King on December 1, 2009 5:01 PM | Comments (0) The view of the second green at Moorland from the hole's upper fairway.

 

The Moorland Course at Legend's Resort is one of Myrtle Beach golf's most recognized layouts. The P.B. Dye design is the 37th most difficult course in the nation, according to Golf Digest, and it's one area's most popular.

 

While Moorland is unquestionably a stern test of golf, it's much more than that. Dye made great use of pot bunkers, elevation changes and water to create a layout that is as visually appealing as it is challenging.

 

The course is home to some of Myrtle Beach's most recognizable holes, but we ask Legends Resort head pro Matt Biddington to name Moorland's three best. After careful consideration, Biddington gave us his list.

 

 

No. 2, 537-yard, par 5: The second hole isn't overly long but requires a combination of skill and decision-making to conquer. Finding the fairway off the tee is a prerequisite, because sand and water await errant shots. The hole also features a second fairway on the left side starting 100 yards from the green. The original fairway ends at a waste bunker less than 100 yards from the green. Smart players play their second shot to the upper plateau, leaving themselves well positioned to hit one of the course's smallest greens. It's a very difficult green to hit and hold in two, so you are better off not trying.

 

No. 15, 597-yard, par 5: The option of going for No. 15 in two doesn't exist, but the hole is stunning visually and forces players to make many decisions. Four bunkers split the fairway but you must fly that hurdle. The second shot is where things get interesting. Players that layup before the water are faced with 200 yards into a green that is 59 yards – no, that's not a typo – deep. Carrying the water isn't without the obvious risks.

 

“Hit it as far as you can (off the tee),” Biddington said when asked how to best play the hole. “You have a little bit of room to bailout on the right but you have to try to put yourself into the best position for the third shot.”

 

No. 16, 313-yard, par 4: This one was a no-brainer. The 16th at Moorland, otherwise known as Hell's Half Acre, is one of the most famous Myrtle Beach golf holes. It's drivable from every set of tees, but if you miss the green, trouble awaits. Pot bunkers, waste areas, grass bunkers, pampas grass and, whatever you do, don't find the bunker located just over the green.

 

It's not the course's most difficult hole, because it surrenders more than its share of birdies, but it's certainly the most memorable.

 

“If you make it (on the green), you are in great shape for birdie,” Biddington said. “If you miss the green, bogey is a good score. It's the ultimate risk-reward hole.”

 

How would you rank the three best holes at Moorland?