Rice Fields and Resting Places
The Heritage Club weaves through land once used as working rice fields, with several live oaks over 300 years old and discrete plantation-era burial markers lending a tangible sense of local history to the round.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Heritage Club
Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Established
1986
Architect
Dan Maples & Larry Young
Access
Public
Par
Par 71
Length
5,701 – 7,118 yds
Green Fees
$$$
The verdict
Lowcountry Public Gem With Bite
Heritage Club stands out for its scenic Southern charm and bold, demanding shot values amid the grand oaks and marshes. It’s an accessible but challenging destination that feels steeped in historic Carolina land and Lowcountry lore, delivering an unforgettable closing stretch.
Course DNA
Difficulty
82
Scenery83
Conditioning78
Shot Variety74
Walkability67
Green Complexity80
Wow Factor77
Design Quality75
Don't miss
Look for the centuries-old plantation-era grave markers behind the fifth green—an atmospheric Lowcountry detail few visitors notice.
At a glance
Quick facts
Greens
Champion bermudagrass; large and undulating
Setting
Built on historic rice plantation land
Slope/rating
Slope 138, among Myrtle Beach’s toughest
Signature trees
Majestic live oaks frame fairways
Water hazards
Marshes and ponds on 9+ holes
Location benefits
Central to Pawleys Island golf cluster
Historic markers
Burial sites and plantation relics on property
Ownership
Part of Legends Golf Resort
The design
The architecture
Heritage Club is an inviting yet formidable Dan Maples and Larry Young creation, distinguished by its use of centuries-old live oaks, broad marshland, and the remnants of historic rice cultivation to produce a classically Southern Lowcountry test. The routing expertly flows between tree-lined corridors and open wetland vistas, demanding shot placement and strategy over brute force alone, while enormous, rolling greens and intelligent bunkering require creativity and precision both around and on the putting surfaces. The layout champions variety with holes that alternate between heroic par fives, exacting par threes, and risk-reward fours, sustained by the natural drama and genuine sense of place embedded in its plantation landscape.
Dan Maples' shaping honors the site's natural beauty and aims for playable, strategic fun rather than penal design.
Defining features
- Expansive, undulating greens requiring approach control
- Towering live oaks framing corners and tee shots
- Strategic use of marshlands and water hazards on key holes
- Classic Lowcountry vistas and native grasses
- Strong finishing stretch featuring long par 3s and risk-reward par 5s
- Traditional, land-first shaping with minimal artificial mounding
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 2
Founders’ Long March
PAR
5
YARDAGE
598
A formidable three-shot par 5 stretching nearly 600 yards, guarded by dense oaks and marshland down the right. Drives must fade into a generous fairway, but the layup and approach require careful positioning to avoid deep natural hazards.
Play it smart
Play conservatively off the tee, aiming left for the safest angle, then manage your carry for an optimal wedge into a green sloping away toward the water.
Where it bites
A stray second shot brings marsh and trees into play, while the green's run-off areas can quickly turn birdie hopes into bogey.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approaching a long par 3 over marsh
Take more club and play for the wide portion of the green; avoid the front traps at all costs.
Second shot on lengthy par 5s (2 and 10)
Lay up short of the hazards rather than trying to bite off more than you can chew—wedge approach beats risking a bogey.
Driving holes framed by live oaks
Finesse or fade your tee shot off the trees to set up the right approach angle.
Fast, undulating greens readings
Give extra attention to subtle breaks—grain and slope can make what looks flat play quickly away from the hole.
Finishing par 5 with water in play
Resist the urge to chase the green in two unless you’re in A+ position; a smart layup can still give you a birdie putt.
Club selection with afternoon wind
Wind often switches as you turn inland or toward open marsh—double-check each flag’s movement before every approach.
Watch
See it before you play it
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Above-average daily conditioning, with smooth greens and tidy fairways typical of a top-tier Myrtle Beach destination.
Pace
Moderate resort pace; efficient but expect 4.5 hours during peak season.
Vibe
Warm, relaxed Southern hospitality with a lively clubhouse and unpretentious, welcoming atmosphere.
Dress code
Resort casual golf attire; collared shirts required, soft spikes only.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Book in Advance
Prime morning and early afternoon tee times sell out quickly, especially on weekends and in spring/fall high season.
02
Bring Extra Golf Balls
With water, marsh, and oaks everywhere, the Heritage Club can devour errant shots—come loaded for bear.
03
Practice Your Lag Putting
Greens are famously large and undulating—spend time on the practice green to groove distance control.
04
Brush Up On Your Wedge Game
Many approaches call for precise short irons or wedges to hold the expansive, fast greens.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1986
Heritage Club opens, designed by Dan Maples and Larry Young
- 1986
Course opens on former True Blue and Midway rice plantations
- 2007
Golf Digest ranks Heritage Club #46 in Top 100 Public Courses in America
Stories & legends
What makes it special
The Giant’s Back Nine
The stretch from holes 13 to 18 is routinely praised as one of the toughest and most memorable finishes in the Myrtle Beach area—with a monster par 3 and a do-or-die par 5 closer keeping rounds in suspense until the end.
Palmettos and Southern Comfort
Shaded by towering palmettos and moss-draped oaks, every round at Heritage Club feels soaked in Southern hospitality, blending natural beauty with a golfer-friendly welcome you’ll only find in the Lowcountry.
Tale of Two Par Fives
The second and tenth holes each stretch to nearly 600 yards, forcing players into three-shot arithmetic and demanding steady nerves; they set the tone for a course where score and strategy are always entwined.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The property includes live oaks more than three centuries old.
2
Some fairways cross the boundaries of two historic rice plantations.
3
From the tips, Heritage Club is longer than many area private clubs.
4
Golf Digest once named it one of America's 50 Best Public Courses.
5
Native wildlife, including deer and waterfowl, are often seen on the course.
Build the trip
If you’re making a Pawleys Island golf pilgrimage
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
Public
Ultra-scenic Mike Strantz gem with memorable finishing stretch
True Blue Golf Club
Public
Bold, quirky, and fun; a Strantz must-play with massive fairways
Tidewater Golf Club
Public
Epic marsh-front holes and big-course feel
Pawleys Plantation
Public
Classic Nicklaus; walkable, strategic, and loaded with Lowcountry charm
Tradition Golf Club
Public
Fun, value-driven alternative just minutes from Heritage Club
Pawleys Island or Murrells Inlet for close access to the south-end standouts
Course DNA
If You Like Heritage Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.3
Ekwanok Country Club
Manchester, VermontWhy it matches: If Heritage Club is your kind of course, Ekwanok Country Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match7.9
Black Bull Golf Club
Bozeman, MontanaWhy it matches: If Heritage Club is your kind of course, Black Bull Golf Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Strong DNA Match7.8
Grand Bear Golf Club
Saucier, MississippiWhy it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Grand Bear Golf Club's own setting.
Community Sentiment
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