True Blue is a defining Mike Strantz design: wild, creative, and unforgettable, with vast fairways, enormous undulating greens, and theatrical Lowcountry shaping. The 2022 restoration heightened its drama, restoring native vistas and bold visuals—this is a must-play for golfers craving originality and imagination.
True Blue is an unrestrained Strantz canvas: he sculpted broad playing corridors, massive and wild green complexes, and sprawling sandy waste areas into the South Carolina Lowcountry. The 2022 restoration stripped away encroaching scrub and revived native grass vistas, sharpening sightlines and restoring theatrical flair. Its genius is strategic width—each hole tempts you to use angles, creativity, and imagination, with plenty of ground-game options and wild recovery shots. Now more than ever, the design rewards boldness but punishes those who miss in the wrong place, upholding its reputation as one of the must-play public courses in the region.
Mike Strantz’s vision comes through in every bold ridge and slope—True Blue is Strantz at his wildest, with strategic variety and huge playing surfaces unlike anything else on the Grand Strand.
A monstrous opener stretching 624 yards from the Gold tees, this par 5 sets the tone with a sweeping dogleg and intimidation from the start. It’s the ultimate tone-setter: position and strategy trump raw distance, especially with well-placed bunkering lurking throughout.
Lay up smartly or risk all—hug the left for a shorter second, but you’ll flirt with sand and water if you pull or push your tee shot.
Miss left and you’re in the drink; bail right, and deep waste bunkers punish you the whole way.
Firm, fast Lowcountry surfaces with slick, contoured greens; some natural sandy areas play firm and unpredictable. Seasonal maintenance is strong for a public course.
Resort-typical—expect 4.5 to 5 hours in busy season; a touch quicker in early morning or shoulder periods.
Laid-back but energetic—a destination atmosphere with excitement on every tee, and no stuffy country-club airs.
Traditional golf attire (collared shirt required), but standard resort policies—confirm specifics if in doubt.
The greens are enormous and multi-tiered—practice 40- to 70-foot putts before your round.
You’ll use every club—there are holes for bombs, knockdowns, all manner of recovery shots, and delicate chips.
Expansive waste areas and sandy zones call for confidence with medium- and long bunker shots.
You can walk some, but distances and heat mean most players prefer to ride. Prepare accordingly.
True Blue Golf Club opens with a Mike Strantz original
Strantz named Golf World’s Architect of the Year
Host of Nextgengolf City Tour Championship
Restoration project returns course to Strantz’s original vision
No. 5 ranked public course in South Carolina by Golfweek
The par-4 6th hole at True Blue is a showpiece of Strantz’s audacity—off the tee, you can play to left or right greens, each with distinct character and risk-reward. Word is, no two locals agree on which path is truly safer under pressure.
True Blue’s 2022 restoration saw thousands of native grasses and scrub transplanted around fairways, reviving the untamed visuals Strantz envisioned and opening up bold new sightlines. Those with sharp eyes will spot wildlife moving through these natural corridors.
Upon opening, True Blue quickly gained a mythic reputation as the Grand Strand’s most visually impressive and playable test, anchoring golf trips for players seeking something beyond standard resort golf.
Even the practice area gets in on the action: True Blue’s range presents inviting targets and visual tricks inspired by Strantz’s philosophy, setting up your round for creativity before you reach the first tee.
No. 6 is one of the only holes in America with a fully optional alternate green for everyday play.
Mike Strantz was self-taught as a golf architect, launching his solo career after years with Tom Fazio.
True Blue’s massive fairways are so wide, you could land a Cessna on some—yet the wrong position still leads to bogey.
The course’s wild contours and slopes are even more dramatic after the 2022 restoration.
Locals say True Blue changes dramatically with the wind—no two days ever play the same.
Just steps away; refined companion with a different Strantz personality
Classic Grand Strand design, often packaged with True Blue
Championship resort course, easily booked
Tour-caliber tests just a short drive north
The region’s most famous and acclaimed private experience
Stay in Pawleys Island or Murrells Inlet for easiest access to True Blue, Caledonia, and the best south-end Grand Strand courses.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? Demands the same precision once you reach the putting surface — a familiar feeling, expressed in Landmand Golf Club's own setting.
Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Sleepy Hollow Country Club's own setting.
Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Eastward Ho! Country Club's own setting.
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