Shining the spotlight on the Dan Maples design’s first hole
For those who know Myrtle Beach golf, Willbrook Plantation is considered one of the best courses around. The club, located in Pawleys Island, embraces the history of the Carolina Lowcountry better than any other, with numerous placards stationed throughout the course telling the story of two rice plantations dating back to 1776, on which the course now lies. While history is sure to become the star of your round at Willbrook, the golf course is no slouch either, as the layout is challenging, highly creative and forces players to hit every shot in the bag, all factors which can be seen from the very first hole. Here’s what to expect on No. 1 at Willbrook during your next MBGolf.com vacation:
World Golf Hall of Fame member Lee Trevino, who once played Willbrook, called the 428-yard (all figures back tees) first hole one of the toughest opening holes he’s ever played. A dogleg right, it’s a hole where players must hit their tee shots through a narrow shoot of centuries-old Southern oaks with branches and brush overhanging. A straight ball to start your day is an absolute must, though you won’t want to hit it much farther than 260 yards off the tee for fear of running through the fairway and into a hazard area which guards the hole’s left perimeter.
If executed, hitting that drive of just over 260 yards to the middle of the fairway where the dogleg bends leaves just a 155-yard approach to a green complex that is gettable, so long as you avoid the oak blocking out the green’s right side and the hazard area which comes into play short and left. Still, there is plenty of room on and around the green for you to be successful, and if you’re going to miss it, right and long isn’t terrible. As with many of the greens at Willbrook, the putting surface at No. 1 is small but undulating, as well as speedy and perfectly manicured no matter the time of year.
A real challenge awaits players of all skill levels at Willbrook Plantation, [willbrook] right from the very first hole. So, be ready to stripe it from the start with MBGolf.com!
