True Blue Pawley's Island - what am I in for?

[putterboy75]

Hi all, after spending the last few months in the South Carolina low-country and moving between short-term rentals 1000 times, True Blue near Pawley's Island has been deemed the LAST stop. Any suggestions / advice / thoughts much appreciated! Merci!

[JRSc]

Play Pawleys Plantation while you are there. Back 9 is very scenic.

The Food at Caledonia and TB is really good.

Other good local restaurants Franks Outback, Rustic Table, The Bisquit, Pawleys Island Tavern.. 

[caniac6]

PI is my favorite part of the Grand Strand.

[DandyDon]

I loved TB, fun course to play, challenging holes, pretty forgiving off the tee box.

[sabram]

Click on a link for photo tours of True Blue

 

https://www.flickr.com/gp/golfcoursepix/S435e1

https://www.flickr.com/gp/golfcoursepix/749zDK

 

 

Edited April 26, 2021 by sabram

[putterboy75]

Thanks! Appreciate the help here. Funny enough Sabram, I'm actually staying off the 16th hole (last picture)... Hole is tough from the back tees @ 210+ all carry over that water. I've been WFH here and sitting on the screen porch (what a great idea to have screened porches at every condo, why don't other places do this?) and watching the groups come through over the course of the day. Can be entertaining...

 

Overall, I am VERY impressed with True Blue as both a golf course and even more so with the staff friendliness and accomodations. Maybe we got upgraded or something, but I've never stayed a 2-bedroom / 2-bath condo this nice for anywhere close to $139 a night.

Practice facilities are pretty good and have been hitting at the golf school end at night since its 25 yards from my door.

 

My only complaint, which I knew coming into the visit given past golf in the area is that literally NO one walks. True Blue is not a tough course to walk (imo) and Caledonia across the street was completed in < 150 acres I think. Haven't seen a single walker yet.. except me and my fiance later in the day. From what I can gather its the same everywhere.

 

I have Pawley's Plantation high on my list.... the second 9 reminds me of Cougar Point @ Kiawah Island in the photos. Was told River Club and Heritage might be worth a visit too, but I might run out of time unfortunately.

 

Any suggestions for courses that aren't so busy or "less known?" I asked a guy on the range yesterday who ended up being a member of True Blue, he didn't have much for me here... ideally it would be awesome to find somewhere the locals go that has a super relaxed atmosphere and everyone walks (a Charleston Municipal type spot.)

 

Bottom line: so far True Blue hasn't given me many reasons to leave the property yet!

[sabram]

39 minutes ago, putterboy75 said:

Any suggestions for courses that aren't so busy or "less known?" 

 

Bottom line: so far True Blue hasn't given me many reasons to leave the property yet!

There aren't really any hidden gems on the Grand Strand. Other than Caledonia and the Dunes Club there aren't any courses in the area that I enjoy playing as much as True Blue. Heritage is an inexpensive option and is very pretty, but not quite in the same league as Caledonia or True Blue.  I know many posters will disagree with this suggestion, but Founders Club in Pawleys Island is worth a play. In some respects it reminds me of True Blue. I've only played Founders a couple times and it's been a few years since I was last there, but I think it is generally under rated. It's the closest you will come in style to True Blue in the area. Another good option would be Willbrook. It's a solid course at a reasonable price. Here are lnks to photo tours of those three courses:

 

Heritage

 

Founders Club

 

Willbrook

 

Edited April 27, 2021 by sabram

[Shankyouverymuch]

49 minutes ago, putterboy75 said:

(a Charleston Municipal type spot.)

I have been to Kiawah several times and have played "The Muni".  I love that place for $40 or whatever they charge. Definitely a nice break from greens fees on the Island!

[putterboy75]

TY for this, especially the pictures. I've got 4 more days, so your direction will be put to use! Will report back (maybe even with some pictures for real time course conditions lol)

[JRSc]

7 hours ago, putterboy75 said:

Thanks! Appreciate the help here. Funny enough Sabram, I'm actually staying off the 16th hole (last picture)... Hole is tough from the back tees @ 210+ all carry over that water. I've been WFH here and sitting on the screen porch (what a great idea to have screened porches at every condo, why don't other places do this?) and watching the groups come through over the course of the day. Can be entertaining...

 

Overall, I am VERY impressed with True Blue as both a golf course and even more so with the staff friendliness and accomodations. Maybe we got upgraded or something, but I've never stayed a 2-bedroom / 2-bath condo this nice for anywhere close to $139 a night.

Practice facilities are pretty good and have been hitting at the golf school end at night since its 25 yards from my door.

 

My only complaint, which I knew coming into the visit given past golf in the area is that literally NO one walks. True Blue is not a tough course to walk (imo) and Caledonia across the street was completed in < 150 acres I think. Haven't seen a single walker yet.. except me and my fiance later in the day. From what I can gather its the same everywhere.

 

I have Pawley's Plantation high on my list.... the second 9 reminds me of Cougar Point @ Kiawah Island in the photos. Was told River Club and Heritage might be worth a visit too, but I might run out of time unfortunately.

 

Any suggestions for courses that aren't so busy or "less known?" I asked a guy on the range yesterday who ended up being a member of True Blue, he didn't have much for me here... ideally it would be awesome to find somewhere the locals go that has a super relaxed atmosphere and everyone walks (a Charleston Municipal type spot.)

 

Bottom line: so far True Blue hasn't given me many reasons to leave the property yet!

Members are allowed to walk but you hardly ever see any walking. I usually see them on Sunday mornings. 
If you can get on Wachesaw Plantation... it is great. Club Corp.

I play a lot of golf in that area and my favorites are:

Wachesaw Plantation, Caledonia, TB,  Pawleys,

Willbrook

But you are right.. You have a great course out your door so why go anywhere else.

[Tim_Gavrich]

Pawleys Plantation is quite walkable, and last I heard FGI, the ownership/management group, was allowing walking at all of their courses. That would mean you can walk River Club, Litchfield, Founders Club, etc.

[putterboy75]

Thanks to everyone with the suggestions! Played True Blue two times and I enjoyed each time, the course is difficult around the greens (I must have been in the sand every hole) but is fair and decently open off the tee. I took one of your suggestions and drove down the road to the Legends property, Heritage. Heritage & DeBordieu have the best conditioned practice range that I hit on in the area (I have no idea how Heritage keeps it so well manicured judging from all the carts out on the golf course, maybe no one has time to hit balls?).. It definitely has that Legends feel!

 

Decided to play Caledonia before driving north to Michigan. I understand why it's well regarded in the area and I agree it should be on the short-list of courses to play. It's architecturally significant and few other courses around here can make that claim. I had heard about the drive in through the avenue of live oaks with hole 1 on the left and 10 on the right (funny, when I was driving in, a guy had hit all the way from 10 fairway into 1 fairway and stopped traffic to play his next shot) the drive is totally amazing and you feel like you've gone back in time by the time you arrive at the clubhouse. Also mostly agree with everyone's praises of the course and the golf staff was beyond accommodating and helpful (we were the only two walkers the whole day, which still makes no sense because that is the easiest course to walk I've ever been on) ..

 

The one thing that almost ruined the outing for me was just how packed they let the course get. We started ~2:15ish and were told we had the last tee-time, but started on 10. The way they do the times, a group was soon behind us playing their 10th hole. I felt super rushed, especially walking, but we were waiting as well. What can you do... I figured all this out when we made the turn and pretty much had the whole course to ourselves. That was much more enjoyable.

 

Thanks again!

[TurnDog69]

True Blue and Caledonia are in my top 5 all time (I haven't played that many courses TBF) 

 

I think I would like Tobacco Road even more. True Blue is such a rugged man against nature approach to golf. It just feels sorta like that's how it was meant to be played. 

 

Wide off the tee box so you don't have that pressure on you all day of needing to get off the tee over and over. It's just f****** cool i don't have much more to say than that. 

[J13]

True Blue is great, one of my favorites in SC, in fact I just played it two weeks ago.  Great setup and design.  Caledonia has some amazing scenery but I don't love the setup as much.  It has a lot of tricky tee shots and I don't even need a driver there which stinks as hitting driver is a big part of the fun.