Famous Holes, Original Experience at World Tour Golf Links
The layout at World Tour Golf Links was inspired by some of the game’s most famous courses, allowing golfers to get a taste of what it might be like to play everywhere from Augusta to St. Andrews.
But the reason for the World Tour’s enduring popularity – it’s been open since 1999 – is the individual holes work together to create a cohesive round of golf. Put another way, if you had no idea the design took its lead from acclaimed layouts across the globe, it wouldn’t detract from your enjoyment of the day.
Yes, each hole includes a plaque explaining its place in golf history and it’s hard not to let that context shape your perception. But here’s a look at three of one golfer’s favorite holes at World Tour, with no extra credit given for fame.
No. 5 – Open Nine
492 yards, par 5 (Gold Tees)
Modeled after No. 15 at English Turn in New Orleans, this three-shot par 5 demands both power and precision. Water runs the entire length of the right side, making the tee shot more about placement than raw distance. The generous fairway invites you to swing freely, but your second shot is where the strategy kicks in: it’s all about setting up a comfortable wedge into a small, two-tiered island green. With water everywhere and trouble lurking on each swing, this hole is a nervy, nuanced delight.
No. 3 – Championship Nine
116 yards, par 3
Short par 3s are often the most fun, and this one—modeled after Royal Troon’s famous “Postage Stamp”—doesn’t disappoint. At just 116 yards, it feels gettable for every golfer, but five bunkers and a sloping green that runs back-to-front and left-to-right quickly remind you not to get too confident. The good news? Unlike its Scottish cousin, the wind doesn’t often howl in Myrtle Beach. That makes this hole more playable—but no less interesting. (Top photo)
No. 9 – Championship Nine
382 yards, par 4
Some holes are about scoring, and others are about survival. Modeled after the 11th hole at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club, this dogleg left par 4 is fraught with danger. There is water in the corner of the dogleg, and it runs through the green; a fairway bunker on the right means you don’t have much bailout room, and the hole plays long. To walk away with par here, you’ll need two of your best swings of the day.
Yes, World Tour takes players on a trip to some of the game’s most famous layouts, but the magic lies in how those 18 tribute holes, taken together, create a course that stands on its own.
Photos for this Feature from @MyrtleBeachGolfTrips Instagram Account.
Chris King, golf writer MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com