Average Joe reviews The Pearl Golf Links East Course

North Myrtle Beach News

By Joe Derus NorthMyrtleBeachOnLine.com

MAY 11, 2009 CALABASH, NC ― This is the second of a two part review on the Pearl. Part one was on the Pearl West course and this review is on the East Course.  

Our tee times for these courses were arranged by Myrtle Beach Golf Directors. They always seem to get us off at or near the time we request.  

Like the West course the Pearls East course is in overall good shape. The fairways are lush and the ball sits up well. The roughs are a bit dry and not yet grown enough to be considered real roughs. Right now this helps the higher handicap golfer because the roughs do not eat the ball. Come summer it will be a different story.

The undeveloped home sites at the Pearl East are not as visible for the most part. This is a difference between the two courses.

East starts off with a 506 par 5 good warm up hole. Hitting the middle of fairways is important on this hole because trees lining the fairway are close.

Hole number two is a 171 yard par three. Rather long par threes are the norm on this course. 185, 152 and 155 yards are the distances on the other threes.
 
The most challenging hole on the course is # 6, a 328 yard par four. Here a lay-up is a must. Hit too good a tee shot and you are in the water; lay-up to short and that second shot is brutal. Pay attention to the yardage sign on the tee box giving distances to the water. This is the course’s number one handicap hole.

Of course the golf Gods saw fit to grant a par, almost a birdie, to the to the highest handicap player in our foursome while our best player dropped a couple into the water.

Go figure that is why it is call golf.

The next hole always makes me smile.

Ten is only a 361 yard par four that is straight away. What makes me smile is it has a large mature tree center of fairway about 140 yards from the hole. We all missed the tree this time but on other occasions hit it dead center.

Number eleven is only 294 yards but it is another one where you need read the score card and signs at tee box as your drive could easily wind up in water. The water is visible from the tee but “How far to the water” is the most asked question. 

Twelve is a 152 yard par three. Water all around the green makes the tee shot extra important.  Get it close because putting at the Pearl East is quite difficult. I do not think there is a hole with a flat surface.  Most courses around the Strand do not have much break in the greens.

In our minds the consensus is “if in doubt hit it straight” Do not try this on the Pearl East. The balls break all over the place. The next few holes line up with a marsh to your left. These are a bit dry right now. They would benefit greatly from a slow steady rain.

I was doing very well on this back nine coming up on number 18 a 550 yard par five. My plan was just get to green in four and hope for a one putt for par. That is how most of my pars come, with one putts. Just wanted you to know I did one putt the hole for a snowman.

It just took me seven to get to the green. Two into the water did me in.

Playing the Pearl East or Pearl West is like flipping a coin; you come up good each time.  Me, I’m calling East every time.