THE GOLDEN BEAR REVISITED AND WONDERFUL LONG BAY GOLF CLUB

(a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course)

AWARDS:

• 4 ½*’s by Golf Digest
• Site of 1989 NCAA East Region
• Site of CPGA  
• 1989 Assistants Championship
• 1991 Myrtle Beach Open
• 1992 Carolinas’ Open
• 1994 US Senior Open Qualifying

Head Professional: Jim Fellner

The Long Bay Golf Club is located off Route 9 in Longs, South Carolina. A pleasing entry passes you by the 13th hole a three par island green. Many private homes are being built and you will see that as you approach the bag drop where we were greeted by Bill and a well experienced bag attendant Coach Eddie. The service by the attendants and food and beverage personnel were exemplary. Dave Austin greeted us cordially and made our entry efficiently and pleasant.

Course Conditions:  An October over seeding at Long Bay had the fairways green and very playable.  You could play the ball down as my partner, and newly turned professional; Steve Cutler did playing from the tips.  The greens seemed to be over seeded and the ball rolled smoothly.  This course was well prepared by greens superintendent Ken Boyd.  The fairway and greenside bunkers were all raked and the sand consistency was excellent.  Not a stone to be found.  Sand play was easy (if you had a problem, it wasn’t the sand per se).

Playability:  Sand is a Long Bay feature.  Wide expanses of sand protect several greens as waste areas.  You can drive in many sand waste areas as your cart path on holes 4, 10 and 16.  The second hole a par 5 has waste area sand guarding the front of an increasingly elevated green.  Steve said “Bunkers are strategically placed in your landing areas and guarding the green.  Do your research before you complete”.  (He means the pros and top ameatives). 

Steve was challenged out of the gate and he loved it.  On the second hole I hit my third into the waste area, made a long sand shot but the ball released 15’ passed the hole.  This green and several others have undulations and tiered greens.  Putting here is a wonderful challenge and we were pleased that the conditioning made playing easier and very enjoyable.  If you remember the old thick bladed grainy Bermuda at Long Bay and didn’t like it, well, come on back.  The new Champion Bermuda greens are cut larger and the finer blades of grass make putting a “smoothie”.

TEES-YARDAGES-RATING/SLOPE – PAP

Tee boxes provide for five sets of tees

• Black               7025 yards                   Men’s       74.3/140                 Par 72
• Blue                 6593 yards                   Men’s       72.1/131                 Par 72
• White               6209 yards                   Men’s       70.5/129                 Par 72
• Gold                 5715 yards                   Men’s       68.7/121                 Par 72
• Gold                 5715 yards                   Ladies       73.3/127                 Par 72
• Red                  4944 yards                   Forward    69.2/115                 Par 72 

Long Bay tees are level; and, this is an important feature we often overlook.  Sand boxes are provided at all par threes and sand bottles are conveniently located by the front cart split windshield. (It’s easy to remember to use it that way). Oh, the carts! New carts at Long Bay and are they comfortable.  No backaches and a Cadillac ride.  Today we entered 90* and rode the fairway then 90* out.  Long Bay uses the ping marker system.  You’ve seen them.  Markers on each side of the fairway every 25 yards from 225 to 75 yards in.  They are big.  Some markers give measure to the front, middle and back of the green.  You don’t go looking for grassed over sprinkler heads here.  My bushnell had them to be very accurate.  So if you forgot yours you can still be very accurate.

PAR 4’s AND 5’s

The 4 and 5 pars have fairway bunkers placed in strategic spots as I said.  Watch the moguls they are so much fun and challenging to hit from.  A new experience for many but who needs a mundane course.  Long Bay is not mundane.  Are you up for the challenge?  You want service, fun, laughs, great golf, the fours and fives have it and wait till you come to the par 3’s.

PAR 3’s

Long Bay #13 has a magnificent island green.  You’ll need to know how far you carry your irons.  If not try a good guess.  A hint for this hole:  the further left the pin- the shorter the distance.  Soooo….if the pin is far right and you play to carry the pin and pull it left or fade it more right you become aqua man or aqua woman.  Give it a go.  That’s the fun: you guys and gals will have a ball and you’ll always remember.

Fairways Surrounded by Waste Areas that are your Cart Paths

Hole 10 – This hole is pictured in golf magazines.  A waste area surrounds the fairway.  A well placed tee ball can set up a short iron to an elevated green.  Go long and you are chipping uphill from a hollow.  Short hole but good shots get birdies.  Bad shots get bogeys to the snowman.  My birdie putt was in (I thought) but did a Chopra.  You know hit the hole and was half in and out.

Hole 4 – A long par 4 has the fairway surrounded by waste bunkers.  This green accepts a running second shot.  Push pr pull your second shot and you’ll find the greenside bunkers.  I made 4 from the greenside bunker. 

Hole 16 – Your tee ball has to be hit.  Carrying the waste area sets up a long or medium iron into an undulating green.  Hit a 180 yard hybrid to 8’ and missed the putt.  Yeah – I pushed it.

Oh, one last thing.  Stop by the snack bar at the turn and after the round.  Tell Judy I sent ya and ask what good food and drinks she has for you and is there any gazpacho left!

I didn’t tell you hole by hole only the important facts.  I want you to enjoy the layout for yourself and, oh yes there is water on several holes but you need not fret.  The water adds to the beautification of the course.

You’ll always remember the holes.  The waste areas on 4, 10 and 16 make standout holes.  Water on 7, 9 and 13 may come into play if you aren’t thinking.  But you’re on vacation.  Relax, lighten up, laugh, and make memories.  That’s what vacations are best for – memories.  Memories of fun golf on Long Bay Golf Club. 

                                                                        Have a Blast,

                                                                        Donnie Dap