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By Joe Derus – NorthMyrtleBeachONLINE.com
 Sunset Beach NC July 26th 2007 --Today we headed towards Thistle to play a round of golf set up for us by Myrtle Beach Golf Directors.
From North Myrtle Beach, take 17 N to Calabash NC route 179. Thistle is located just a couple of miles East of Calabash.
When you get to the entrance be sure to have your tee time made as a friendly gate guard will ask you for name and tee times.
The course is designed to present a distinct Scottish links feel, with wind-swept fairways, large bentgrass greens and surrounding hillsides covered in heather and wild flowers.
Scheduled for completion in late fall, 2007, the club house will reinforce the Scottish link feel. Constructed with a stone exterior with stone pillar supports, the Thistle Clubhouse looks like a 19th Century Scottish club manor house.
 The Hackers were told that the interior of the club house would feature a towering ceiling and a 12-foot wide stone fireplace.
When it is completed, in late fall, 2007, it will be impressive and probably be worth a trip just to visit the club house. I hear they will have several types of Scottish ale.
Joining the Hackers for this review was our first lady golfer in a long time. I was looking forward to a lady’s perspective as this course has been highly rated in ‘Golf for Women’ magazine.
With her addition, the Hackers covered three out of the five tees. We had two playing from the white tees, one from the gold and the red for the lady.
Her present also deleted a few of our expletives. Bettye warmed up on the special putting green, and didn’t miss a putt all day.
OK let me say right now she whipped us good. Bettye shot an 83.
Thistle is unique in that it has a variety of amenities that few courses have.
 The driving range and putting green are all within easy walking distance from the bag drop.
The putting green has a couple of those small holes, where you make two puts from one foot, two from two feet, and two from three as a good putting drill.
There is even a sand trap warm up. Also the carts have great yardage book complete with USGA Slope and Course Rating and “A History of Thistle Golf Club.
Be cautious when using the yardage book. Remember what course you are playing when you review at the yardage book. Thistle has three nine-hole courses – North, South and West. To use the yardage book you must know what hole you are playing and what course.
Another amenity is a divot repair tool because our shots from the fairway are always high and we drop the ball on the green in regulation, yeah! Right. The tool is a nice touch anyway.
The Hackers really appreciated that the Scottish theme extended to the very clean, well maintained rest rooms.
Another equalizer is the placement of the tees. They are well spaced to equal the distance of the  drives. More than once today the drives were line upped in the fairway.
The first hole on the West course sets the look and difficulty of the course.
It is a 371 yard par 4 from the whites, moguls up the right side and water on the left. Watch your placement; even the moguls have lush grass growing on them so it is not like hitting from a tee box should your ball rest on top of the mogul.
Please do not drive the carts on the moguls; they are too beautiful to spoil.
The 2nd hole is good tee placement for the ladies; it is a par four and just 277 yards. This was one of many pars for Bettye today.
You must get the ball in the air on the par 3 third hole. It has sand all the way to the green.
The West course has more trees but not much shade. If you’re in the trees you may be cooler but you will not be happy. Down the middle is always best.
 What I liked about Thistle is that each hole has its own “personality” Some have grass all the way; some have lots of sand and of course some have the water.
Two holes I find particularly interesting are # 9 South and # 4 South. Number 9 is a par 3 to and highly elevated green. That alone is a novelty in these parts.
Number 4 is a par 5. Here a good drive over water is a must. The longer over the water the better chance for birdie or even an eagle. This hole is one where risk is worth the reward. Yes we all tried it, and yes some did and didn’t make it .
Thistle Golf Club has successfully created the unique feel of Scottish Links. They combine the links style with the native trees and grasses and well maintained fairways and greens for an enjoyable day of golf.
Golf rounds are provided by Myrtle Beach Golf Directors. You will be pleased when you check out their summer tee-time specials by clicking here.
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