Average Joe reviews Woodland Valley Country Club

By Joe Derus NorthMyrtleBeachOnLine.com AUGUST 18, 2010 Loris SC—

I have heard a lot about the challenges and uniqueness of Woodland Valley and decided to try it. I was not disappointed, what I heard was true.

From North Myrtle Beach you head west on route nine just pass Loris and look for the billboard on your left. Turn right at the billboard; miss it and you main wind- up in Dillon. This is not true if you just make sure to see the billboard.  As Myrtle Beach Golf Directors, maker of our tee time, told us it is just a pleasant drive out route nine, enjoy it. Before you go, I suggest you count the number of golf balls in your bag; it might be fun to see how many you will lose.
Tight course! 
I also suggest you take and extra buck or two to purchase some South Carolina fresh fruits and vegetables on the way home, from one of the many roadside stands. The peaches are still good, and bearing gifts to the home folks is always wise.
 
For this review I am not going to discuss “certain” holes and how best to play them but instead describe the course in general terms. The course had just aerated the fairways and this did not pose any problem at all, it is just good course maintenance. This goes right along with the excellent condition of the greens.

Yes the greens need to be in great shape because just getting to the can be a challenge. You need a break once you reach the green. Everyone agrees if there is one word to describe this course it is “tight”

Oh My!A neighbor of mine, who plays Woodland all the time, is an excellent golfer. He especially gets frustrated with number two. “I just can’t seem to play that hole it gets me every time.” I know how he feels.

As we went through the course, I sometimes felt like Dorothy and her friends in the Wizard of Oz. While walking through the woods they sang “lions and tigers and bears Oh my” We paraphrased that to “gators and snakes and weeds- Oh My.”

Woodland was once called Diamondback and they do now have a couple of alligators on the course. No! we did not see a snake, we did seen a couple of gators.  This bit of nature only adds to the uniqueness of the course. Everyone has to make a remark about the gator when seen. It adds to the fun.

Marshes cut through the fairways, water seems to be always in the wrong spot, and there is plenty of it. I am not a long hitter, and played the course from the yellow tees. I normally do not lose balls because of my short drives. Not true at Woodland, as a group we lost more balls in one round than we lost all year. Again, this is part of the challenge of this course.

On the back nine, that is just as tight as the front, I calmed down, concentrated and played with only one ball lost. The great positive about this course, is it keeps your mind from wandering too far away from golf. Every shot needs to be thought about as well as executed. You may hit a great  shot but if you did not think about in relation to the hole it your ball will be in a bad place at best. That of course is true on any golf course but especially true on this one.  

As a reward for playing this course, a light lunch is included in your inexpensive greens fees. Check with Myrtle Beach Golf Directors to get the best deal. Woodland Valley is most definitely one of the best cost vs. value course in and around North Myrtle Beach. I am sure you will enjoy your round.