Course Spotlight: Great Scenery and Challenge Define Moorland

Dye used waster bunkers, pot bunkers, water and significant elevation change to create a layout that is both visually stunning and the fun to play. Moorland allows players some leeway off the tee but nearly every hole offers a strategic decision, particularly the par 5s, where risk must be weighed against potential reward.

Moorland features the bulkhead and stadium-style design the Dye family has made famous, but what most golfers will remember about the 7,017-yard course are its greens. The greens complexes at Moorland are among the Grand Strand’s largest, including the 18th hole which is 63 yards deep.

Mix-in considerable undulation and there is little doubt that the wedge and putter are the most important clubs in your bag at Moorland.

“I always tell people, ‘Center of the green.’ If you go for the flag (and miss), the greens are elevated and you are left with a wide variety of shots … If you miss the greens you are going to be in for an interesting day.”

An interesting day at Moorland won’t include a trip into anyone’s backyard. The course is completely devoid of any type of housing.

“You have some magnificent views with undulation and the bunkerage (on the course),” Biddington said. “That really defines the course (from a visual perspective). I’d say it’s the most scenic course we have. You are out there in the wilderness.”

Wilderness in the case of Moorland doesn’t mean an abundance of pine trees. The course is open and very few holes are tree-lined on both sides.

At Moorland it’s you and the golf course. If you return to Legends’ Scottish themed clubhouse with a score that’s better than your handicap, you will do so with the knowledge that you played an excellent round of golf.

Par 3s
The term easy at Moorland is a relative one, but the most benign hole on each nine is a par 3. The first one-shotter, the 175-yard fifth hole, offers a large green and the chance at a comparatively easy par. You better take advantage of No. 5 because the seventh hole, when played from the tips, is the fourth longest par 3 along the Grand Strand. Even from the shortest set of men’s tees, No. 7 plays 185 yards. Once you arrive at the 47-yard, deep green serious undulation awaits.

The 13th hole plays just 156 yards from the back tees and is Moorland’s easiest hole. It’s a well-placed breather coming after the demanding par 4, 12th. The final par 3, No. 17 has teeth. The relatively small green, by Moorland’s standards, is nearly surrounded by a waste bunker so there is little room for error. The hole plays 194 yards from the tips, but is a manageable 160 yards from the blue tees.

As a whole the par 3s, with the exception of No. 7, are Moorland’s easiest collection of holes, but they are by no means a pushover.

Par 4s
Dye provided great diversity in Moorland’s par 4s. The front nine, which is considerably longer than the back, features some of the lengthiest par 4s along the Grand Strand.

Three front nine par 4s play more than 400 yards from the tips, including the 4th and 9th which measure 469 yards. To be clear, 99 percent of all players won’t be playing from those distances so while the course is long in spots, if you are playing from the correct set of tees it’s not overwhelming.

The third and fourth holes are memorable front nine par 4s. The third hole is a dogleg left that features water running the length of the hole on the right side. Keep your drive to the right-center of the fairway to provide the best approach angle to the green.  The fourth requires brute strength off the tee and in the fairway, but the green is one of the course’s flattest.

The back nine is more than 250 yards shorter from the blue and white tees, and that is reflected in the par 4s. The 16th is Moorland’s signature hole. The drivable par 4 is a hole no one that plays the course forgets.

The 14th is also relatively short at 369 yards but a slight dogleg left rewards precision off the tee and leads to a blind second shot.

Not every back nine par 4 is shortened. The 462-yard 12th, which plays into an uphill green, is the course’s hardest hole, and the 443-yard 18th is a beast to finish on.

Par 5s
Moorland’s par 5s are the course’s defining set of holes. The par 5 second is one of the layout’s best holes. It features a second fairway that begins approximately 100 yards from the green and rests on an elevated plateau. The hole plays 537 yards so it’s possible for long hitters to go for the green in two, but it’s far from advisable with water on the right and sand on the left.

The sixth hole is a vulnerable par 5. It is 509 yards from the tips and offers the opportunity for birdie. The 11th offers a similar chance, and at 487 yards it’s available for the taking, assuming you avoid the sand.

The par 5 15th hole is a true three-shot test. Four bunkers can be a factor off the tee and water dissects the fairway. The decision to carry the water on the second shot is a crucial one. If you layup in front of the water a long approach awaits but carrying the lake requires an outstanding shot. The choice is yours.

The Verdict: Moorland, a 4.5-star course according to Golf Digest, is a stout test of golf, but don’t be scared by the prospect of a challenge. The layout is visually appealing and, most importantly, fun to play. If you play well, you will score well. No matter, you will remember Moorland.

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