Myrtle Beach Golf Course Review: Par 6, Great Greens Bring Players Back to Farmstead
“We probably have the best bermuda grass greens on this end of beach,” said Ricky Lyons, Farmstead’s general manager. “I’ll put that up against anyone.”
After a round a Farmstead, it’s hard to argue there are greens that are any better. The putting surfaces are smooth and fast. Missed putts aren’t a result of blemishes on the greens – operator error will be the source of any problem!
If the 18th hole is Farmstead’s best, players get the pleasure of opening a round with its closest competitor, the 420-yard first hole. A generous fairway and a pond with a fountain await players on their opening tee shot, as does a slightly elevated green flanked by bunkers.
The second hole is Farmstead’s toughest, a 446-yard, brute of a par 4. The hole doglegs hard to the right and a stream dissects the fairway 75 yards in the front of the green. A tee shot that strays too far to the left could leave No. 2 playing this like a par 5.
Farmstead has five par 3s, keeping the course at the traditional par 72, including three that play more than 200 yards from the tips.
The 209-yard third hole requires one of the round’s most daunting tee shots because nearly all of it is over water. Even from the white tees, a 149-yard shot running the length of a lake appears longer. It’s a beautiful hole but a poor swing will bring a trip to the drop area.
Farmstead has only three par 5s and two of them offer tempting risk-reward decisions. The fourth and 14th holes are reachable, but the respective fairways narrow the closer one gets to the green, so caution is in order.
The par 5 ninth plays just 487 yards from the blue tees and 461 yards from the white tees so it’s accessible for mid to low handicappers but they must hit and hold the smallest green on the course. Regardless, it’s a hole players can take advantage of.
As for the renowned 18th hole, don’t let it intimidate you. There is plenty of room to hit the ball until a lake comes into play over the last 200 yards. A birdie will require five really good shots, something that’s not easy, but players that don’t over swing will likely enjoy a happy ending.
“Don’t get intimidated when you get out there,” Lyons said of the 18th hole. “It’s just like a par 5, just one more shot.”
The Verdict: The par 6 18th hole is the one you will tell everyone about, but Farmstead is an enjoyable layout throughout. The wide fairways framed by tall native grasses provide visual appeal and the greens are flawless. Farmstead is an outstanding addition to any Myrtle Beach golf trip.
