Man O’War Golf Course Review
Introduction
With weather looming to hit around noon, we decided to play Man O’War Golf Course strictly based on the fact that we could get the first tee time of the day and ensure that we would not be behind anyone that might play slow. We knew we needed to play quickly and we did so, barely beating the rain.
While it isn’t overly long, it nearly reaches 7,000 yards from the tips. It only has a slope of 130 with a rating of 72.4. So while it may look tough from a satellite view, the water generally does not come into play and can be avoided fairly easily.
The also are one of the few places that offer bent-grass greens, which we were excited about when we found out.
Pro Shop
The Man O’War Course pro shop and restaurant, while not large was adequate. The restaurant overlooked the water and the 9th green. It looked pretty cool honestly but we didn’t stay to eat. The pro shop had anything you would need and wasn’t over priced like some places. The workers were friendly and very helpful.
Range and Practice Area
Man O’War Golf Course has a decent sized range, plenty of room for their needs and a large putting green. They have a bunker to the side of the range that you can hit from into the range area. It wouldn’t be something I would be looking for as a potential member, but plenty as a traveling golfer.
Course Conditions
We played Man O’War Golf Club January after there had been some significant rain in the area and more on the way. Obviously the fairways were wet while we were there but they were in better shape than most the golf courses we had played. Their greens though were by far the best we played all week and rolled true. The rough wasn’t so thick that you couldn’t advance your ball, but wasn’t easy to hit of either. The rough was really just about right.
The Front 9
Hole 1 starts you off with a par 5 that is reachable in 2 if you play it right. Keep your tee shot down the left side of the fairway, avoiding the bunkers on the right. This will also give you a better angle into the green. If you decide to go for it in 2, you will likely have to play a little cut shot into the green. Long is actually OK here. Just avoid going to far right as water could come into play. If you lay up, aim for the trees on the left so that you have a better angle into the green. On your approach, just avoid the two bunker in the front. Like I mentioned earlier, long is fine here.
Hole 2 is a mid distance par 3. Short right or long are your miss options but this green is large enough you should be able to hit it. Long is also OK here.
Hole 3 is a par 4 that has a tee shot over water. The water shouldn’t come into play, and just make sure you avoid the bunker on the right. There is a tree that will get in the way of your approach if you hit it into the fairway bunkers. While there are two bunkers in front of the green, they shouldn’t come into play. Take dead aim with your approach here. This hole you can score well on.
Hole 4 is a straight par 4. Avoid the bunkers on the right off the tee. You might even want to hit a fairway wood to keep short of it. On you approach, just long (there is water a bit behind the green so really long isn’t good) and long right would be the ideal misses here.
Hole 5 is a monster of a par 4 for this course. Just keep your tee shot in the fairway or just off. Anything way right is in the trees and will be hard to find the green from there. The green is only protected by really one bunker on the right. So anything short or short left would be an easy up and down if you have a long approach.
Hole 6 is the second par 3 on the front and plays about the same distance. While you have to hit over water, it shouldn’t come into play. There really is plenty of room around the green if you miss by a little. Anything way right will likely find the water. If you’re worried about the water, just club up one.
Hole 7 is a par 4 that bends slightly to the left. A driver off the tee may bring water into play if you miss it left. A fairway wood off the tee is a smart play. Short or right is the miss with your approach, avoiding the bunker and water on the left. This is a pretty easy hole, but you need to hit the fairway.
Hole 8 is a long par 5, almost reaching 600 yards. Avoid the bunkers off the tee on the left. For long hitters, you might be able to reach the one on the right. A fairway wood is not a bad play here off the tee, although you may have to hit it again. Lay up just passed the bunker on the left for about 100 yards left to the middle of the green. The green is guarded by a large bunker short left of the green. Just avoid that on your approach.
Hole 9 is a par 4 that has water on both side of the fairway. It will take a decent errant shot to make it to the water though. While there is plenty of room behind the green, a big bounce could send it into the water. If anything miss short here.
The Back 9
Hole 10 starts the back off with a nice par 4. You will have to carry a little bit of water off the tee. This shouldn’t be an issue. Carrying the bunker on the right shouldn’t be an issue, so just avoid the one on the left. With your approach into the green, avoid the bunker in the front. Just right or long left would be the best misses. You will have to carry water again on your approach but shouldn’t come into play.
Hole 11 is a par 4 that is very similar to hole 10, but just a bit shorter. Longer hitters will need to hit a fairway wood or long iron off this tee. There are multiple bunker around the sides and front of the green, so miss long on your approach.
Hole 12 is a longer par 4 in comparison to others here. The Fairway will narrow for longer hitters, but everyone needs to avoid the large bunker on the right. The approach here can be tricky. Water surrounds the green on all sides but the front. There is plenty of room so don’t worry too much. In my opinion, the best miss is just short of the green. There is more room between the bunker and green on the left than it looks.
Hole 13 is a par 5 just short of 600 yards. For most of us, this will be a 3 shot hole. Make sure to hit the fairway avoiding the lone bunker on the left. Lay up between the bunkers on either side of the fairway. There is a 50 yard gap between the two which would leave you between 130 and 90 yards or so to the green. Just avoid the one bunker on the left by the green on your approach. Anywhere else is an easy up and down. If you do decide to go for it here in 2, just avoid the bunkers on the left. anything right will be fine as long as you don’t get behind the lone tree.
Hole 14 is a par 4, just like 10 and 11. Really long hitter will want to hit fairway wood off the tee. It does slope down to the water at the end of the fairway, so don’t be too long. The green is on an island but does have room left and deep right. If you hit a good tee shot, the approach isn’t too tough.
Hole 15 is an island green par 5. It isn’t overly hard but will still require a good shot. As long as you don’t miss front right you should be fine if you just miss the green. Any errant shot will end up with the fish.
Hole 16 is a par 4 with a fairway that is split. Although it isn’t split by much, my preferred route is on top on the left. Just avoid the water along the right side of the fairway. On your approach, just don’t be short. Anything missing left is ideal, but long will not be wet either.
Hole 17 is the longest par 3 on the course. The bunkers on the right shouldn’t come into play. You options to miss would be right or long. Just avoid the penal bunkers on the left.
Hole 18 has you finishing up with a reachable par 5. Anyone who drives it over 310 (definitely not me) may need to choke down or hit a fairway wood off the tee. Avoid the bunkers on the left at all cost. You will have a hard time advancing it over the water and will have to lay up short. Deep left is the best miss here but anything a a little short of the green and the bunker on the left will work as well.
Conclusion
If you can hit the fairways, Man O’War Golf Course doesn’t play overly hard. There is a lot of water for errant shots, but if you barely miss you should be fine. Overall it was a great experience. The starter and marshal were all very pleasant and we would definitely return. Like we mentioned above, best greens we played all week.
Get a tee time to play Man O’War Golf Club HERE
Check out our other Myrtle Beach course reviews
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