True Blue Golf Club

True Blue Golf Club – Played October 2007

• Rankings: None of the four lists
• Location: 900 Blue Stem Drive, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
• Year: 1998
• Architect: Mike Strantz
• Course Access: Public
• Walking Rules: Carts Available

Score Card Information:

• Gold: 7,126 yards, Par 72, 73.8 Rating/139 Slope
• Blue: 6,812 yards, Par 72, 72.3 Rating/128 Slope
• White: 6,375 yards, Par 72, 71.1 Rating/123 Slope
• Black: 5,736 yards, Par 72, 67.2 Rating/112 Slope
• Green: 4,995 yards, Par 72, 69.5 Rating/115 Slope

True Blue Golf Club was actually my first experience with the great Mike Strantz.  This will kick off back to back weeks of Strantz courses, so be on the lookout next week for another!

A quick backstory.  In one of my internships in college, I won a weekend at a beach condo of one of the partners in my firm.  I was very excited.

I was also a little nervous because my buddies were going down with me and I didn’t want anything to happen to the condo because it would be a while until I started full time.  There was plenty of time to pull my offer if we messed something up!

Luckily none of that happened.  We partied pretty hard and met up with some good friends that were in the area as well.  I remember it for watching the ALCS between the Red Sox and Indians.  The Sox won and got the ring that year!  All my buddies were cheering for Cleveland because I don’t know how to pick friends apparently :).

On our departure date, most of the crew was driving back in a hungover state.  My friend Joel and I decided we would play some golf.  We weren’t feeling our best, but I was intrigued by True Blue Golf Club.

The course is a neighbor to Caledonia and earned Strantz Architect of the Year in 1998.  I would say this is one of, if not the best pair of public tracks along the SC coast.

Thanks again to Brian for the photos.  Check him out on Instagram @virginiagolfguy and at his website.

All hole distances are from the white tees.

Hole 1 – 499 yards – Par 5

The first doglegs to the left.  The drive and approach are best played up the right side.  At this length, birdie is in play.

A large waste area guards the left side and sand surrounds the green.  There is also a small creek running through the sand.

Hole 2 – 316 yards – Par 4

This short par 4 plays to a wide fairway.  You can run put of grass on the left and a large waste area runs up the right.

The green has multiple tiers and is quite narrow in the front.

Hole 3 – 141 yards – Par 3

This is a devastating hole if you miss.  The green is surrounded by water as well as the large bunker you can see below.

The green has plenty of slope within its figure-eight frame.  A high shot is needed from the tee.

Hole 4 – 493 yards – Par 5

This hole is almost U-shaped.  The water hazard is large and dominates the hole.  Shots need to be played up the right for safety.

A good drive will leave you with a manageable carry over the water, but it is tough.  The green runs right to left and funnel balls of the back left.

Hole 5 – 396 yards – Par 4

The fairway is wider than it looks once you get past the first part of the bunker on the left.

The approach is right in front of you.  The green is large with gentle sloping.

Hole 6 – 383 yards – Par 4

The drive is critical here as you have the forced carry over the hazard.  There are two greens in play here, one left and one right.  The drive should favor the opposite side of the fairway from whatever green is in play.

I believe this is the right green.

Hole 7 – 151 yards – Par 3

This shot is all about club selection since you do not want to be in the deep front bunker.  The green slopes from right to left sharply.

Here is a closer look at the green.

Hole 8 – 341 yards – Par 4

Another dogleg here, this one to the right.  Big hitters can carry the right corner.

Approach shots need to carry onto the green or risk rolling back into the fairway.  The green is huge.

Hole 9 – 517 yards – Par 5

First-timers may have trouble with the visuals on this tee.  It doglegs to the right and then back to the left.  If playing it in three keep the drive up the left-center.

Going for it in two will require carrying wetlands.  Lay up shots to this area will have a flip wedge to a very small green.

Hole 10 – 559 yards – Par 5

This one will require three shots to reach for most players.  The hole doglegs severely to the right.  You’ll want to avoid the waste bunker on both sides of the fairway.

The lay-up area is fairly wide open.  The green offers up some interesting slopes that make the approach shot a tester.

Hole 11 – 130 yards – Par 3

It looks like a mini beach out in front of this tee.  The green is somewhat tucked away to the right.

The green is large with the tier in the middle seen below.

Hole 12 – 371 yards – Par 4

The smart play is up to the left center of this fairway, but not too far left.

The second shot plays to a massive two-tiered green.  The backside runs away from you and can repel shots into pot bunkers behind the green.

Hole 13 – 381 yards – Par 4

The waste bunker is a menacing presence here, but there is more fairway than there appears.

The approach plays to a green that seems guarded by sand, but these are actually 30 yards short.  The green is bowl-shaped and should allow for a good shot to funnel towards the middle.

Hole 14 – 138 yards – Par 3

Wind can be difficult here.  There is a large waste bunker that runs up to the green.  Most of it will be carried easily.

The green slopes right to left.  Due to the slope of the hole, it will play slightly less than the yardage.

Hole 15 – 577 yards – Par 5

This is definitely a three-shot hole.  The tee shot should be played up the left side.  The second shot needs to be on the right side due to a large waste bunker on the left.

Here is the look from behind the flag which shows the large waste bunker.

Hole 16 – 181 yards – Par 3

The play here is to the left side of the green.  A large bunker that touches the water guards the right.  The green slopes from left to right.

Hole 17 – 395 yards – Par 4

The preferred play here is up the left.  Big hitters can go through the fairway if they play up the right.

Depending on the position of your drive the approach may play over water.

Hole 18 – 406 yards – Par 4

This is one of the most demanding tee shots on the course.  The right center of the fairway is the goal.

The approach plays over the water again to a green that slopes right to left.  You have to work hard for a final par.

I think True Blue Golf Club is a great introduction to Mike Strantz.  It reveals some of his quirks and creativity but doesn’t bowl you over like Tobacco Road.  It isn’t as penal as Tot Hill Farm.  Paired with Caledonia it is a perfect half of a 36 hole day.

Look out next week for another Strantz track!