Sometimes You Find a Pleasant Surprise
When Re-Visiting an Old Favorite

Tony’s Test Drives

One in a series of occasional reviews of courses, equipment or products by our traveling golf writer.

By Tony Leodora

Going back to visit an old girlfriend can be a dangerous proposition. More often than not, the outcome is less than desirable.

The same can be said about visiting an old favorite golf course, after a long hiatus. Sometimes, it is not all that you remembered. Sometimes the ravages of time, limited budgets, neglect, overgrown vegetation and poor maintenance can turn a beauty into a beast.

Fortunately, that was not the case when I returned after almost a 15-year hiatus to two courses in the very northeastern corner of South Carolina – Glen Dornoch and Heather Glen. They are part of the four-course Glens Group, which also includes Shaftesbury Glen and Possum Trot.

Heather Glen debuted along Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand with a bang, being named America’s Best New Public Course in 1987 by Golf Digest. It immediately became a favorite of golfers who enjoy the tree-lined fairways and the Scottish accents along the water features.

Willard Byrd was the main architect on the property, although then-up and coming young architect Clyde Johnston was an active assistant on the project. Johnston actually worked solo in finishing the third nine on the 27-hole property.

The recent return to Heather Glen found ownership to be very active in updating the course. The major activity has been an aggressive tree maintenance program throughout a course that had become overgrown. It was quite obvious that hundreds of large trees had been removed in recent months.

“The tree removal program is an ongoing project,” said Steve Heher, director of golf at Heather Glen. “It was badly needed in order to bring more sunlight and air circulation to the course.”

The immediate effect was obvious, as the putting surfaces at Heather Glen seemed extremely healthy and putts rolled as true as any course in the area. Continued tree removal will allow golfers to enjoy the views of a golf course that has always been an outstanding layout.

Across Highway 17, on the east side of the street, sits the 10-year-younger sister course, Glen Dornoch. Also designed by Johnston, this course runs along the Intracoastal Waterway and boasts some of the most scenic views in the area.

When it first opened in 1997 there was a love/hate relationship with some of the holes. Much more controversial than the traditional design at Heather Glen, Glen Dornoch experienced highs and lows in some of the reviews.

The recent return to the course showed that ownership again has been very attentive to the development of the layout. A number of softening changes have occurred to some of the holes and Glen Dornoch now earns enjoyability and playability ratings on the same high level as it receives for its picturesque views.

The best example of an adjustment occurs on No. 16, where once-unplayable terrain has been terraced so that this long par 4 that plays down to a sunken green is one of the most exciting holes along the Grand Strand.

Holes 8 (a par 5 that plays out to the Intracoastal) and 9 (a difficult par 4 that plays along the Waterway) are two other holes that should be rated on anyone’s list of the best holes in the Myrtle Beach area.

As an added accent, the final thrill at Glen Dornoch comes after the round, when golfers can enjoy lunch or a beverage from the wraparound porch that looks over the 9th and 18th greens, with the breathtaking backdrop of the marshes and the Intracoastal Waterway making it difficult to leave the property.

Suffice it to say, the return dance with a couple of old girlfriends proved to be better than anyone could have expected.