No. 1 at Willbrook Plantation toughest starting hole in Myrtle Beach?

I played Willbrook Plantation on Pawley’s Island south of Myrtle Beach yesterday. I went off the back nine and the twosome I paired up with crapped out after six holes. They were seniors and had been playing 36 holes a day all week. The intermittent rain was an excuse for them to get off the course and hit a movie.

Anyways, I partnered with a new threesome beginning their round on front side.

I was shocked to discover the first hole is easily the most difficult drive on the course. It’s 400 yards from the white tees and is a dogleg right. What’s tricky, is a cluster of tall trees on the corner mean you have to smack it at least 240 for a clear shot at the green (and that’s from the white tees). Marsh lines the left side, and you have to carry about 100 yards of water in front of the tee box.

Now, I’ve only been in The Beach for about a week now, so I haven’t played everywhere. But I have a hard time imagining a more difficult starting tee shot than this one. In damp conditions, it took my best drive of the day to squeak just past the willow on the right and have a clean shot at the green. The other three players - one of them quite good - had no shot and hacked the hole pretty good.

If you show up to Willbrook and are informed by the starter you’re going off the back side, consider yourself lucky - or else be sure to warm up on the range if you’re off the front.

As a whole, I found Willbrook to be a great course. A near-perfect blend of difficulty, scenery and playability. And I’m not even a chick.

The first tee shot at Willbrook isn’t very forgiving.