Sneak preview at "The Granddaddy": Pine Lakes Country Club in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Pine Lakes Country Club is Myrtle Beach’s oldest golf course, established in 1929. It’s also been closed for two years now, undergoing an extensive renovation and upgrade of not only the golf course but of the clubhouse as well.

Pine Lakes is on the National Registrar of Historic Places, and the course is going to remain true to its classic character, void of real estate or any design traits that’s horribly flashy or modern.

Craig Schreiner, who’s office is based in Myrtle Beach, is overseeing the redesign work and led a tour of the course yesterday. It’s certainly got a lot of people excited in the area. They’ve amplified a lot of the topography’s dips and mounds. This is for both drainage purposes and also adds to most holes’ character. Schreiner seemed most excited about is how the topography, especially leading up to and around the greens, seems to gradually increase on holes later in the round, getting gradually more undulating. The bunkers, while not filled yet, are going to be very deep, especially later in the round.

Greens were also restored to their original size and shape, as they have a tendency to shrink and flatten over time. One great touch is the long, rectangle tee boxes they’ve implemented.

Pine Lakes’ clubhouse is a beautiful, historic building which is also undergoing a facelift, and during redesign they saw to it to make the structure more visible from more points on the course. Two new holes were built entirely on what was once wetlands.

One other notable is the change in turf, moving to a Seadwarf Paspallum over Bermuda. Being located so close to the ocean, Pine Lakes has always had issues with water quality and paspalum grasses can handle salt and brackish water better than any other turf.

The routing was changed and the 17th and 18th are gone entirely. Two brand new holes were built, holes No. 4 and 5. The original second hole will make up the finisher now, though plays up to 450 yards now.

Pine Lakes is on schedule to re-open in March, 2009. It will also be in the top tier of area courses with a peak season green fee of $150.

Pine Lakes’ historic clubhouse is also receiving a facelift during the club’s renovation.

Pine Lakes Country Club is set to reopen in March after two years of extensive renovations.