The final course I played during vacation was Aberdeen CC in Longs, SC, about ten minutes drive west out of North Myrtle Beach. Once called Buck Creek back in the day, this course has seen improvement since I last played it years ago. I suppose being included in the Masters Collection group of courses has done it much good. Everything about it is slightly smaller in stature than Long Bay Club, it’s more famous neighbor across Hwy 9, including the houses you drive past to get to the unassuming, single-level clubhouse. I don’t say that as a bad thing because what I discovered was a comfortable atmosphere with very friendly service and a shorter, tighter, well-conditioned 27 hole golf course that provided a tough challenge.

As with King's North and Long Bay, I was greeted at the bag drop by a courteous staffer, the GGCT (general of golf cart traffic). As I had about 30 minutes before tee time, I spent that time on the all-grass driving range and practice chipping area. Again, the area is somewhat smaller than those other two but worked nicely, just the same.

There are four sets of tees here, measuring anywhere from 4,600 to 6,800 yards, so choose wisely because this golf course is very tight in spots. Many of the holes are encroached by water, sometimes twice, and you would be smart not to play too far back for your level of talent. The course itself was in good condition, particularly the greens. I’m not sure what type of grass is on those greens but the practice green seemed to be a coarse bermuda, yet the greens on the course appeared to be much smoother. Whatever the case, they were definitely faster as I raced my downhill, first putt a good 12 feet past the hole. Doh! As with those other two courses, Aberdeen is extremely well-marked with the Ping measurement plates in the fairways, each of which give you front, middle and back of the green distances.

Here is the best tip I can give you about Aberdeen CC: when you check in, buy a yardage book. I had the good fortune of being paired with a local who provided just enough information to keep me out of most of the touble. Had he not been with me, it could have been ugly. Check that. It would have been ugly. Many of the tee shots require thought and restraint. Don’t just grab your driver here.

I played the Woodlands – the tighter of the two - and the Meadows nines, which were selected for me. The third nine on any given day is closed and on this day it was the Highlands nine which runs out near the highway. Brilliant idea, if you ask me, to rotate the nines and relieve the stress of playing on the grass, especially in the extreme summer weather. I wouldn’t say there are any particular holes of note, but I would say they were mostly solid offerings with no over-the-top stupid holes. My personal favorites were both par fives, the nearly straightaway ninth on the Woodlands (which I lipped out for eagle out of a greenside bunker) and the dogleg right seventh on the Meadows (on which I chopped a good birdie chance into a fat double bogey).

Aberdeen would be considered a filler or second-tier course on any travel golf itinerary. But it does make an enjoyable arrival or getaway play if you are traveling on Hwy 9. Don’t think that you’re just going to light it up. No, no. You need to manage your game properly to do well around here. And you can’t do that without that yardage book.

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