Woodland Valley Golf in Myrtle Beach, SC is set in the scenic lowcountry woodlands northwest of Myrtle Beach. First opened in 1999, it is still surrounded by classic lowcountry forest and natural wetlands. It is a par 72, 18 hole semi-private championship course designed by Russell Breeden, a veteran of over 100 area golf courses. The Woodland Valley course has a classic “push-up” style reminiscent of Donald Ross.
The scenic grounds feature carefully placed bunkers and lakes which provide a challenging and enjoyable round of golf. The fairways of the course are wide with generous landing areas, but the many forced carries make scoring tough. Some consider Woodland Valley to be the Grand Strand’s most daunting modern course. One of its unusual features is the 40-foot elevation drops.
The small greens’ slopes feature interesting but gentle contours which golfers find challenging but smooth. The course is designed with an out-and-back loop-style route intertwined through creeks, wetlands, and cypress swamps. Woodland Valley was the first Myrtle Beach area course to use Jensen Ultra Dwarf turf. The course has been carefully designed to preserve the natural beauty of the area.
Woodland Valley is located half an hour’s drive northwest of Myrtle Beach in Loris, SC, which has been carefully maintained to retain its natural beauty. Many of the trees and wildlife have been preserved, so a round of golf here provides a relaxing escape from the city. The course plays through wetlands and heavily wooded areas on a gently rolling landscape. Woodland Valley was formerly known as Diamondback due to the native diamondback rattlesnakes. Signs posted on the course warn golfers not to threaten the snakes, but actual sightings are rare as the snakes prefer to keep to themselves. The course was renamed to Woodland Valley in conjunction with the new master-planned gated housing community with home sites scattered around the course. Despite the new housing development, the peaceful retreat provides a relaxing atmosphere. The Woodland Valle course is nestled in an area of over 100 acres of peaceful nature preserves and pristine lakes.
The landscape guarantees a morning or afternoon of peace. The pine trees and rolling wetlands provide an abundance of naturally secluded clearings. Despite the fact that the Woodland Valley course is peacefully secluded, it is not far from hundreds of renowned restaurants, shopping, historical sites, museums, and water recreation activities such as fishing and boating. The course is only a short drive up Highway 9 from Myrtle Beach, which the Travel Channel named America’s #1 Family Beach. The Woodland Valley golf course rating is 74.0, and its slope rating is 139.
There are four sets of tees, playing 6,928 yards from the back teeing ground. The country club offers a pro shop, a snack bar, and a practice facility. The driving range offers 25 tees. Signature Golf Group, one of Golf Course News’ Top 25 Golf Course Management Companies, manages the Woodland Valley facility. Bill Bernschein was named the Head Golf Professional at the course in March 2008.
