Question:
The Legends is a fabulous place to stay, but you will need transportation for any othetrr courses and dining. The condos are clean, roomy and all golf. The practice area is the best anywhere, and the package there lets you beat balls until your hands are bloody for no extra charge. The course are above average, but not a Marsh Harbor or Heritage. I would rec. the Legends, but it is very pricey. We played at Kiawah including the Ocean course for not a whole lot more than the Legends, and was that and experience on those 5 courses…Ted
Response:
I played at Moorland and Parkland the week prior to your experience. the each are intriguing and challenging. The greens were awful, nothing like other premium courses played during the same period. Bob
Response:
Left Washington DC for MB at 3:00 AM on Friday, March 19. Played the following courses: 3/19, River Oaks Golf Plantation – A very average course that is tricked up with many lakes and water filled ditches lining the fairways. This is a 27 (Bear, Fox, Otter) hole facility. We had a 1:07 tee time and they were running 10 minutes behind. We played Bear and Fox. Conditions were OK. Overseeded bermuda fairways, dormant bermuda rough that played more like hardpan. Greens were smooth and of average speed. Pace of play was horrible – we finished in darkness. Fox course was much more interesting than Bear. No need to go back. 3/20 AM, Marsh Harbour – Beautiful course on natural rolling terrain, which is unusual for this area. Short par 4s, long par 3. Par 71 course has three par 3s on the front. Both nines start in a wooded setting and end up along the marsh. Outstanding finishing holes on both the front and back (8,9 and 16,17,18). In fact 16, 17, and 18 may be the best three consecutive holes we played all weekend. Course was in beautiful condition all around. GPS on carts, 90* rule in effect. Decent pace of play – about 4:30. We wisely played from the whites, which are only 6000 yards. You can score well on Marsh Harbour, although only one in our foursome broke 90. Definately on the return-to list, although probably not a must play every year course. 3/20 PM, Oyster Bay – What else can be said about this course? It’s got some stunningly gorgeous holes. It’s hard, but fair if you hit good shots. And it is magnificently laid out. It doesn’t appear that a lot of earth was moved to create this course. Same goes for Marsh Harbour – Dan Maples is a genius. We played the whites, which seemed to play a little shorter than the 6350 on the scorecard. Unlike Marsh, Oyster has more long par 4s and shorter par 3s. Interesting par 70 layout has three par 3s and two par 5s on the front and only one par 5 on the back. Teed off around 1:45 and finished around 6:30. Birdied the #2 and #5 handicap hole! Played this last year and expect to play it next year too and every year after. 3/21 AM, Arrowhead Country Club – Ray Floyd signature course with three nines – Lakes, Waterway, Cypress. A lot of earth was moved to create this course from a flat piece of land but the results are surprisingly good. Lakes and Waterway are above average for the dozen or so MB courses I’ve played. Cypress is a revelation – as good as any nine at Marsh or Oyster. Most of the holes play along or across the creek. Several holes cross the creek twice. Just a wonderfully designed 9 holes of golf. Well, actually, the 9th on Cypress is pretty ugly with huge mounds at the end of the fairway. But the other 8 are terrific. Probably would return, but not for a few years. The tees, fairways and rough were thick and green. Some of the greens were bumpy – perhaps they’re still adapting to last year’s bentgrass renovation. 3/22, Tidewater – This is the place to go to get pampered and feel rich for a day. Actually, you better be rich. But it’s worth every penny. The course winds through densely wooded forest and along the intracoastal waterway and the ocean inlet. Some of the fairways are lined with houses, but they’re hidden behind a thick buffer of forest and are not obtrusive at all. The course looks like it’s been here for decades. There are absolutely no tricks or gimmicks to this course at all. It looks like an old time course, the kind they used to build before bulldozers made it possible to create something that wasn’t there to start with. Think Pinehurst, Pine Valley, Merion. Except with the cliff side water views of Pebble Beach or Cypress. #3 is the most intimidating short par 3 I’ve ever seen (parred it). The holes along the water a just picture postcard perfect. The inland holes are quiet and secluded and reward good shots without being punitive. We played the whites which were playing much longer than the 6000 yards on the scorecard (more like 6300 according to the starter). Course was in perfect condition. I’m already thinking about how to play some of these holes next year. The only negative is that the holes are very far apart, which makes for a long round even though you’re playing at a good pace. This course easily earns it’s top 50 public course award. For next year we’re looking at the following courses: Heathland, Mooreland, Parkland, Caledonia, The Pearl. If anyone has comments on them, as well as the Legends Resort accomodations on Rte 501, lets’ here them. Tim T.