By Joe Derus, NorthMyrtleBeachOnline.com

JULY 15, 2009 CONWAY, SC ― Wild Wing Plantation offers all the discriminating golfer is looking for, smooth greens, lush fairways and a very interesting challenging layout. 

The Avocet course, designed by Larry Nelson and Jeff Bauer, has been a must play at Myrtle Beach for over 15 years.  At one time Wild Wing had four courses, Wood Stork that opened in 1991, Hummingbird in 1992, Avocet in 1993 and Falcon in 1994  Through the years the course have won many Awards including “4-Star Award Winner” Golf Digest, Places to Play 2002-2003. 

Avocet, however, was always THE course to play at Wild Wing, and has emerged as the survivor of the original four courses. Recently renovated is Hummingbird Nine. We have not played this as yet, but from what we hear it is up to Avocet/Wild Wing quality.

Wild Wing is located just off Highway 501 North near Conway. If you are coming from the North Myrtle Beach area scoot South on Highway 31 to 501 North  and enter Wild Wing on your right. I only say this because there is no traffic light to the entrance and crossing making a left from 501 may be problem. To avoid problems schedule your tee time through myrtlebeachgolfdirectors.com get a good deal and excellent directions as well.

Getting there is the first of many decisions you make when playing Avocet.

Avocet has a three tee set up - Dark Teal, Magenta & White. The first two holes are pretty straight forward, no real problems, straight away par fours of 348 and 327 yards from the white Tees.

I thought “What a great way to start. This course isn’t so tough.” But then, holes 3 and 4 start asking you how you want to play it?

On # 3, a par 4 of 399 yards, a good tee shot will put you in a decision mode, because there is a waste area running right across the fairway just short of the green.  It is close enough to make you think you can get over it, yet far enough away that laying up may be the better option.

This same scenario holds true on the par 5 fourth hole. Two good shots put you in a  decision making mode. Go over the waste area or lay up. Even though the course is well marked for distance, a GPS showing distance to waste area and depth of waste area would be helpful in making second or third shot decisions.  

The greens are well maintained, smooth but hardly flat. In fact it seems every hole has a tiered green and the hole may be on the side of an incline. The par threes are all reasonable; the longest being 166 yards. There is some water to hit over but this can be easily conquered by an average golfer.  

The sixth hole is the number one handicap. It’s a par 4, 393 yards. If you think you are seeing double with two flags on the greens, you are correct. This hole shares a huge green with hole number 17. This ‘shared’ green does not interfere with play at all. It’s just another interesting quirk of this course.

Number nine is only 299 yards and is the number 13 handicap, yet it is a real decision maker with both a good chance for reward and a good chance for failure.

Take a close look at this photo. What would you do? Go straight at the flag over the traps? Hit it up the left over the close in traps to the fairway or even play with the trees on the right?

Decisions are what this course is all about, and its fun deciding. In addition to the tiered greens, Avocet seems to have lots of dog legs. This only adds to the beauty of the course.

Our round was one of those where we thought the weather would run us off the course. But even with brief but heavy showers the course remained playable as if nothing had happen.

Number fourteen is the easiest hole to play according to the score card. It’s a 265 yard par four. It is very similar to number nine in that you may decide to hit the tee shot over the fairway bunkers and hope you don’t slice into the water on the right. Or you could play it safe and go for the longer way on the fairway on the left. Either way with Wild Wing & Avocet the decision is yours.

Just remember you can’t make a wrong decision when you choose MyrtleBeachGolfDirectors.com to arrange tee times for you and Avocet is a great choice.