True Blue Golf Resort

My son, Patrick Smith, and I, Dolly Bevan Manion, drove over 3 1/2 hours to play True Blue (a misnomer) for the first time on Sat, the 27th of Sept. With cart and green fee it was $186 for each of us. We have been playing golf at many different courses for more than 30 years and it was the worst golfing experience ever. I will recount the experience -saving the BEST for last. We were not allowed to take the cart to the car to load up. Thus, had to tip the attendant at the bag drop for putting our bags on the cart. No outside coolers allowed so you had to purchase any beverages from the hospitality cart of course at a highly inflated price. you could USE a small cloth bag cooler WITH ICE the size of a small purse if you purchased a six pack of beer for $28.00. There was GPS in the cart but not only to give yardage and relevant playing info, but to advertise and repeatedly to caution that railroad ties are slippery when wet. It was also used to send messages to the players. Shockingly, the attached disgusting message appeared around hole 17. Now for the BEST part- While waiting to go to the first tee, we were informed there was another couple playing with us- a very nice young couple from NY. The guy was a good golfer. Patrick is a very good golfer. Regardless of how we are playing on a given day, we pick up after we have reached double bogey on a hole. We DO NOT play behind schedule unless we are being held up. The female of the pair should not have been on the golf course. She never picked her ball up until it went in the hole- mostly after 10-12 strokes. She putted out each hole- putts less than a foot. She took at least 15 seconds to line up every shot. At the green she lined up each putt by squatting and holding her ball at eye level! What was that about? Naturally, we fell behind. The rangers kept approaching us and telling us to move on. Verbally and on the screen we were informed that we were going to be forced to skip holes unless we caught up. I explained to one ranger, "Barry", why we were behind. Rather than telling the female that she was taking too much time, our foursome was warned to speed up. On the back nine, True Blue's pressure and the frustration of playing with a pure novice, destroyed my concentration. Both Patrick and I seriously thought about quitting- something we have never done. At the end of the round at the bag drop, an attendant asked Patrick how he enjoyed the game and he told the guy it was unpleasant due to the constant cajoling to speed up. The response unapologetically was that "they" tried to get as many golfers "teed off" as possible and Saturday was a busy day. Well, we were totally "teed off" and will not play at "True Blue" or sister course, Caledonia, again. Oh, and by the way, it took 5 1/2 hours to play.

Easily one of the best courses in Myrtle, anybody reading this should disregard the bad reviews here. Impeccable greens, great course conditions, the coolest tee markers i've ever seen along with the halfway house. Only downside is there's no range here but one at their sister course (True Blue- another gem). Highly recommend to any golfer you won't be disappointed. This course should 95-100% rating on here, shame on the bad reviews for skewing the actual course rating. Golf pass is such a reliable tool, it's shocking this has an 80% rating.

You pay $135.00 and you have to wait every single shot on every hole is ridiculous.

Then you find out the jamb a foursome in in front of you and all the ranger can say is it great out here.

I do get waiting on some tee boxes but EVERY shot for 18 holes. Stop trying to steal everybody's money and make this course enjoyable.

Probably will never go back but I don't think they care.

I played Caledonia Golf & Fish Club with three friends, on Monday, March 24th. It’s been over six years since I last played here, and this is my first official review of the course. The course is just as beautiful as it was six years ago. It all starts with driving down the way to the club house. Southern oak trees with Spanish moss line both sides of the drive into the club house. It’s very similar to the entrance of Augusta National. This is my third time playing the course and it’s just as visually appealing as my first time here. The entire staff from the bag drop, to the restaurant, to the pro shop were extremely nice and professional.

The course itself was in phenomenal shape. There were a couple of teeing areas that were pretty worn, but I would assume that is due to the amount of play they receive. Every hole is unique, and you must try to be on the correct side of the fairway, for your approach to the green(s). The course is fair but will provide a challenge on wayward shots. It’s hard to pick out my favorite holes, but if I did, they would be number 9 and 18. Me personally, I like ending a nine with a par three. Even though it’s a short hole it does provide a challenge. It’s all carry over a sand trap to a very narrow green. Number 18 is a par four and is also a challenge with water all the way on the right side of the fairway and in front of the green. You need to hit your drive as far down the fairway, without going into the water, so you have a shorter club into the green. Add to the fact that you will be watched by the people sitting on the porch. With that being said, I would recommend sitting outside on the porch after your round, enjoy the views of the surrounding area and watch your fellow golfers navigate number 18.

If there was a downside, there is no driving range on site and if you do want to hit some balls beforehand you need to go to Caledonia’s sister course, True Blue, across the street. There are no issues. Just tell the starter at True Blue you have a tee time at Caledonia, and they will set you up with some range balls.

This was my first Mike Strantz course I have played and I’m excited to play other courses of his. I did play True Blue six years ago also. So, I’m becoming a big fan of his work.

True Blue was an early revelation for me. When I played it for the first time, it opened my eyes to how creative golf course design could be. The sandscapes bordering every hole and the huge, sculpted greens were eye candy that made a deep impression on me. A recent round stirred the familiar warm feelings and nostalgia. Although the greens have shrunk considerably and are due for regressing in the next couple of years, a round at True Blue is as close to a must as the greater Myrtle Beach area provides.

This review should in no way shape or form take away from the layout and shape of the course. However, when the round is negatively impacted by the staff, I have an issue. As we finished 9, we waited for 10 minutes to tee off on 10. After teeing off on 11, we were 4 mins behind pace (according to the cart) as a foursome on hole 11. An outside staff cart approached us and said “I got word from the pro shop there is a significant gap between us and the group ahead of us” and that we needed to close that immediately. Attached is a picture taken of the group in front of us, a 6some. The staff member that approached us never addressed the group in front of us, again only our group was given a warning for playing slow.

The cart lady also wouldn’t give us any ice unless we purchased a drink.

We travel to Myrtle Beach year for an annual golf trip. Been playing True Blue for 20 years and it is truly my favorite. Bring your long game, brush up on how to hit out of fairway bunkers for starters. Conditions were great. I cannot say enough about how great this course.is On the 9th hole I hit a long drive that landed 3 feet from a large gator. Took a drop which the crowd on the back porch appreciated. This course is a slice of heaven.

I played True Blue and Caledonia in the same day. Maybe because Caledonia gets more acclaim that I wasn't expecting so much, but I loved True Blue, maybe even more than Caledonia. They are quite different: Caledonia is a tighter layout with a beautiful scenic environment. It's holes are strategic but in a way that blends wonderfully throughout the property. True Blue is big and bold, with big features and wider hole corridors that time and again make you think about how to play the hole.

Caledonia is a bit more target golf with the playing strategy apparent on most holes. They bend and roll and the variety is good. True Blue has more visual deception and risk-reward options. True Blue is also a pretty course, but Caledonia is amazing in that regard. True Blue has more very long green to tee distances if you are a walker.

The green sites on both are very fair. You generally have a preferred open angle in from one side or the other, except for shorter holes meant to be attacked with a short iron. The greens have interesting slops and tiers but are not severe. These are two great courses.

I played True Blue and Caledonia in the same day. Maybe because Caledonia gets more acclaim that I wasn't expecting so much, but I loved True Blue, maybe even more than Caledonia. They are quite different: Caledonia is a tighter layout with a beautiful scenic environment. It's holes are strategic but in a way that blends wonderfully throughout the property. True Blue is big and bold, with big features and wider hole corridors that time and again make you think about how to play the hole.

Caledonia is a bit more target golf with the playing strategy apparent on most holes. They bend and roll and the variety is good. True Blue has more visual deception and risk-reward options. True Blue is also a pretty course, but Caledonia is amazing in that regard. True Blue has more very long green to tee distances if you are a walker.

The green sites on both are very fair. You generally have a preferred open angle in from one side or the other, except for shorter holes meant to be attacked with a short iron. The greens have interesting slops and tiers but are not severe. These are two great courses.

I played True Blue and Caledonia in the same day. Maybe because Caledonia gets more acclaim that I wasn't expecting so much, but I loved True Blue, maybe even more than Caledonia. They are quite different: Caledonia is a tighter layout with a beautiful scenic environment. It's holes are strategic but in a way that blends wonderfully throughout the property. True Blue is big and bold, with big features and wider hole corridors that time and again make you think about how to play the hole.

Caledonia is a bit more target golf with the playing strategy apparent on most holes. They bend and roll and the variety is good. True Blue has more visual deception and risk-reward options. True Blue is also a pretty course, but Caledonia is amazing in that regard. True Blue has more very long green to tee distances if you are a walker.

The green sites on both are very fair. You generally have a preferred open angle in from one side or the other, except for shorter holes meant to be attacked with a short iron. The greens have interesting slops and tiers but are not severe. These are two great courses.

Play True Blue/Caledonia/Pawleys and Tpc last week-Weather was perfect.These courses are all decent but they all lack something.The greens were too slow at all 4 courses to take seriously as top notch courses.Too bad.The layouts are not bad.Expect lots of hackers and slow play.People were nice but would never return for a golf outing with guys.Its just blah

We have played here for many years but what a disappointment this year. And shame on Caledonia.

This year there were at least five unplayable greens.

All the bunkers had not been cared for. We were told they were now waste bunkers. No sand in the bunkers and like hitting off concrete.

All this at full price.

Something has gone very wrong at Caledonia. We won’t be back.

True blue is a gem. The layout is true links style and conditions were great. The only downside is the greens. They were a little fuzzy when we played Master weekend on 4/9/22. Other than that it was one of my favorite courses ever played. The course will penalize you if you if you dont get off the tee well. Its long from the tips and from the blues which is where we played. It was very windy when we played so that was a factor. The amenities are solid too. Good range. I would give it a 10/10 if the greens were better. Heritage is still my favorite on the strand and True Blue is right behind there.

Yes, this is a great Mike Strantz design. But this is not his best. Sometimes it feels like he ran out of room and squeezed the 9th hole in. And no driving range. Can’t hit anything more than a sand wedge in the warm up area. But it is what it is. 17 great golf holes when it’s in peak condition.

But played it Wednesday 12/29/21. At least six greens were spray painted sand. No grass. It was confirmed by the starter that burmuda grass got into some of the greens and they had to kill it. This was human error.

The course can be beautiful. Right now, in its current state, it’s barely worth a $30 replay rate from True Blue.

Caledonia is one of the best, if not the best, looking golf courses I have ever played. Blends in to the surroundings very well and that drive up the clubhouse through the trees thick with hanging moss is excellent. Course conditions were great and the experience was excellent. My only quibbles are those that I knew about going in. (1) It is a small, rather tight golf course that, for me, meant a lot of hybrids and 3Ws off the tee. Very easy to be on the wrong side of the fairway and blocked out by large trees. (2) A few of the holes run together in my mind which is rare for a Strantz course. As other reviewers have pointed out, this is a rather restrained design by Strantz in comparison to True Blue across the street. Overall, this is a delightful course that I would love to come back and walk when it isn't 100 degrees outside. I think that is probably the best way to enjoy it.

I've probably played 30 courses in the Myrtle Beach area and this one is my favorite. I love all Mike Strantz designs. True Blue is similar to Tobacco Road, but has less blind shots. This staff is always excellent and everytime I play here the conditions are great. Playing from the correct tee box is a must here.

Played True Blue on a guys golf outing. Course is awesome. Love the Mike Strantz design. Was cart path only which made for an extremely long round, Course was pretty wet especially in the low lying areas. But overall tee boxes and fairways were good. Green's were fantastic. Putts rolled true and had very few bumpy putts from the group. Clubhouse and restaurant are excellent. But the layout of the course is the real treat. It is visually intimidating which is normal for the designer. Can't wait to go back.

Unlike it's sister course, True Blue is a full-on Mike Strantz layout, featuring wide fairways, challenging greens and a huge number of waste areas and water hazards.

True Blue gives you a taste of what you're in for on the opening par 5. Even with a good drive you're left with a challenging layup, and then an approach to a perched green. It takes 3 good shots to make par here. You'll continue to find that as you play your round. Good shots are rewarded, but poor shots are punished.

The condition of the course was average when we played. The fairways, tees and rough were similar to other courses in the area, including sister course Caledonia. However, the greens were bumpy and slower than expected. This made putting a bit of a crapshoot.

All of the bunkers are True Blue are treated as waste bunkers, meaning you can ground your club and take practice swings. I highly recommend doing both!

Overall, I really liked True Blue. I believe it's more challenging than Caledonia due to more difficult greens and significantly more penalty areas. If you're a fan of Strantz's work at Tobacco Road, you'll like True Blue. You can see some Tobacco Road flair as you traverse True Blue.

My favorite hole on the course is the 18th. It's just a great finishing hole, and caps off a memorable experience.

My first Mike Strantz design was his masterpiece, Tobacco Road. I expected to find some of the Tobacco Road flair at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, but was met with a more subtle Strantz course that took me two playings to appreciate.

The beauty of Caledonia is that you really feel like you're playing golf in a garden. The setting is so beautiful with tall pines, colorful flowers, artful bunkers and wildlife filled marshes. Life at Caledonia is very relaxed and unhurried.

The golf course greets you with a friendly opening 9 holes where you can score, if you keep your ball in front of you. The 9th hole is a 100 yard par 3 to finish out the really nice opening 9.

The back 9 opens with a long par 5, followed by a nice par three. Then the difficulty amps up with a string of par 4s that will test your game. The finishing 4 holes are among the most beautiful and challenging I've played.

I do feel like I need to add that the staff wasn't as friendly as I had hoped they would be. The starter for our first round was surly, and the bag drop crew was very eager to get us off the course after our 2nd round as we were the last group in. While I still rate this course as 5 stars, this did detract from the experience a little bit.

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club is a must play in the Myrtle Beach/Pawley's Island area. If you're a Mike Strantz fan, you need to see this course and experience a more subtle version of his artistry. Also, be sure to slow down and enjoy the drive into the property.

My favorite hole on the property is the par 4 13th hole. It is less than driver off the tee, then an exacting approach to a green perched above a trademark Strantz bunker.