Tudor Oaks Inn

Legend Oaks Golf Club in Summerville, SC is much more than your typical daily fee facility. Although the golf course receives much of the spotlight, its tennis program is one of the best in the area, and its restaurant, Bistro One18, receives a lot of business from locals and other non-golfers. I think it’s safe to say that Legend Oaks is truly a hidden gem!

Legend Oaks offers golfers five sets of tees with yardages that stretch from 6,809 to a manageable 4,957 for the ladies, juniors, and seniors. I found the Blue Tees (6,063/70.5/124) provided a substantial challenge for someone playing the course for the first time, and still, let me leave with a little dignity!

Legend Oaks is built on the site of an antebellum rice plantation and has plenty of water hazards, sand traps, and wetland areas with deep, thick underbrush. Remember those centuries-old live oaks you saw on the way in? You’ll find plenty more of them as you make your way around the layout only these are not there for aesthetics! You’ll also see towering pines and a whole host of Lowcountry wildlife.

The front nine has a little bit of “target golf” to it and demands more control off the tee whereas the back nine is more wide open. The Diamond Zoysia greens were installed in 2014 and not only hold well-hit approach shots nicely they also provide a noticeably smooth putting surface.

As you play the course, you may get a Pete Dye or Jack Nicklaus vibe. That’s because course architect Scott Pool worked for Dye for 10 years and did a lot of course shaping for Jack Nicklaus as well. Unlike Dye who liked to hide pot bunkers and other hazards whenever he could, Pool is upfront about the challenges you’ll encounter. It’s more of a brains-over-brawn philosophy at Legend Oaks or, as former owner Jim Chickarello used to say, “It’s a shotmaker’s course.”

The golf course has several memorable holes; for me, they were Numbers 1, 6, 10,16, and 18.

The opening hole is a 362-yard par 4, dogleg left. If you can fly your tee shot over the fairway bunker on the left, you’ll have a much shorter approach shot. Longball hitters should take note of the water just past the fairway bunker on the right. Success off the tee will leave a mid to short-iron approach shot that plays slightly downhill onto a large green. Although there are no bunkers around the green, the subtle undulations may get you. Nothing wrong with starting with a par!

Number 6 is a 480-yard par 5 that many players will be able to reach in two. Your layup and approach shots play significantly downhill and if you can hit your layup shot over the fairway bunker on the left, you may just catch the slope and roll all the way to the green. The green is small and is protected by water on the right and in the back if you fly it long. Although there are no bunkers around the green, there is a lot of mounding which can make for some interesting lies.

If you’ve never played the golf course before, the 10th hole can be notoriously intimidating. At 322 yards, length isn’t the main concern although longball hitters should take note of the pond in front of the green. Playing your tee shot left of the water will leave a longer approach shot into the green but may save a golf ball or two. The green is very large and angled front left to back right. The right side is protected by a bunker in front as well as water and a marsh area. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, Legend Oaks does something interesting and flips the nines, so this will be your first hole of the day.

Number 16 is a long par 4 that plays 400 yards from the Blue Tees. The hole doglegs around a lake however it’s more like a right turn than a dogleg! Longball hitters may be able to carry the lake off the tee, but for the rest of us, playing your tee shot left of the water will avoid the wet stuff but still leave a hybrid or long iron into the green.

The finishing hole is a straight-away par 5 with some interesting twists. Although it’s only 451 yards from the Blue Tees, it plays longer and requires accuracy on your first two shots. The fairway opens up to the right of the fairway bunker, but your next shot may be blocked out by trees. Anything left of that bunker spells big trouble. If you can hit a straight drive over the bunker on the left you’ll have the best angle into the green. It’s clear sailing from about 140 yards out, once you get past the trees that line either side. The long, narrow green is probably the best-protected green on the golf course with bunkers in front and on either side.

Before your round, be sure to hit a few balls on the full-length driving range where you can swing away with every club in your bag. The practice green is mowed daily and will give you a feel for what you’re about to encounter.

Legend Oaks is a semi-private golf and tennis facility. Everyone is welcome to play the golf course and enjoy a meal at Bistro One18. It’s a great place to relax and unwind after a round or entertain business clients and associates. Bistro One18 isn’t what you’d expect at a public golf course. Of course, they offer all of the traditional clubhouse foods – wings, sandwiches, and burgers - but they also offer some pretty impressive entrees. Choose from Chicken Marsala, Chicken Alfredo, Fish and Chips, and my favorite, Steak Frites. It’s all good and you won’t leave hungry!

Very accommodating. Course is in decent shape. Has a lot of dog legs and water. More of a course management than bombers course. Plenty of risk reward holes. Some of shorter holes have small greens

Greens and fairways were very good. In the middle of the forest and nature. Beatiful!

Super slow play behind a couple of non golfing groups, no starter keeping the pace up to par

Purchased another round from this course yesterday morning excited to go play it yet again… It’s been a few months since I’ve played it and last time I really enjoy the layout even though the conditions weren’t the best I was still excited… Arrived yesterday… Man in the ProShop was rude, short and unapologetic for the fact that they punched their greens and did not notify anybody… Did not provide a discount on fees and the course is in the worst shape I’ve ever seen it… Do not waste your money… Aeration is important and I totally understand that but these owner(s) have completely neglected and no one seems to really care… Very unfortunate.

** It’s also worth mentioning that Maintenance is NOT responsible for any of this as they can only do/work with what’s provided… There in lies the problem **

Great, beautiful well maintained interesting course. I was playing really well and then checked they yardage: I probably should have scooted back on the tee box.

The only downfall wasSignage was a little bad for directions to the next holes. Overall we loved the course. short, tuff but fair!

We will be back!!

Excellent golf course especially for the money.! Very good fairways, excellent greens, course layout was superb with water on 14 out of 18 holes. Now if you don’t like water stay away from this course because it’ll come up and bite you in the butt sometimes when you don’t realize where it is! Super staff & very good food & DRINKS....would join this club if I lived here!

Dennis Wade,

So. Calif....2 Thumbs Up..

Nice course ....but hard course to play lot of dog legs

Course in very good shape. Greens were sanded a few weeks earlier, but were down by time I played. Layout through the Cypress swaps is impressive. And watch for alligators! I'll be going back soon.