Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club opened on January 1, 1994, as the first solo design of architect Mike Strantz, who had previously worked as a shaper for Tom Fazio. Built on a former rice plantation along the Waccamaw River in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, the property's centuries-old live oaks, colorful azaleas, and antebellum-style clubhouse immediately distinguished it from other Myrtle Beach area courses.

Strantz was just 37 years old when Caledonia opened, and few people had heard of him. But his artistic approach to design -- he hand-sketched each of the 18 holes before construction began -- put him on the national map overnight. Caledonia was one of only nine courses Strantz completed before his tragic death from cancer in 2005 at the age of 50.

The course has been consistently ranked among the top public courses in America and the number one course in the Myrtle Beach area. Its intimate, garden-like atmosphere and Strantz's creative routing through marshland, moss-draped oaks, and rice plantation remnants create a golf experience unlike anything else on the Grand Strand.

Caledonia is an intimate, garden-like golf experience that feels worlds apart from the typical Myrtle Beach resort course. At just 6,526 yards and par 70, it is not a brute, but Strantz's creative green complexes and strategic bunkering provide ample challenge for all skill levels. The course is immaculately conditioned and the Lowcountry setting -- with marsh views, live oaks, and abundant wildlife -- creates a serene atmosphere.

The arrival through the avenue of live oaks to the antebellum-style clubhouse sets the tone. Every hole has been described as a signature hole, and the pace of play tends to be relaxed, allowing golfers to savor the beauty of the property.

Caledonia rewards accuracy over power. The course is short by modern standards, so leave the driver in the bag on many holes and focus on positioning. Strantz's greens have subtle contours that are more complex than they first appear, so reading the grain and slope carefully is essential.

The par-3 9th hole plays just 118 yards but is deceptively tricky with an elevated green. On the 18th, take a moment to enjoy the view before committing to your approach over the marsh -- club selection is critical on this signature finishing hole.