In a market with nearly 100 golf courses, standing out from the crowd isn’t easy, but a creative design has allowed Founders Club at Pawleys Island to carve its own niche.
Founders Club is the Grand Strand’s youngest course – it opened in 2008, after a redesign of the former Sea Gull Golf Club – but architect Thomas Walker’s work drew attention to the Pawleys Island course from the outset. The layout is defined by the waste bunkers that surround its elevated fairways and greens, creating an appealing look and challenge.
The course’s fairways are plenty wide, so don’t be deceived by the view from the tee, which may lead you to believe otherwise. Golfers that drive the ball well will have a chance to score on a layout that has five sets of tees, ranging in length from 4,805 to 7,007 yards.
The 12th hole, a par 5 with dual fairways, separated by a series of pot bunkers, and the par 4 18th are the most memorable challenges at Founders Club. The 12th hole, with water in front of the green, presents the type of risk-reward decision players love, and No. 18, with the clubhouse serving as a backdrop, provides a dramatic finish.