The Legends Heathland course just goes to show that an architect is limited by the land they are given.

Even one as masterful as Doak could only get an above average to good course here. Myrtle Beach just doesn't have interesting ground for golf-you can tell that Doak, a minimalist if there ever was one, had to build and do earth moving here to create contours. The course is not bad, it just shouldn't be anywhere near a top 100 public in USA nor top 25 in South Carolina so I gave it a 3.5 I was torn between 3.5 and 4 but figured a 3.5 was more fair and the lower expectations might get you to enjoy it more. Granted that this was only Doak's second design, but I don't think that was the problem-he just didn't have the best canvas to paint on.

Doak did try to give us some fun golf and he succeeded in that-the course is pretty easy/scorable for all levels of golfer. If that was the goal of the resort, then Doak met that criteria. There are large undulating greens to try and give the course some defense. There are not a lot of bunkers, but those that are there dictate line of play and are one of the only reasons to not score well. Not really any heroic carries-you should be able to play the same ball unless you are spraying it. The contours that he created do move the ball but this is not a firm/fast course-unless you are lucky enough to play here when there hasn't been any rain for a while. There is technically water on about half the holes, but it really only comes into play on a few of them (unless, of course, you are spraying it).

The par 3s are probably the best part of the course: The 4 par 3s are all in different directions. They vary in distance by 75 yards and have some of the best contours out here. My favorite was the downhill 8th. It is a two tier green and quite sloped at that. You can use the tier to feed balls to the front pins. You will need to carry it for back pins.

There are 3 par 5s here and the 7th hole is gettable and probably a par 4.5. That is made up for on the other two. The 13th has a creek on an angle towards the green about 170 yards short of it. The decision is to lay up short of it, play one out to the right for a shorter carry/longer approach or to go for it which brings in the creek/junk short/run offs right and left of the green.

No drivable par 4s here; however, there are plenty of holes which could qualify as drive/short iron-pitch if you are hitting it well. There are also a couple of par 4.5s to make the course have some teeth.

Myrtle beach is really known for having affordable golf which is not the same as great golf. If coming here, my advice is to try to see if the Dunes Golf and Beach Club has public tee times available (which can be difficult). However, if that option isn't available (and you don't want to drive to Pawley's Island) and/or affordability is your goal, then you might as well play here. No architectural mal-practice but nothing of the brilliance that almost every other Doak course has in spades (including The Loop which is on flat ground).