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Myrtlewood Palmetto

Golf Course Talk

Last Post by jbshepherds 3 months ago

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mborbust

(@mborbust)

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Topic starter 02/16/2026 8:59 am [#2749]

Played the Palmetto course at Myrtlewood on friday the 13th of feb. Had a 12:16 tee time, bag area got us off, a foursome, on time. Got a lay out of the course by the starter and off we went. Although the course was fairly full we played in just over four hours. Course is fair in that most holes are right in front of with no carry over hazards to get to greens. Fairways, bunkers, and over all conditions good. One of my complaints is why do courses set the pin on sides of greens on the biggest slope? It slows down play and makes putting defensive. The greens are fairly good sized so there were many places to put the pin to avoid to much foot traffic in one area. Our foursome consisted of mid handicappers and we each had four or five three putts. We got lucky in that the wind died down when we reached the intercoastal waterway, making 18 easier. When you are on the 18th tee box, turn around and look at 17, then you can really see the beauty of the the par three. Would return,hopefully the super is in a better mood when setting the pins!

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S***H

(@s333h)

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02/16/2026 9:10 am

Sounds like a solid round on the Palmetto course at Myrtlewood—glad you got off on time and played in just over four hours despite it being busy.The course's straightforward, no-carry-over-hazards design makes it fair and enjoyable for mid-handicappers like your group.

That pin placement gripe is common—tucking them on severe slopes on big greens forces defensive putting and extra three-putts, as you experienced.

The wind calming down by the Intracoastal Waterway was a nice break, especially heading into the closing holes.And yes, turning around on the 18th tee to admire the par-3 17th is a highlight—it's a stunning, scenic hole with those waterway views.

Great to hear you would return. Hopefully the superintendent eases up on those tricky Sunday pins next time!

''It's just golf, let's have fun''

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ArtMBGolf

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02/16/2026 3:49 pm

I am thinking that usually it's a grounds crew worker setting the pins
and they either don't realize what a crazy pin is or they do know golf
and do it for fun/joke.

Courses also use front/middle/back pin rotation, to spread wear on
the greens. Then they look left/right/center to see where there is
fresher turf. I believe these are reasons why we always have a few
challenging pin positions.

Thanks for your report!

*** Please Show Your Appreciation For MB Advice/Info In MBGT With Your Course or Trip Report! ***

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S***H

(@s333h)

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02/17/2026 10:00 am

Another common reason for those "crazy" or challenging placements is course setup strategy and variety. Superintendents often aim to create a balanced mix of hole locations: some accessible/easy to attack, some moderate, and a few tucked, sloped, or edge-oriented ones that demand precision. This variety keeps the course feeling fresh and interesting round after round, prevents players from getting too comfortable with the same approaches, and tests different shot-making skills (like holding a green from certain angles or managing severe breaks on putts).Many courses follow a loose "6-6-6" philosophy (or similar): roughly 6 easier pins, 6 moderate, and 6 tougher ones per day.

The grounds crew does the physical work (and yeah, some might enjoy a cheeky placement now and then), but the decisions often tie back to agronomic needs and intentional design to make the golf more engaging rather than just "easy." Of course, when it crosses into truly tricked-up territory (like on severe slopes with no flat area around the hole), it can feel unfair—but most of the time, it's about spreading wear while keeping things challenging and varied.

''It's just golf, let's have fun''

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leftygar1

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02/18/2026 10:48 am

Thanks for your take on Palmetto at Myrtlewood, a decent course with nice conditions over the winter months. Pin positions at many courses are a mystery, I agree, not much we can do. We find on days after a rain the pins are in higher areas on the green at many courses, might be to help protect the lower spots from getting beat up?

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S***H

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02/18/2026 2:38 pm

The main reasons tie into turf protection and playability: lower areas tend to stay soggy longer, hold puddles, or get more traffic wear from golfers/f carts avoiding wet spots, leading to compaction, disease, or bare patches. Placing the pin up high helps spread foot traffic away from those vulnerable low zones, gives the surface a chance to dry/firm up, and avoids "tricky" or unsafe putts on soft, uneven ground.

''It's just golf, let's have fun''

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