Golf Course Review: The Hackler at Coastal Carolina University, Conway, South Carolina
Conway, South Carolina
January 29, 2023
OVERVIEW
FACILITY TYPE: Public
YEAR OPENED: 1968 / 2011
ARCHITECT: Gene Hamm / Craig Schreiner
PAR: 72
LENGTH: 5,270 - 6,886
USGA RATING: 69.0 - 73.2
USGA SLOPE: 119 - 132
TEE OPTIONS: 4
WEBSITE: www.Coastal.edu/HacklerCourse
PHONE: (843) 349-6600
I have played more rounds of golf at The Hackler than at any other course in the world. Conservatively I estimate I’ve played well over 5,000 holes over the years.
The Hackler is the home course at Coastal Carolina University where I attended and completed their PGM Professional Golf Management Program. I passed my PAT there back when it was Quail Creek. I even worked there during my Senior year. I’ve seen the course, the facilities, my friends, and the PGM program evolve over the years, and I am proud to call myself a Coastal PGM Alum.
When I started the PGM program in 2008, Quail Creek didn’t even have an irrigation system. There were no sprinkler heads with yardages, and no golf cars with GPS. The range wasn’t anything special although it at least provided real turf to practice on, and the putting green was small. And don’t get me started on the old practice bunker, if you can even call it that. It was more like a washed-out rock pit that flooded every time it rained.
Fast forward a couple of years and the course received a large donation from General James Hackler that provided the funding to renovate the course. The course was extensively renovated and redesigned. While the bones of the layout still existed, the bunkering changes and modifications to the greens made it a different course.
Since the renovations, they have also been able to add a state of the art learning center, upgraded the driving range, built a 3-hole short game course, a full short game area with practice bunker, and expanded the putting green. I’ve also heard they are soon getting a new clubhouse.
With all the courses to choose from in Myrtle Beach, I still make sure I visit the Hackler any time I’m in town because to me, it is Myrtle Beach’s hidden gem.
FAIRWAYS: 3.5
GREENS: 3.5
BUNKERS: 4
SCENERY: 2
LAYOUT: 3
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OVERALL: 3.20
In addition to being run by Coastal’s PGM Program, the Hackler is also home to the Horry-Georgetown Technical College’s Turf Management Program which is where you go to school if you want to be a superintendent. Because of this, the course is one of the best values you can find anywhere. Every time I’ve played it over the last few years, it has been in outstanding condition, yet it has the feel of a local spot and the green fee won’t empty your wallet.
For being the end of January, I was really impressed how good the course looked. In South Carolina, Bermudagrass reigns supreme and it goes dormant in the colder winter months. This means it doesn’t grow and courses tend to get shaggy and slow. The Hackler managed their turf well and I’d put their turf conditions up against any of the bigger name courses in the area that time of year.
ACCESSIBILITY
COURSE DIFFICULTY: 2.5
WALKABILITY: 4.5
Yes, the layout is quirky, but it’s a fair test of golf. 8 of the holes bend right, some at 90-degree angles. But you still need to hit good shots to get your way around. You must be able to control your ball to position yourself in the fairways and give yourself a chance to get to certain hole locations. If you do, you’re rewarded with an opportunity to go low.
The course weaves its way through an old established neighborhood full of families and frat houses alike. The course is adjacent to campus making it easy to access. My first two years at school before I had a car, I would walk to the course from my dorm, walk 18 holes, then walk home.
If it’s your first time playing the course, the best advice I can give you is to play smart and not try and overpower the course. Boring golf is good golf and fairways and greens are what’s needed to get around The Hackler. If you’ve played it a lot like I have, you know which corners to cut, where you can and cannot take advantage, and what risks are worth taking. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can find yourself in tricky situations
AMENITIES
GOLF SHOP: 4
PRACTICE FACILITIES: 4.5
COMFORT STATIONS: 4
FOOD & BEV: 3
I hope the students in the PGM Program understand how great they have it compared to what the older generations had. In 2008 when I started, the course was as basic as it gets. Quail Creek was a struggling golf course. The University decided to purchase it and it became the home of the PGM Program which at the time was still a fairly new program, one of only sixteen in the country.
Since then it has turned into a world class facility. While it may not have the frills and refinement of the best private clubs in the world, it has everything you could ask for and continues to evolve and grow each year.
Their golf shop is fully loaded and well stocked. Chuck has been the head pro there since I started and continues to crush it. He now does the embroidery for the entire university and everything in the golf shop has the CCU logo. Or if you want something custom, like I do with my Tour Shot Golf swag, Chuck can make it happen.
Matt over in the learning center is leading player development and giving students the tools and facilities they need to be the best professionals in the industry, pass their PAT, and understand the swing.
SUMMARY
When it comes to Myrtle Beach Golf, The Hackler isn’t usually one people think of, or even realize exists, but for those who have called it home, it’s an incredibly special course. You’re not going to get Oakmont greens, or Pebble Beach history, but you’re going to experience a live, functional, working laboratory for the best in golf. You get to watch students learn every aspect of the game; mowing greens, cutting cups, running tournaments, taking care of golf cars, merchandising, teaching, playing, and so much more.
That’s why, to me, there’s no better place to tee it up, and why it’ll always be my home course. So next time you’re planning a golf trip to the Grand Strand put the Hackler on your list, plan to spend the day, take advantage of their amazing practice facilities, play the short course a few times, and stock up on some CCU swag!
MOVE BETTER - PLAY BETTER
COACH BLAINE ⛳🏌️♂️
For more, visit www.TourShotGolf.com
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