True Blue at True Blue Golf Plantation

True Blue, carved from the bones of a former indigo and rice plantation near Pawleys Island, isn't your typical South Carolina Lowcountry course; it's a bold statement of modern architecture and scale. Designed by the late Mike Strantz, the course, which opened in 1998, offers a stark contrast to the tighter, tree-lined layouts more common to the region.

True Blue is built on relatively flat, sandy terrain, but the immense fairways and sprawling waste bunkers evoke a rugged, almost otherworldly feel. It's a big golf course, playing long from the back tees, and favors a power fade. Generous landing areas are often contrasted by treacherous green complexes demanding creativity on the short game. Water hazards come into play on several holes, adding to the strategic challenge.

While True Blue hasn't hosted major professional championships, it has gained a reputation as a popular destination for amateur tournaments and golf groups. The course offers a stern but fair test of golf in a unique setting that has created a devoted local following who relish the Strantz design.