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HALLANDALE, Fla. - You don't have to spend much time in South Florida to realize they take their swank mighty seriously around here.
And the more flash the better. Tour the coastal streets from Ft. Lauderdale to South Beach, and it's difficult to turn your head without seeing scores of babes decked out in designer fashion - or sporty convertibles zipping around its palm-lined roads.
They're living the good life down here, and they aren't subtle about it. So, golfers looking to play and stay in style in South Florida will find a posh haven with all the trimmings at the Diplomat Country Club & Spa and Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, right off the coast between Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
The semi-private country club has been a mainstay in South Florida since 1957, back when there was actually a little bit of available real estate on several corners. Not anymore; the coastline is, of course, incredibly built up these days, and the golf course is right in the middle of it all, taking up 155 acres of prime property within a whiff of the Atlantic coast.
The golf course, operated by Troon Golf, received a facelift in 2000 from course architect and Florida favorite Joe Lee, which helped to restore it to its place among the best resort courses in South Florida. The redesign added length up to 6,800 yards, new bunkers and a revamped signature hole: the par-4 second hole, which features an island green surrounded with flowers and plant life within view of the club's back patio.
That said, the course fits pretty tightly into its land parcel for modern standards, with condos and parking lots all just beyond a black fence on the perimeter. The first fairway also collects a fair share of stray balls from the next door driving range. This is prime real estate.
While the signature second hole is the highlight of the front side, the highlight of the Diplomat is its memorable finish, beginning at the par-5 16th hole. The tee shot loosely resembles what the "Road Hole" at St. Andrews might look like if it were in South Florida - so substitute wild gorse and the Old Course Hotel for palm trees surrounding a condo high rise and swimming pool.
The hole is a sharp, dogleg right, and if you hit a straight ball down the fairway, you'll likely run out of fairway, and water creeps down the left-hand side. So for the longer-hitting, low-handicapper, the best bet here is to take it over a collection of palm trees on the right side - perhaps even over a few sunbathers at the pool - and cut the corner enough to give yourself a shot at a long iron or fairway wood into the green. Considering the lingering water left of the fairway, this might even be the safer of the two plays, as long as you're confident you won't slice the ball into a pool-goer's martini.
After the 16th, the course concludes with a short, knee-knocking par 3 over water, followed by a difficult, finishing par 4, which features a tight driving area with water down the left side to an elevated, well-guarded green. In all, the Diplomat is a pretty manageable course for the low- and mid-handicapper, offering plenty of scoring opportunities, though wind coming in off the coastline will serve as a prominent defense for par on most days.
"The course was gorgeous and in great condition," said 24-handicapper Jim Dailey, a South Florida resident who said the Diplomat was the nicest course he'd played during his time in South Florida. "All of the water and the condos lining some of the holes make a few holes a little intimidating for the novice like myself. I think I lost about a dozen balls"
Course conditions and clubhouse facilities are all five-star at the Diplomat. Golfers can enjoy lunch at the clubhouse restaurant overlooking the island green second hole, and there are full locker room facilities.
The Diplomat offers two very different - albeit both five-star luxury - options to stay while in South Florida. You can stay onsite at the cozy and elegant Country Club, which features 60 guest rooms of its own in an Italian villa-style setting, along with a full-service spa and 10 tennis courts.
For visitors looking to stay on the ocean or for larger groups and conferences, they'll want to stay at the Diplomat's sister hotel, the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, a 39-story, high-rise hotel located on the ocean and just a short drive to the golf course. Guests receive complimentary shuttle service to the country club and have access to the club's spa and golf course.
The Diplomat Country Club and Westin Resort & Spa are both located between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami International Airports, making it a popular choice for the business traveler and corporate events.
The elegance and service of The Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa, Hallandale Beach mirrors the timeless style and grace once enjoyed at the original Diplomat on the very same site. Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Lawrence Welk and so many others dined, entertained and played golf on this historical location which is conveniently nestled between Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Miami International Airports.
A beautiful South Florida retreat, The Diplomat extends world-class comfort from arrival through departure. The intimate Italian villa-styled clubhouse features 60 richly appointed guest rooms and suites with polished wood floors, traditional patterns, fine furniture and private balconies. Its 18-hole, par-72 course has been redesigned by a famed golf course architect. It boasts four par-5 holes and a unique signature island hole. Private lessons and clinics taught by our PGA pro.
The Verdict: The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa's golf course location is a universe within a universe. It's located one mile from the 39-story main building and reached by hotel shuttle. The total reconstruction of Robert von Hagge's 1957 golf course from 1997 to 2000 by architect Joe Lee, makes The Diplomat of today, a true contender. It now measures 6,728 yards and offers a full-practice facility with professional instruction.
Package Notes:
Prices are per golfer based on 2 persons sharing a Standard Room - includes all taxes. Prices are subject to change without notice. Accommodations and golf are subject to availability.
Course Opened:
2000
Course Type/Style:
Resort/Parkland
Number of Tee Boxes:
4 sets
Total Number of Sand Bunkers:
70-75
Most Memorable Hole:
No. 16
Most Challenging Hole:
No. 14
Most Challenging Hole:
No. 14
Sinature Hole:
No. 2
Acreage of Course:
155 acres
Average Size of Greens:
6,400 sq. ft.
Primary Grasses
Fairways:
Tifdwarf
Rough:
Bermuda
Greens:
Tif Eagle
Months Open:
January – December
High Season:
January – April
Aerification:
Overseeding:
Rounds per year:
Green Fees:
Low: $89 High: $189
Walking Options:
Unrestricted Walking
General Manager:
Rick Edwards
Director of Golf:
Jamie West, PGA
Superintendent:
Kevin Frost, GCSAA
Golf Digest 
rating
What do you need to know about TPC-Myrtle Beach, beyond the need to bring your 'A' game? Here are five tidbits that might enhance your enjoyment of the South Strand layout.
Hit it high – Generally speaking, the greens at TPC are elevated and well bunkered, so you aren't going to have much success trying to run the ball up. Make sure you iron game is sharp and be prepared to fly numerous bunkers on your way to the green.
Tournament Tested – TPC is one of Myrtle Beach golf's biggest challenges and it has the resume to prove it. The course has hosted the PGA Senior Tour Championship, the finals of the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship, and every spring it hosts the General Hackler Invitational, one of the nation's best collegiate tournaments. Take the time to check out the clubhouse memorabilia.
One of a Kind – In recent years Myrtle Beach golf courses have collected honors like a kid receiving candy on Halloween, but TPC is the only course in the area to earn 5-stars in Golf Digest's prestigious "Best Places to Play" guide and one of fewer than 25 layouts in the nation to earn the distinction.
Yes, that is Dustin Johnson – Rising PGA Tour star Dustin Johnson calls TPC-Myrtle Beach home. In addition to practicing and playing at TPC, the three-time winner on tour has been known to hang around the clubhouse. Don't be shocked if you see him, but he's just one of the guys in Murrells Inlet.
That's a wild turkey, not a drink – TPC-Myrtle Beach is built on 369 acres, much of it wetlands, which means the course has plenty of breathing room and there is ample wildlife. Wild turkey roost in the swamp to the left of ninth tee and there are an abundance of deer, alligators and fox, among many other animals. Enjoy the scenery.
By Chris King on May 4, 2010
The TPC-Myrtle Beach is one of the Grand Strand's bluebloods.
It enjoys the benefit of a premium brand, superior design (the team of Lanny Wadkins and Tom Fazio is tough to beat), and it's the home course of Dustin Johnson, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour. Throw in a bevy of national honors, and it's not hard to see why the facility is so highly regarded.
Identifying the three best holes on a course that has hosted what was then the Senior PGA Tour Championship and gets a regular workout from Johnson is a challenging task, because the candidates are plentiful. We asked course owner Chip Smith to identify the best of the best at TPC-Myrtle Beach and he complied, with an assist from Johnson.
The three best holes at TPC are:
No. 5, 158-yard, Par 3: Despite being TPC's shortest hole, the fifth is one of its most challenging, particularly from the tips where the tee shot requires a long forced carry over water. The green is wider than it is deep, so your margin for error is limited. A bunker in the right front looms for players not playing from the tips, as does a bunker in back of the green.
"There is almost a false front on the front of the green," Smith said. "It's a tough little shot because the green is narrow. The right side of the green is always better than short because of the lake."
No. 17, 193-yard, par 3: The words island green and TPC have almost become synonymous because of the famed 17th at Sawgrass, and No. 17 at TPC-Myrtle Beach is a reasonable approximation. The primary differences? The 17th in Myrtle Beach is a peninsula green surrounded by water on "only" three sides and it's approximately 50 yards longer. The 17th is TPC-Myrtle Beach's signature hole and with an almost constant wind, it represents a significant challenge. "Because of the distance, I think it's a little tougher than 17 at Sawgrass," Smith says. "Now I've never stood on 17 at Sawgrass on Sunday with $1.4 million on the line either (laugh)."
No. 18, 538-yard, par 5: The 18th, with a creek running along the right side of the fairway and a large lake on the left, is Johnson's choice as the course's best. It's a classic risk-reward hole. Players that can snuggle up to the creek before it runs out to the lake can get home in two, but there is considerable risk. Half of the green is exposed to water and with the rough surrounding it shaved, it's not an easy green to hold. One person who doesn't have to worry about length is Johnson. What does one of the PGA Tour's longest hitters use to reach the green on his second shot? "Depending on which way the wind is blowing, anywhere from a 5 or 6 iron to a 3-wood," he said. For the mere mortals among us, an iron on the second shot when attempting to reach the 18th green is out of the question!
