Musgrove Mill is charming place in the countryside Clinton, SC. You're more likely to run into a cow or a goat before a person in this area. This hallowed ground is where the famous Battle of Musgrove Mill was fought in 1780, between the (outnumbered) American Patriots and the British Loyalists during the American Revolution. The Patriots won the battle and ultimately the war that won America its freedom. If you would like to learn more about the battle itself, click on this link (or the one above). But this blog is about my battle at Musgrove Mill Golf Club.
For anyone that has never heard of this golf course it is out in no man's land in the countryside of Clinton, SC. This was my first experience on the course and man, was I pumped. I've been told how tough it is to get on just to play the course, but more so how hard the course is. I was told by multiple people who have played the course, and even the member that invited me Chris, to bring lots of extra balls. That the golf is unforgiving if you miss your spots, also to make sure to stick it on the green because if not, expect to be chipping from about 15 feet away as most of the greens are elevated. This is a course that will truly humble even the best golfers.
To say that I am humbled would be an understatement. After playing Musgrove Mill, I'm a broken Sand-alorian. Everything that I was told of the course is true. It was tight, it was hard, the greens were elevated, and I needed plenty of extra balls. This was the worst round I've ever played in my life. It seemed like I triple bogeyed everything. I scored 2 pars and THAT WAS IT! No birdies, a couple of bogeys, but mostly doubles and triples. Now, to be fair, it had rained the day before and the ground was saturated with water. Sadly, I'm not into excuses and it wasn't the water or the course's fault. My fault lies in that I couldn't hit my irons or putt worth a dang. I stroked the driver pretty good, my 3-wood was on point, and my wedges were fine. For the most part, I was set up in the fairway after my driver, but when it came to be hitting my irons, I was digging up earth. I was going back to the young-man mindset of "grip it and rip it." Instead of letting the club do the work, I was trying to get the ball on the green with sheer power (which I don't have). My putting was atrocious and did me no favors. I'm too embarrassed to say my score, in case anyone ever wants to invite me out to their club, but know it was despicable.
As for the course itself, it's a beautiful course. The driving range is set up on a platform overlooking the range. It was foggy this morning so it was a little harder to see the full range, but you could tell it was well-maintained. Number 1 was a par 4 that doglegs to the left a bit. Hit it in the fairway and you've got a shot, miss and you're in the woods punching it out. There is sand in front of the green that gives it an extra challenge, but great hole. Number 2 is a short par 3, set on a high platform. It was a beautiful hole and I managed to stick this one on the green, only to walk away with a 3 putt, smh.
Not to bore you with each hole, understand that there is just about no "out of bounds." If you can find it, you can play it. Now, there is a lot of hazards as the Enoree River runs throughout different holes on the golf course. The iconic hole Number 7 is a par 3 that you must hit over the river. It makes for a beautiful shot, if you can land it. If not, you're looking at an uphill chip. The greens were in phenomenal shape, which is really saying something after the rain that had been dumped the entire day before. They rolled fast and true. It wasn't the greens fault that my putting sucked, just mine.
I loved everything about Musgrove Mill Golf Club. I thought the clubhouse was nice, the workers were great, and the golfing is a premium. You won't find many courses that are that well-maintained, that beautiful, and that challenging. Musgrove has it all. If you are looking for a challenge, check into Musgrove Mill. You won't be disappointed. You just may be disappointed with yourself. Keepitinthefairway, though, and it may just become one of your favorite courses played. There's a reason why Golf Digest ranked this course as the 13th best in a state of 360 courses. It was still one of my faves just with the challenge and beauty of the course. I've never been punched in the gut so many times and said thank you for it. Come humble yourself. Musgrove Mill Golf Club awaits you.
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