Lowcountry South Strand Public
Founders Club at Pawleys Island
A Thomas Walker design that opened in 2008, Founders Club at Pawleys Island plays 7,007 yards at par 72 with a slope of 142 from the black tees. Sand waste areas stand in for heavy rough, and the club reports a number one public course ranking from GolfPass in 2024.
Designed by Thomas Walker
- Par
- 72
- Yards
- 7,007
- Slope
- 142
- Holes
- 18
- Opened
- 2008
- Greens
- Emerald Bermuda
Why groups book it
What you are paying for at Founders Club at Pawleys Island
The pedigree
Thomas Walker
A Lowcountry layout that opened in 2008 and plays to a par of 72 over 7,007 yards.
The test
Slope 142
A slope of 142 over 7,007 yards from the tips. The back tees are a genuine examination for a scratch player, and the forward sets keep everyone else moving.
The greens
Emerald Bermuda
Putting surfaces are Emerald Bermuda. The practice ground carries a putting green, a chipping green and a hitting bays, so the speed is no surprise on the first green.
The verdict
3.5 out of 5
Across 225 reviews left by golfers who booked through us, 57% scored Founders Club at Pawleys Island four stars or better. None of it is edited and none of it is paid for.
The course
The golf at Founders Club at Pawleys Island
The scorecard reads par 72 and 7,007 yards from the black tees, rated 74.2 with a slope of 142. Three more sets follow at 6,708 blue, 6,394 white and 5,506 gold, with a red set at 4,805, so a mixed group can find a length that works. Fairways are Bermuda, the roughs are a mix of Bermuda and Zoysia, and the greens are Emerald Bermuda, a strain the club chose because it handles Lowcountry summer heat, drinks less water and putts less grainy than most Bermuda surfaces. The course record of 63 belongs to Jeremy Pope.
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Access
- Public
- Style
- Lowcountry
- Course record
- 63 - Jeremy Pope
- Practice
- Putting Green, Chipping Green, Hitting Bays
- Address
- 7829 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
The layout is the reason people book it. Thomas Walker, once lead designer for Gary Player Design, routed it through centuries old oaks and natural sand waste areas rather than long punishing rough, so a missed fairway usually leaves a playable shot off sand instead of a hack out. The ground has history: it was Gene Hamm's Sea Gull Golf Club until it closed in 2006 for a full rebuild, reopening under the Founders name in 2008. The club reports a number one public course ranking from GolfPass for 2024. One practical note for anyone bringing juniors: the course runs through a housing development with 14 road crossings, and a driver's licence is required to drive a cart.
Practice is the one place to plan around. There is a large putting and chipping green plus hitting bays into a net, but no full driving range, so warm up properly elsewhere if you want to hit real shots first. The clubhouse carries a stocked golf shop and the Grill Room, which serves made to order breakfast and lunch daily along with beer and cocktails. The course is open to the public year round, and juniors 16 and under play free with a paying adult on a one to one basis. We hold no verified review history for Founders Club in our own review database, so we are not going to characterize day to day conditioning or pace of play. Ask about green conditions and current tee sheet pace when you book.
Getting there
7829 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
Course reviews
What golfers said about Founders Club at Pawleys Island
Every one of these was left by a golfer who booked through us and played the course. Nothing is edited and nothing is paid for.
- 5 star 19%
- 4 star 38%
- 3 star 24%
- 2 star 13%
- 1 star 5%
Course was wonderful! Friendly staff. I highly recommend this course
Course conditions were poor with tee complexes having little if any grass. Rain checks were extremely hard to acquire after rain forced us to give up the round.
A good challenge, creative layout.
Unfortunately a rain-out day but staff were great and helped us get rainchecks which we used later in day under slightly better rain conditions for 9 holes
Read all 21 recent reviews Show fewer reviews
Good course but not on a level with others.
Funky layout through neighborhoods. Liked the course though.
Very nice course. The folks were nice and helpful.
Course was not in best of shape, again maybe due to weather, but it was okay. Of the 4 courses we played, the 4th best condition wise.
By far the nicest of the 4
Loved the course, and layout. Course was in great shape and the staff were awesome!
Great course. Layout was fun. Only downside is the 3 spot hitting mats into a net as a range.
Exceptional staff. Great, beautiful, course. Tim and Larry exceptional to deal with. Great team - Great course
Booking us a course in that condition was pretty outrageous. In other circumstances, I’m sure it would’ve been a great course.
Initial booking of the trip we were told that the scheduled dates for aeration were already determined, and our courses would not be affected while we were there. A week out on Instagram I saw that this course got punched. Craig said that he was going to look into it and let us know if we would need to switch courses reach back out to Craig several times and never got an answer. The course was also running a special at reduced rates which we did not get to take part in because we already paid full. These greens were in very questionable shape and would’ve been nice to be able to play a different course considering we flow down to play top courses.
Reply from the courseThis review is dead on!! Carter's group were excellent and easy to work with i checked on Founders Club twice and really felt as though it would be fine in hindsight should have moved them. Completely on me Carter much apologies CK
Pretty good condition. Good golf course. Would recommend.
Nothing fancy, just ok.
Great playable course and good service.
Enjoyed the course
Very dry and hard to play
Had afternoon tee time and a little backed on the box so maybe over booked. Good course, not great.
Enjoyable course
Vacation rentals
Where to stay near Founders Club at Pawleys Island
These are the three closest places we book to the course, measured as the drive from the clubhouse rather than in a straight line, so the morning run to the first tee stays short. Lodging is quoted with the golf as one price.
6.7 miles away
Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort
The closest stay we book to Founders Club at Pawleys Island, about 6.7 miles by road, with bar/lounge on site.
- Bar/Lounge
- Community Outdoor Pool
- Complimentary Shuttle Bus Service (Seasonal)
23 miles away
Crown Reef Beach Resort
About 23 miles from the course, worth it if the group wants to be in Myrtle Beach.
- Bar/Lounge
- Elevator
- FREE Wi-Fi
23 miles away
Ocean Blue Resort
About 23 miles from the course, worth it if the group wants to be in Myrtle Beach.
- Covered Parking
- FREE Parking
- FREE Wi-Fi
Closest courses to Founders Club at Pawleys Island
Pair it with
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
1.5 miles away
4.2 from 537 reviews
Heritage Golf Club
1.7 miles away
3.4 from 12 reviews
True Blue Golf Club
1.9 miles away
4.5 from 656 reviews
Caledonia Golf and Fish Club
2.2 miles away
4.6 from 788 reviews
River Club Golf Course
4.0 miles away
4.1 from 484 reviews
Wedgefield Country Club
4.6 miles away
3.4 from 17 reviews
Build the trip
Put Founders Club at Pawleys Island in a package
Tell us the dates and who is coming. We quote the golf, the lodging and the tee times as one price, and a $100 deposit per golfer holds it.