Lake Marion Golf Course Review

OK – Today’s theme is going to be: When My Swing is Trashed but the Turf is Treasure! Or perhaps this one: Today my golf game sucked!

Whatever I decide, one thing I do know is that when we started out to golf in every state, I always hoped that all my games would magically sync up with the beauty of the courses we visit. But if you golf, you know the golfing gods love a good laugh.

And on our recent stop at Lake Marion Golf Course in Santee, South Carolina, I played a game so messy it belonged in the nearby swamp – yet the course itself was a total, pristine masterpiece.

Right from the opening tee, my swing decided to take a vacation. I was topping balls, thinning irons, and finding angles of the property that even the local wildlife avoid. If you’ve ever had one of those days where you feel like you’ve completely forgotten how to hold a club, you know the absolute panic.

But here’s the saving grace: usually, when you play terribly, a bad course makes you want to throw your bag into a pond.

However, at Lake Marion, the conditions were so spectacular they actually kept me smiling.

First, let me talk about the Greens. The Miniverde Bermuda greens were immaculate. They were lightning fast, smooth as silk, and rolled incredibly true. My putting stroke was a bit chaotic, but I couldn’t blame a single missed line on the turf.

Next the Fairways. Even when I managed to find them, the fairways were lush, beautifully manicured, and provided perfect, pillowy lies.

And then we have the Bunkers. While they were doing some refurbishing on a few of the 47 sand traps, the ones in play were pristine.

Believe me when I say I got an up-close and personal look at quite a few of them.

As a high-handicap golfer, playing from the red tees, Eddie Riccoboni’s layout should have been a fair, enjoyable test. But when your swing turns into a weapon of self-destruction, those towering, mature pine trees looked incredibly narrow all day!

By the back nine, after another ball sliced wildly into the pine straw, I had to stop, look around, and practice what I preach.

Golf is a mirror of life.

When you’re having a bad day, you have to accept the bad breaks, laugh at the absurdity of your own mistakes, and just appreciate where your feet are.

And standing out there in the crisp Santee air, looking down a perfectly framed, vibrant green fairway, I realized I was still having a wonderful time.

My final score wasn’t something I’ll be framing on the RV wall anytime soon. But the quality of Lake Marion? That’s another story.

Based on our scorecard, we score Lake Marion Golf Course a Birdie. 

If you want a course that offers top-tier, country-club-level conditions and great Southern hospitality at a public-track price, this place is an absolute steal. It didn’t fix my swing, but it certainly cured my bad mood.

Fairways and Greens (even if I missed most of them) – We are 18 Holes and Counting!

Written By:  Kathy Festa

COURSE REVIEW SCORECARD

Course:  Lake Marion Golf Course

Type:  Public

Date Played:  21 October 2026

HOLE	PAR	SCORE	COMMENTS
1 – Tee Time Availability	4	4	We had no problems getting the tee time we desired.
2 – Cost of Green Fees	4	3	Comparable to other courses in the area. What makes the green fees truly outstanding is that golf carts are included in the price, ensuring we did not get hit with hidden upcharges at the pro shop counter.
3 – Condition of Tee Boxes	4	4	Most tee boxes are lush and impeccably manicured. Popular public areas occasionally exhibit minor seasonal wear or divots, but the ground crew keeps them well-seeded for quick recovery.
4 – Condition of Fairways	5	5	The fairways are 419 Bermuda grass framed by mature pine tree lines. True to its resort-style character, the layout offers generous landing areas. The fairways are cut wide enough to accommodate high handicappers, while still presenting an interesting test for lower-handicap players who need to position their tee shots. The rough was cut just marginally longer than the fairways.
5 – Condition of Greens	4	4	The greens are Miniverde Bermuda grass. One of the standout characteristics that we noticed of the greens is their architecture. They are notably large and feature some quite extreme, undulating slopes. This added a distinct layer of challenge to our approach shots and short game, as navigating the wrong tier easily resulted in a difficult two- or three-putt. We also noticed, because of the size of the greens, a front-to-back pin variance can easily span 10 to 15 yards.
6 – Length of Course	5	5	Tee I – 6,413 yards; Tee II – 5,998 yards; Tee III – 5,543 yards; Tee IV – 4,621 yards.
7 – Hazards	4	4	There are 47 sand bunkers, and there is little water. The mature pine tree-lined fairways act as a consistent natural hazard. While the course layout is considered an extremely fair test for all skill levels, pulling a drive into the pines will immediately eliminate any chance of reaching the green in regulation, forcing you to punch out laterally.
8 – Starter/Marshal	3	3	Dustin, the starter in the Pro Shop, did a fantastic job checking us in and ensuring we had a smooth transition out onto the course.
9 – High Handicap Friendly	3	3	The course features five sets of tees (numbered 1 through 5) to accommodate different skill levels. The track is player-friendly enough for beginners to approach with confidence.
OUT	36	35
10 – Practice Area	5	4	In addition to the driving range, the facility includes a large, well-maintained putting practice area. This putting green offers plenty of space to practice everything from short micro-adjustments to long lag putts. They also offer an on-site teaching professional.
11 – Locker Rooms	3	3	The locker rooms are large and clean.
12 – Pro Shop	4	3	Far from the standard, cramped pro shops that only carry a handful of shirts and a few sleeves of balls, this place is an absolute smorgasbord of golf gear. It is widely known as the largest pro shop in the area, and for a good reason. The inventory is massive, featuring an incredible selection of clubs, apparel, and accessories from top-tier brands.
13 – Location	4	4	Easy to find – located in the heart of Santee, SC.
14 – Rental Equipment	4	3	They offer premium club rentals and an on-site repair service to keep your gear in top shape. All golf carts come equipped with GPS monitors for seamless navigation across the course.
15 – Food Cart	4	4	There was no food cart the day we played.
16 – Restaurant/Club House	4	5	There is no on-site full restaurant at the clubhouse. There are several popular dining spots just minutes away.
17 – Parking	3	3	There was plenty of parking.
18 – Customer Service	5	4	Dustin and the entire staff were incredibly welcoming, helpful, and knowledgeable. They were genuinely happy to assist us with finding the right gear, checking in for our round, as well as offering insight on the course conditions.
IN	36	33
TOTAL	72	68	PLAYER:  Kathy F.  ATTESTED BY:  Marc F.