Par 5s are supposed to be where golfers make up ground.

At Prestwick Country Club, that theory comes with a warning.

The Pete and P.B. Dye design, named the 2025 South Carolina Golf Course of the Year, has long been regarded as one of Myrtle Beach’s more demanding layouts. Its four par 5s provide a perfect example of why.

There are opportunities to be aggressive, particularly at Nos. 6 and 12. But by the time golfers encounter the ninth and 17th holes, the strategy changes considerably.

We caught up with Jay Smith, PGA General Manager at Prestwick Country Club, to break down all four par 5s and find out where golfers can attack — and where taking a five and moving on should feel pretty good.

No. 6: Your Best Chance to Make a Move

After navigating Prestwick’s opening five holes, Smith believes No. 6 arrives at just the right time.

“You need a little breather, so you need to get a stroke back,” Smith said.

For longer hitters, particularly from the white tees, this is a legitimate opportunity to reach the green in two. There is no water to negotiate, and while a waste bunker guards the left side off the tee and out of bounds lurks well right, the driving area is relatively forgiving by Prestwick standards.

Smith considers No. 6 not only the easiest of Prestwick’s four par 5s, but likely the easiest hole on the course.

That doesn’t mean the work is finished once you reach the green.

The putting surface features plenty of movement, including a tier and false front, while a greenside bunker protects the right side.

Prestwick has also expanded the teeing area on No. 6, making it roughly four or five times larger while maintaining the same yardage. The change was designed to improve turf conditions in an area where limited sunlight and moisture had previously presented challenges.

The strategy here is straightforward: take advantage.

No. 9: Three Shots and No Apologies

No. 9 introduces an entirely different type of par 5.

The hole wraps around the large lake separating Nos. 9 and 18, with Prestwick’s clubhouse providing the backdrop. Smith sees similarities between the hole and the famous 18th at TPC Sawgrass, with both moving from right to left around a large body of water.

At Prestwick, though, trouble exists on both sides.

Left brings the lake immediately into play. A miss well right can leave golfers dealing with mounds, rough and potentially out of bounds.

That’s only the beginning.

“This is really a three-shot par 5,” Smith said.

The second shot requires just as much thought as the tee ball. Four small bunkers sit approximately 60 yards short and right of the green, creating exactly the type of awkward bunker shot most golfers would prefer to avoid.

Getting overly aggressive brings even more danger.

A deep bunker behind the green can leave one of the most intimidating recovery shots on the course, particularly with the lake staring back at the player. Greenside bunkers also demand a shot that gets airborne quickly without traveling too far.

Then there is the putting surface itself, which Smith describes as essentially a three-tier green.

The message on No. 9?

Make your par, be happy and move along. (9th top photo)

No. 12: Another Chance to Be Aggressive

After the challenge of No. 9, the par-5 12th provides golfers with another opportunity to open things up.

The hole plays downhill and offers considerably more room from the tee. Prestwick has also allowed what was once a large waste bunker along the right side to grow into rough, changing the character of the hole.

Most importantly, No. 12 gives players some freedom with the second shot.

“You can hit what you want to because you’re probably not going to get in any trouble,” Smith said.

Reaching the green in two still requires a pair of big shots, and a bunker protects the front-left portion of the green, but the relatively flat putting surface makes this a much more manageable proposition once players arrive.

Smith ranks No. 12 behind only No. 6 in terms of difficulty among Prestwick’s par 5s.

For golfers looking to pick up a shot, this is another place to try.

No. 17: Take Your Five and Run

Then comes No. 17.

There is no mystery about where Smith ranks Prestwick’s final par 5.

It’s the toughest of the four.

The challenge begins immediately with a meandering stream that crosses in front of the teeing area, runs along the left side of the hole and eventually cuts back across in front of the green.

Trees squeeze the right side, leaving little room for error off the tee.

The layup isn’t much easier.

Prestwick raised a portion of the fairway in recent years to address an area that had traditionally remained wet, improving the playing conditions for one of the most important shots on the hole.

But even from a good position, the approach remains demanding.

The green is narrow, relatively small and features significant movement. There is room to miss left, but Smith cautions that getting up and down from there is exceedingly difficult. A poorly judged recovery can even bring the creek back into play.

His advice is simple: aim for the middle of the green.

“Take your medicine, take your five, even take your six, and don’t be too upset with that,” Smith said.

And forget about trying to overpower the hole.

Even for accomplished players, attacking No. 17 in two brings enormous risk, including trouble beyond the green.

No. 9 or No. 17: Which Is Tougher?

When asked to choose between Prestwick’s two most demanding par 5s, Smith didn’t hesitate.

No. 17.

While No. 9 has plenty of trouble, it also provides golfers with more room to maneuver. No. 17 demands precision on virtually every shot, culminating with a small, difficult green where misses can quickly turn into big numbers.

That contrast helps define Prestwick’s collection of par 5s.

No. 6 is the hole to attack. No. 12 provides another realistic opportunity. No. 9 demands patience, and No. 17 might require golfers to put their ego aside entirely.

So what would constitute a good day?

“If you play those par 5s at even par, you’re pretty happy,” Smith said.

At many courses, golfers walk onto the par 5s thinking birdie.

At Prestwick Country Club, knowing when not to chase one might be just as important.