Golf writer Chris King takes an inside look at one of the north strand’s quiet stars, River Hills Golf & Country Club. Following the installation of new TifEagle greens and the overhaul of every bunker on the course, the Tom Jackson design delivers the combination of quality and value players crave.

Chris King:
Located in the Little River on the northern end of the Myrtle Beach Golf scene. River Hills Golf Club is one of the area’s quiet stars. Following a renovation that included the installation of new TifEagle greens in the overhaul of every bunker on the course, the Tom Jackson design delivers the combination of quality and value players crave.

Ross DePencier:
They’ve all grown in, they’re rolling really well, really true. We get compliments every day about the quality of our greens.

Chris King:
While the greens and bunkers attract much of the attention. The key to success at River Hills lies in hitting fairways. On a layout that features relatively narrow corridors and an assortment of dog legs, playing from the short grass is vital for players who want to score well. The greens renovation project dramatically expanded the putting surfaces at River Hills, but they remain small by modern standards. So don’t get aggressive on the approach. Play to the middle of every green and you’ll be positioned for an outstanding round of golf. Two of River Hills most memorable challenges are holes 7 and 17. A pair of risk-reward par-5s that play just under 500 yards from the Garnet tees. The course’s most played. There’s an opportunity for birdie on both holes, but it’s balanced by the presence of water and the risk of making a big number.

Ross DePencier:
The call-out on the holes is easy. It’s 7 and 17. There are magnificent par-5s, water on both sides. Neither one are generously long or excessively long, but they play really well and they have an opportunity to score. You just have to have that big shot again in the fairway, but it has to be on the correct side of the fairway in order to set up your second shot.

Chris King:
In a destination with 90 golf courses. River Hills doesn’t enjoy an exceptionally high profile, but it over-delivers in terms of quality and value. To book a tee time at River Hills, go to myrtlebeachgolftrips.com.