There’s something about standing on the tee of an island green that makes even the most confident golfer think twice.

The yardage might suggest an easy par. The club in your hand might be one you’ve hit well all day. But when the only thing separating you from a birdie opportunity is a stretch of water, the challenge suddenly feels a little different.

Island greens have a way of making golfers second-guess everything, from club selection to the direction of the wind. There’s no room for a careless swing, and the consequences of a miss are usually immediate.

Fortunately for golfers visiting Myrtle Beach, the Grand Strand has several memorable island-green challenges. Some require little more than a wedge, while others demand a well-struck mid-iron and plenty of confidence.

Here are five that deserve your attention.

King’s North – Hole No. 12

Tee Yardages: Black 154 | Burnt Orange 138 | Creme 131 | Forest Green 109 | Garnet 81

Few Myrtle Beach courses are as recognizable as King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, and the 12th hole is one of its signature attractions.

The par 3 features an island green framed by the famous South Carolina-shaped bunkers, creating a distinctive visual that golfers remember long after their round.

Following the course’s 2025 renovation, the hole presents an even greater challenge. The green features more pronounced undulation, placing a greater premium on tee shot accuracy and making putting more demanding, while the redesigned ‘SC’ bunkers are more penal than ever.

Playing 154 yards from the black tees and 131 from the Creme tees, the hole requires golfers to commit to their club selection and execute a confident swing. And with the added difficulty around and on the green, simply finding the putting surface doesn’t guarantee an easy par.

It’s a hole that combines memorable architecture with the kind of shot-making pressure that makes island greens so appealing. (King’s North 12th top photo)

Long Bay Club – Hole No. 13

Tee Yardages: Black 156 | Blue 140 | White 123 | Gold 121 | Red 86

Jack Nicklaus has never been shy about challenging golfers, and the par-3 13th at Long Bay Club is a perfect example.

Playing 123 yards from the white tees and stretching to 156 from the black tees, the hole doesn’t appear particularly intimidating on the scorecard. But standing on the tee and looking across the water tells a different story.

The green sits at a diagonal angle to the tee, making the target appear narrower than its actual size. There’s a reasonable amount of putting surface to work with, but the combination of water and the angled green places a premium on club selection and distance control.

It’s the kind of hole where a routine short iron can feel like one of the most important swings of the round.

Oyster Bay Golf Links – Hole No. 17

Tee Yardages: Gold 165 | Blue 120 | White 106 | Green 92 | Red 70

By the time golfers reach the 17th at Oyster Bay Golf Links, they’ve likely already experienced plenty of the course’s demanding shot-making challenges.

The par 3 makes sure the pressure doesn’t let up.

Playing 120 yards from the blue tees but stretching to 165 from the gold tees, the hole presents a different challenge depending on where you’re playing.

Water surrounds the target, and the green’s significant undulation means simply finding dry land doesn’t guarantee an easy par.

Distance control is essential, particularly when the pin is positioned in a difficult section of the putting surface.

A confident tee shot is the first step. Navigating the green can be an entirely different challenge.

Wizard Golf Club – Hole No. 17

Tee Yardages: Blue 180 | White 155 | Black 138 | Red 116

While several of the island greens on our list prove that a hole doesn’t have to be long to be difficult, the 17th at Wizard Golf Club presents a different kind of test.

Stretching to 180 yards from the blue tees, it’s the longest island-green tee shot on our list.

Wizard has earned a reputation as one of the area’s more player-friendly layouts, but there’s nothing particularly forgiving about this late-round challenge.

Depending on the wind and playing conditions, golfers could find themselves reaching for a mid-iron or something longer.

With the round nearing its conclusion, No. 17 is an opportunity to finish strong or watch a good score take an unfortunate turn.

Willbrook – Hole No. 6

Tee Yardages: Blue 145 | White 127 | Gold 107 | Red 87

At 127 yards from the white tees, the sixth hole at Willbrook is one of the more manageable island-green challenges on our list, but don’t let the distance fool you.

From the tee, golfers feel slightly elevated as they look down toward a generously sized green complex surrounded by water. The perspective provides a good look at the target, and the large putting surface offers a little more room for error than some of the other island greens around Myrtle Beach.

Willbrook is known for its natural Lowcountry beauty, and the sixth hole delivers plenty of it. The surrounding water is also a familiar gathering spot for alligators, adding another memorable element to the setting.

Of the five holes on our list, this might be one of the better birdie opportunities. But don’t take it for granted. A poorly struck tee shot can still find the water and turn a seemingly straightforward par 3 into a costly mistake.

Photos for this feature from MyrtleBeachGolfTrips Instagram Account