Sometimes the name of a golf course tells you about the experience before you arrive at the first tee, and other times a name is just something attached to a layout with little connection to the coming round.
Given that the Myrtle Beach golf scene is home to nearly 90 courses, the area has a little bit of both but here are five courses where the name clues you in to what awaits.
Flat and Friendly
The word meadow is described as a “grassland, especially one used for hay,” and it conjures up images of flat land and bucolic scenery, which brings us to Meadowlands Golf Club. Located just across the state line in Calabash, N.C., Meadowlands is board flat and welcomes golfers to a player-friendly layout (albeit with a little more water than your average meadow) that offers the opportunity to score well.
Where a Course and a River Meet
When a layout features seven holes that border a river, it almost goes without saying a name like Rivers Edge is apropos. An Arnold Palmer design, Rivers Edge plays along a stunning stretch of the Shallotte River, highlighted by holes 16, 17 and 18. Rivers Edge is aptly named and it’s as pretty as it sounds. (Pictured Right)
Pine Trees but No Hills
The PineHills Course at Myrtlewood doesn’t feature elevation change, but given that it was designed by Arthur Hills, one of the game’s most underrated architects, and plays through the area’s native pine trees, the name certainly fits. Hills offers the assurance of a quality layout and those pines represent the biggest challenge for players who struggle to hit the ball straight. (Top Photo)
Beware
With a name like Diamondback, you should instinctively know caution is called for. I’m not aware that the Russell Breeden design is home to a surplus of rattlesnakes, but it is the area’s westernmost layout. This is also one of the area’s five toughest courses from the white tees, so while you are extremely unlikely to see an actual diamondback, there is reason for caution.
The Patriarch
On this one, I’m defaulting to the nickname. Sure the Pine Lakes name tells you a little bit about the experience, but “The Granddaddy,” as the course is affectionately known, tells you everything. Pine Lakes was Myrtle Beach’s first golf course and it’s often referred to as the Granddaddy, the perfect moniker for a layout that served as the birthplace of Sports Illustrated and started the area on the road to being America’s most popular golf destination. Pine Lakes is a classic course, it’s full of character, and it educates players about the area’s rich history, attributes your grandfather likely shared.(Pictured Right)
