River Hills Golf Club installed new TifEagle bermudagrass greens in 2022 and overhauled every bunker on the course a year later. So, what does that mean for you as we look ahead to Myrtle Beach’s fall golf season in 2025?

Simple. If you are looking for a course that won’t break the bank but will provide a memorable experience, River Hills needs to be under careful consideration. The Tom Jackson design has long been one of the area’s proverbial hidden gems and it’s better than ever.

Why River Hills?
Tucked away in Little River, just a mile off Highway 17, River Hills is often a day-of-arrival or getaway day round, but that undersells the experience.

Designed by Tom Jackson, the course is a peaceful retreat from the hustle of the Grand Strand. With holes that rarely run alongside each other, players enjoy a quiet experience.

The first and 10th holes, both par 4s, play parallel to each other, but that’s the last you will see of other golfers on the course. The front nine is routed in a clockwise direction and the back goes counterclockwise before both return to the clubhouse.

“It’s the kind of course that gives you freedom – a sense of peace,” says Ross dePencier, River Hills’ general manager. “You’re not seeing other golfers from tee to green. It’s quiet, it’s beautiful, and it lets you enjoy the game the way it was meant to be played.”

Where are the challenges?
River Hills has six sets of tees, tipping out at 6,923 yards, but a plurality of golfers peg the ball at the 6,401-yard garnet tees. To Jackson’s credit, the challenge varies, and players are rewarded for working the ball both ways as the doglegs come in nearly equal numbers left and right.

Above all, River Hills rewards players who are accurate off the tee. The layout isn’t claustrophobic, but it’s tighter than average and water is in play on 11 holes, so precision is at a premium.

Risk vs. Reward?
dePencier calls River Hills a tactical course, and the layout’s two most recognizable holes – Nos. 7 and 17, both par 5s – are prime examples. Both are sub-500 yards (all distances from garnet tees) that offer the dream of getting home in two, but water lurks, requiring players to decide how they want to play each hole.

“People often try to make a par five in two shots and that’s great if you’ve got the length to reach that green with confidence,” dePencier said about holes 7 and 17 (pictured left). “A better approach is to set up your third shot to the green by making a very smooth second swing to a place where you can make a quality approach to set up a one-putt for birdie, as opposed to some highly unlikely shot for a possible eagle putt.”

Both holes are rated the hardest on their respective side of the course, but if you want to attack, No. 7 is the better candidate because the fairway offers more room off the tee, and there is a little more margin on the approach. The 17th is scary every step of the way.

Don’t be frightened by all this talk of the challenge at River Hills as the layout offers opportunities to score, most notably on its par 3s, which provide golfers the opportunity to be aggressive in pursuit of birdies.

With new greens, reimagined bunkers, and a layout that rewards smart golf, River Hills is better than ever. Pair that with a post-round meal in the clubhouse, which has the feel of a sports bar, and you’ve got the makings of a memorable golf day.

Don’t sleep on River Hills Golf Club this fall.

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Photos for this feature from our Instagram Account MyrtleBeachGolf Trips. 13th hole pictured top