Much has changed since Pine Lakes Country Club – then known as Ocean Forest Club – opened its fairways in 1927.

In the 98 years since, America has endured the Great Depression, fought two World Wars, and undergone seismic societal shifts. Yet amid all that change, one thing in Myrtle Beach has remained unchanged: the splendor of the 14th hole at Pine Lakes.

Affectionately known as “The Granddaddy,” Pine Lakes was the area’s first golf course, paving the way for Myrtle Beach to become America’s most popular golf

destination. While we weren’t around for those first tee shots, it’s hard to imagine the par-4 14th wasn’t the signature hole from day one.

A View from the Tee
Stretching 438 yards, this brute features some of the most dramatic elevation changes along the Grand Strand. The tee box sits 23 feet above the ideal landing area at the bottom of a fairway bisected by a pond.

Big hitters may flirt with the water 300 yards from the tee, but the real challenge is the approach. With the Myrtle Beach skyline rising behind the green and the Atlantic Ocean beach less than 600 yards away, players face an uphill second shot that gains more than 15 feet of elevation, playing longer than the yardage suggests.

When the wind blows in off the ocean, which is often, No. 14 becomes one of the Grand Strand’s most daunting and unforgettable par 4s. The view from the tee, looking down at the fairway and across at the green, with the hotels in the background, is one of the area’s most photographed, but your score will likely depend on the approach.

The hole also concludes one of the area’s most demanding stretches: a trio of par 4s (Nos. 12–14) that all measure over 415 yards. The final leg of this run is as much a mental test as a physical one.

The Granddaddy may have a warm nickname, but No. 14 is a challenge that will command every golfer’s attention.

A MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com feature story