Golf courses sometimes have to search for an identity, but that was never a problem for Long Bay Club. When Jack Nicklaus, the game’s most accomplished player, is your architect, you start with instant credibility.
Long Bay is one of just two Myrtle Beach-area courses designed by the Golden Bear –Pawleys Plantation being the other – and both opened in 1988, a time when Nicklaus earned a reputation for crafting layouts that test every part of a player’s game. That’s certainly the case here.
Given a flat piece of land to work with, Nicklaus used mounding and creative bunkering – some waste, some traditional – to create visual interest and challenge on a course long regarded as one of the North Strand’s best.
The front nine rewards precision iron play, with greens that are relatively small by modern standards, but Long Bay’s calling card is its unforgettable back nine.
Beginning with the short, par-4 10th hole (top photo), which features a fairway surrounded by a horseshoe shaped bunker, the closing stretch features three holes that were once ranked among the area’s top 100. Joining No. 10, are the island, green par-3 13th hole and the dogleg right 18th, a par-4 that is one of the Grand Strand’s most fearsome finishers.
The 13th is the most forgiving of the trio, offering a large green and even a little bailout room to the left. You’ll want to take advantage because Long Bay bares its teeth as the round winds down.
The 17th (pictured left) is the course’s longest par 3 and home to its most adventurous green. The two-tiered putting surface stretches more than 40 yards and is flanked by bunkers that allow no room to miss left. If the pin is in the back, par isn’t just good, it’s great.
That just sets the stage for No. 18 (pictured below), where water runs from tee to green, filling in the corner of the dogleg, forcing players to decide how bold they want to be off the tee in an attempt to set up a shorter approach. There is a significant reward for aggression given that the green plays to the water’s edge, leaving little margin for error. It’s a great finisher, even more so if you arrive at the tee in a match that is tied.
Players of all skill levels can enjoy Long Bay, but this is a course better players truly appreciate. It’s cliché, but you’ll hit every club in the bag.
Combine Nicklaus’ demanding design with a refreshed clubhouse and a quality restaurant menu, and Long Bay should be near the top of your North Strand must-play list.
Long Bay Golf Club Quick Facts
Year Opened: 1988
Par: 72
Architect: Jack Nicklaus
Greens: TifEagle Bermuda
Yardage/Slope/Rating
Black: 7,025/74.4/146
Blue: 6,593/72.3/141
White: 6,209/70.6/137
Gold: 5,715/68.0/129
Ladies
Gold: 5,715/73.9/134
Red: 4,944/69.9/127
Photos for this feature from @MyrtleBeachGolfTrips Instagram Account
