King's North at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club - Resort

Description

The King's North course at Myrtle Beach National is an Arnold Palmer design from the 1970s that was completely renovated and redesigned in 1996. The golf course is a resort-style design with loads of water carries and high drama, including the par-5 sixth hole, nicknamed "The Gambler" because of its island fairway. The main draw of three golf courses at Myrtle Beach National just off Highway 501, King's North is void of any housing development around the course and is beautifully sculpted through a Carolina pine forest.

The complex isn't exactly pastoral, being located at one of the most congested traffic arteries in the Southeast, and the clubhouse is not particularly notable. But, the course itself is one of the most respected at the beach, noted for its consistently excellent conditioning and its attraction for those who like to hit driver.

"If all you require for complete golf nirvana are a few memorable holes mixed with a bevy of well-crafted playable ones, Kings North will be your bag," TravelGolf wrote in a review.

It's around 7,000 yards from the back tees, with six sets of tees, and has immaculate bentgrass greens. No. 18 has reached cult status among the locals, a par-4 with 43 bunkers.

"When Arnold was out here to open the course, the wind was blowing something fierce," director of golf Jim Woodring said. "He played from the back tees (at No. 18) and took drive and three-wood into the green, and this was back when he was still fairly young." The par-3, third hole has an island green and sandtraps shaped like South Carolina.