FEATURE STORY

Myrtle Beach's toughest holes will have you struggle for birdies

By Brandon Tucker,
Staff Writer

Who says that a golf vacation should be all fun, sun and shooting red numbers?

Of course, those pesky birdies don't ruin too many golfers rounds. In fact, getting just one "tweeter" over the course of an entire golf trip may be just fine for most. But in the Grand Strand's 100-plus courses, there are plenty of holes to look out for, and maybe do a little scouting on before wagering high stakes with your foursome.

The Grand Strand's toughest holes to birdie

No. 16, Glen Dornoch - The difficulty in Glen Dornoch's 431-yard 16th begins with blind, downhill tee shot.

"It's a blind tee shot that's downhill, if you can imagine that," said Steve Paul from Myrtle Beach Tourism. "If you don't tee off with an iron, you'll be in a creek. Marsh runs across the fairway. The green is guarded on the back and right side by marsh and lined with railroad ties. A big tree comes out of the marsh on the right side and comes into play as well."

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No.7, Thistle Golf Club - The par 5 on the west side is a dogleg left that requires three solid shots for a shot at birdie. Anything less and you're likely looking at penalty strokes. If you try and cut off the dogleg, you'll likely find yourself in thick trees, but the fairway cuts off at about 280 yards from the back tees for marsh. This makes the green not reachable in two, and marsh guards the green in front, which slopes heavily from back to front. Leaving a putt above the hole will be tricky to stop near the hole.

No. 9, River's Edge - River's Edge features the difficult par-5 9th, with marsh on the left and at the end of the fairway, requiring an iron or 3-wood off the tee. The second shot is over marsh and bunkers on each side beyond it. The green is very narrow and on a peninsula, dropping down into wetlands. If you're going to miss the green, you may as well do it in the greenside bunker.

No. 4, Championship Course, World Tour - The famous 11th hole at Augusta National kicks off "Amen Corner" and has been giving the tour pros fits in the Masters for years. Replica course World Tour pulled the famous 11th among four holes at Augusta. The 455-yard par 4 plays downhill, sloping left towards a pond guarding the left side of the green. Should the fourth eat you alive, the following two holes replicate the 12th and 13th at Augusta as well give you a chance to save face.

No. 13, Pawley's Plantation - Pawley's Plantation features a solid family of par 3s, but none as difficult as the 13th.

"Thirteen is the area's consummate knee knocking one shotter," wrote TravelGolf.com's Shane Sharp. "The green complex sits on a bulkheaded peninsula that jets out to the left, and the tee box is but a sliver of turf just to the left of the cart path. The green is actually a double that serves as the putting surface for the sixteenth hole, as well."

No. 3, Tidewater Golf Club - Tidewater's third hole is arguably the most difficult short par-3 in the Grand Strand. Measuring a modest 157 yards from the back tees, shot placement is tricky, as the opposite L-shaped green is heavily guarded with bunkers on the right and marsh left. The green is severely undulated, and should you play your shot safe to the center, if the pin is on the left side, you'll have steep, downhill putt, making three-putting very possible.

If you go

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August 18, 2006

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.