MYRTLE BEACH NATIONAL GOLF
The King still rules at Myrtle Beach National, the mega golf club just west of Myrtle Beach.All three courses here were designed by Arnold Palmer's firm and reflect his influence. And to make sure you don't forget whose house this is, there's a bronze statue of the King, and photographs of Arnie in every clubhouse hallway.
King's North is the club's jewel, both in popularity and difficulty. But golfer-friendly South Creek makes a good starting play for a 36-hole day here. That was the agenda for my Minnesotan playing partners, for whom King's North would be the climax of a Grand Strand golf trip.One of the most challenging courses in south carolina is the beautiful West Course at Myrtle Beach National. From the regular tees, golfers of all abilities will enjoy this classic Arnold Palmer design. But be prepared for a professional challenge from the back tees, as the numerous doglegs, fairway bunkers and natural hazards come into play. Carved through a majestic Carolina pine forest, The West offers everyone the feel of a private club. Golf Course Statistics Tee Par Yards Slope Rating Blue 72 6866 119 73.0 White 72 6113 113 69.0 Red 72 5307 109 69.0 South Creek at MYRTLE NATIONAL was built in 1975 and is a signature Palmer golf course, but much of the design credit goes to Francis Duane. Like many of Palmer's golf courses, it's a playable layout that looks a little harder than it actually is. High-handicappers certainly have a fighting chance here, with a top length of 6,416 yards and green complexes that are generous to errant shots. Par 5 at South Creek As at most Grand Strand tracks, there's a good deal of water, but it's rarely unavoidable. Most greens have open fronts, and bunkers are off to the sides. A little course management and few awful swings will keep big numbers off your card.Three of the four par 5s are tight, short and reachable in two with a good poke off the tee. No. 6 is just 448 yards from the white tees and while tightly tree-lined, it's straight and water-free. A steep bunker with a wooden-rail lip 50 yards out makes going for it almost smarter than laying up. The 16th is also reachable in two, but a pond to the front-right of the green makes laying up the saner option. The rest of the back nine features a handful of mid-length par 4s.Golf Research In Play...Cutting Edge Golf Clubs at Manufacturer Discount Prices We make golf easier, more fun to play and affordable. The 10th, at 525 yards the only par 5 that require some brawn, is also South Creek's best hole. The fairway doglegs right around a large waste bunker and pond. After nine holes of tight golf winding through tall pines and subdivisions (creating a good deal of out-of-bounds), No. 10 is a welcoming wide-open expanse.South Creek at Myrtle Beach National: The verdict Playing a modest 6,080 yards from the white tees and with room on many holes to run balls up to the green, South Creek is a favorite of women and seniors. Even average players with a little more length in their game might consider the championship tees, which play to just over 6,400 yards. It's a popular warm-up for MBN's acclaimed King's North. Myrtle Beach National 4900 National Drive Myrtle Beach, SC Tel: (843) 448-2308 Web: www.mbn.com
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