LPGA Tour star Natalie Gulbis recently joined renowned golf instructor Mel Sole on a visit to <a href="http://www.mbn.com/courses/river-club">River Club</a> in Pawleys Island, South Carolina – home to numerous memorable holes, including the island green, par-3 14th. Natalie even offers a few playing tips along the way!
 
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Mel Sole:  Hi. This is Mel Sole from the Mel Sole Golf School. We are here with LPGA star Natalie Gulbis. Natalie, welcome to Myrtle Beach. Tell me how you&#8217;ve been treated so far.
Natalie Gulbis:  I&#8217;ve been treated fantastically. I&#8217;ve been here for a couple days, seen some great golf courses. Got to go to the beach, got to paddleboard, and I&#8217;m excited to be at this club here today. Tell me a little bit about it.
Mel Sole:  Well, River Club is known for it well-guarded greens. Water and bunkers abound, and putting surfaces are always very, very good. We&#8217;re at the 14th hole here. Tell me what your strategy is at a hole like this.
Natalie Gulbis:  On a par 3 like this I don&#8217;t actually see the water. The water for me isn&#8217;t what I&#8217;m concerned about. It&#8217;s more about the bunkers, and it&#8217;s 170 yards to the hole. So, I&#8217;m trying to hit a shot probably 165 yards or a little bit right, stay away from the bunkers and maybe try to work it in.
Mel Sole:  Sounds good. Why don&#8217;t we give it a shot?
(Natalie hits tee shot onto green)
Great shot, Natalie. I think you&#8217;ve got about a 10 footer here. These are Champion Bermuda greens. How do you normally go about reading Bermuda greens?
Natalie Gulbis:  Well, first I read the break as it would be as if it was not a Bermuda green, and then I like to look to see which way the grain goes, and I incorporate that for speed (down grain, into the grain, etc.) or if I need to play (the break) a little bit more or less.
Mel Sole:  How do you do that? How would the viewers know what to look for?
Natalie Gulbis: One of the ways that I like to look is, I just look around the cup and I can see where there is a little bit of lighter side. The grain always goes towards the lighter side. That&#8217;s a good point of reference. You can also just see if you bend down, you can see (what direction) the grass is growing.
Mel Sole:  Right. We&#8217;d like to invite all of you who are watching to come to Myrtle Beach, play the River Club. Come and enjoy the great greens that they have here. Natalie, knock this one in.
(Putt goes into cup)
Oh yeah!

Natalie Gulbis’ Myrtle Beach Golf Spotlight: The 14th Hole at River Club

Courses in this Article

River Club

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