<img decoding="async" alt="Golf Writer Ian Guerin’s Courses To Not Overlook" src="/media/images/Guerins_Courses_not_to_overlook_600x300.png" style="width: 600px;height: 300px" />
Story by Ian Guerin
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. | Proximity can both help and hurt any business.
Put some high-budget and award-winning tracks next to another golf course, and the latter can fall by the wayside. However, while the likes of <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/caledonia-golf-and-fish-club">Caledonia Golf &amp; Fish Club</a>, Myrtle Beach National’s <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-kings-north">King’s North</a> and <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/tidewater-golf-club-plantation">Tidewater Golf Club</a> are deservedly honored year after year after year, a number of nearby courses have proved they are too good to be forgotten.
These five courses have all stood the test of time &#8211; beating off challengers, Mother Nature and industry forces &#8211; all proving how valuable they are.
I believe they shouldn’t be overlooked when you’re prepping for your next Myrtle Beach golf vacation.
BURNING RIDGE GOLF CLUB 
<a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/burning-ridge-golf-club">Burning Ridge</a> was one of the last 10 courses I played along the Grand Strand. My immediate impression? Why the heck did I wait so long? Burning Ridge is one of those courses that got better when the previous 18-hole course shut down not back in 2005 and developed into housing. That meant half the resources were needed. In the last 15 or so years, as techniques have improved and the measure of what it took to be successful was no longer spoon-fed to properties, Burning Ridge’s value increased.
LITCHFIELD COUNTRY CLUB 
If you hate doglegs, you’re gonna want to go ahead and ignore my advice to put this on your short list. However, if you like the thought of not instinctively pulling the driver out of the bag on nearly every hole, you’ll enjoy <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/litchfield-country-club">Litchfield</a> as much as I do. Some bend left. Others right. Some are deeper into the hole. Other are in the first half. Some are minor. Others a full 90-degree bend. Of course, this happened because of lack of available property when Litchfield opened more than 50 years ago. But it’s also part of why I love this place.
MYRTLE BEACH NATIONAL WEST COURSE 
Every time &#8211; and I do mean every time &#8211; I mention <a href="http://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-kings-north">King’s North</a> in a story about any number of topics, I receive messages from locals telling me how much they frequent the <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-west-course">West Course</a>. Discovering why isn’t some sort of enigma. It’s forgiving off the tee, possesses crisp turf quality and allows for a different routing feel. After all, this track opens with a Par 5 and ends with a Par 3. In between, you’re going to get a steady diet of a quick pace.
RIVER HILLS GOLF &amp; COUNTRY CLUB 
Admittedly, I have a love-hate relationship with <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/river-hills-golf-club">River Hills</a>. (pictured above) On days when I’m not playing like it’s my first time, I can stay in the good stuff and lean much more toward the enjoyable side of golf. On other days, well, I’m happy I keep so many balls in my bag. Water is in play on 11 holes here and visible from a couple more. It winds through some and can flat-out overwhelm on others. It’s exactly what Tom Jackson was looking to accomplish, and that’s good enough for me.
WILLBROOK PLANTATION<img decoding="async" alt="Golf Writer Ian Guerin’s Courses To Not Overlook-Willbrook Plantation Golf Club" src="/media/images/WIPL1.jpg" style="width: 300px;height: 150px;float: right" /> 
If you ask me how much distance I feel comfortable with, I’m typically going to steer you to a course that allows for a 6,000-yard option. No more, no less. At <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/willbrook-plantation">Willbrook</a>, (pictured right) the 6,292 from the white tees is still plenty manageable for me because of the fluidity off the tee that allows me to catch my breath and still take a full swing. All of a sudden, it starts to feel like something back in my zone. Meanwhile, while all that is going on, you’re playing atop one of the most historically relevant properties in all of Myrtle Beach golf.
Ian Guerin is a DJ and freelance writer based in Myrtle Beach. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/iguerin?lang=en">@iguerin</a> and Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IanGuerinWriter/">facebook.com/IanGuerinWriter/</a>

Golf Writer Ian Guerin’s Courses To Not Overlook

Courses in this Article

Willbrook Plantation

River Hills Golf and Country Club

West Course at Myrtle Beach National

Litchfield Country Club

Burning Ridge Golf Course

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