<img decoding="async" alt="The West Course at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club" src="/media/images/West_Course_Locals_Knowledge_600x300.png" style="width: 600px;height: 300px" />
 
Story by Ian Guerin
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. | For years, Arnold Palmer’s <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-west-course">West Course</a> at Myrtle Beach National has found itself among the most popular courses for locals.
They admire conditions above its station (thanks in large part to upper echelon big brother King’s North), the consistency of its turf from one week to the next, a lack of housing and its ultra-fair price tag. Chances are, if you’re paired up with someone there, that person is going to tell you this isn’t their first time.
Palmer and his staff put together a quality track that allows for fluid play and a personal rhythm. And we’re going to tell you how exactly he did that.
 
THE OPENER(S)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Whether you start on No. 1 or No. 10, make sure you’ve done the necessary stretches first. These two holes comprise half of your four Par 5s on the day, and as such are going to task you with getting some pop off the tee without a ton of room for error.
On the traditional first hole &#8211; a 453-yarder &#8211; a dogleg right with two interior pot bunkers reachable by the masses. And for the bigger hitters, a larger bunker on the outside bend is in play if your ball typically finds a decent roll. Those three splashes of sand change the dynamic of the hole as much as the dogleg, and they’re going to be your biggest problems in getting on and off with a par.
On No. 10, the straightaway hole presents a different problem. While there is a reachable bunker up the right, the left side is complete with a mounded patch of rough that juts into the fairway. That’s important, because anyone with dreams of reaching the green in two is virtually required to play the left side of the fairway. Find that longer grass, though, and you’re better off getting thoughts of a birdie out of your head.
 
SYMMETRY OF THE SCORECARD                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
On most courses, players wouldn’t even going to recognize one of the “quirks” the designers here utilized. But thanks to how quickly rounds at West can go, the identical pattern of the opening five holes on either side can aid in your rhythm and potential scoring. That’s because by each starting with pars of 5-4-4-3-4, players stretch can get into their swings &#8211; despite the Par 5s to start either nine.
<img decoding="async" alt="West Course 13th hole" src="/media/images/West_12_Social_Media.png" style="width: 325px;height: 180px;float: right" />
For the most part, these holes are straight as an arrow. The two big doglegs in that mix &#8211; Nos. 12 (pictured right) and 14 &#8211; can be cut somewhat (either by flying the trees or getting lucky underneath them) and the Par 3s are among the easiest shots into the green you’re going to have all day.
What all of that does for you, it turns out, is pay huge dividends in pace of play. If the starter’s box is stacked with multiple foursomes, those carts almost immediately start to get further and further away from each other once things get going.
 
THE GAME CHANGER                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Up and down the Grand Strand golfing mecca, courses feature some memorable Par 4s and Par 5s on No. 18. At the <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-west-course">West Course</a>, Palmer and Co. took a different approach, one rarely seen in the game. The 165-yard Par 3 gives those who start on No. 1 the ultimate chance at glory without much to worry about in terms of destroying the scorecard.
Only players teeing it up from the back tees are required to carry the large pond lining the entire left side of the hole. The standard, forward and ladies’ tees, meanwhile, including a direct path to the front of the green without interruption.
Even though the hole will feel longer than its listed distance, the pair of green-side bunkers aren’t going to enter the equation unless you also leave your first shot short. Club up, carry them with ease and take aim at a landing spot that give you a chance at birdie.
 
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" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@iguerin</a> and Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IanGuerinWriter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facebook.com/IanGuerinWriter/</a>

Passing On Locals Knowledge Of Myrtle Beach National’s West Course

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West Course at Myrtle Beach National

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