<img decoding="async" alt="West Course 15th Hole" src="/media/images/West_15th.png" style="width: 600px;height: 300px" />
 
Story by Ian Guerin
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. | Since the early 1970s when it opened, and then again after a mid-1990s renovation project at <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-kings-north">King’s North</a>, the three-course Myrtle Beach National property has leaned toward its flagship track. Locals along South Carolina’s Grand Strand tend to go one of the other directions. The <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-west-course">West</a> and SouthCreek Courses have continued to prove that even without their famous big brother, they would be doing just fine.
“The <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-southcreek">South</a> and <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-west-course">West</a> aren’t the red-headed stepchildren,” said head golf professional and general manager Ryan Ruddy. “If you took <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-kings-north">King’s North</a> out, they’re still Arnold Palmer courses. They’re two distinctive golf courses on the same property. That’s unique.” The Palmer name has been put front and center for some time, and for obvious reasons. His likeness is on signage both on-site and in the proximity of it. Why wouldn’t it be? Arnie’s Army is many things, but it is also a mindset for nostalgia seekers from one of the most popular players of all time. There are only four Palmer courses in the Myrtle Beach area (with with <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/river-edge">Rivers Edge Golf Club</a> across the border in Shallotte, N.C.).
Packaging two of the three Myrtle Beach National options, then, is an easy way for players to tackle two in the same day or all three in a two-day span. As such, requested bookings level out more equally between the three over the course of each golf season. “It’s a combination. A lot of people who have played all three courses will gravitate toward <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-kings-north">King’s North</a> and the premium holes,” Ruddy said. “But a lot of people come out and play the <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-southcreek">South</a> and <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-west-course">West</a>. It’s a give and take.” The staff of architects were certainly creative in accomplishing that.<img decoding="async" alt="SouthCreek 10th Hole" src="/media/images/Sc10.png" style="width: 300px;height: 250px;float: right" />
<a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-southcreek">SouthCreek</a> maxes out at 6,400 yards from the tips, with that distance shrinking to 6,000 yards from the whites, 5,700 for the seniors and 4,700 from the ladies tees. The first and last hole of the back nine are each good microcosms of the course as a hole. No. 10 is a 525-yard par 5 that bends around a large lake. Accurate mid-range hitters can at least flirt with reaching the green in two by carrying the pond to shave distance, although clearing the water by itself won’t get the job done. A lengthy waste bunker provides another hurdle, and it’s a big reason why many players elect to go the more traditional route. On No. 18, length isn’t an issue; the par 4 measures no more than 380 yards. However, a slight dogleg around a tree line means you better scale back off the tee while a front-side bunker protects the green.“It makes it a fun track,” Ruddy said. “It gives you a bunch of character. It’s got the classic Arnie Wood planking [on some later holes]. It’s almost a throwback to PB Dye.”
Over on the <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-west-course">West Course</a>, there is a different type of throwback style. No homes on the course means no true out-of-bounds zones. Players can feel a little freer off the tees, which is good since it’s a touch longer than <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-southcreek">SouthCreek</a> (6,800 yards from the tips down to 5,300 for the ladies). It has become a designated home course for many a local who like that freedom, not to mention less need for a bag stocked full of golf balls. “Some people get a little antsy when they hear ‘OB’ and trees. There are no homes or out-of-bounds and they say ‘OK, let’s go play it,’” Ruddy said. “There are tall pines, but they don’t impede you getting back out there. It’s not just back to the fairway; it’s also [toward] the green.”
Those styles on both <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-southcreek">SouthCreek </a>and <a href="http://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-west-course">West </a>give them each their own personality. In the next few years, both of them will celebrate their 50th anniversaries. And that’s not simply because of their affiliation with <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-kings-north">King’s North</a>. “It’s a testament to Arnie’s design team and how they mapped out two really good golf courses,” Ruddy said. “To this day, they’re still relevant with increasing distance and equipment.” 
 
Ian Guerin is a DJ and freelance writer based in Myrtle Beach. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/iguerin?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@iguerin </a>and Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/IanGuerinWriter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facebook.com/IanGuerinWriter/</a>

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SouthCreek and West Courses Bolstering Myrtle Beach National Property

Courses in this Article

King's North at Myrtle Beach National

West Course at Myrtle Beach National

South Creek at Myrtle Beach National

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