Strategies for the River Club Golf Course in South Carolina

The River Club golf course on Pawley's Island in the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina has been given 4.5 out of 5 stars in Golf Digest magazine's "Places to Play." One of the most challenging layouts in the area, this Tom Jackson design offers three sets of tees to provide an enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels. The key to tackling this course is to follow a strategy consistent with your abilities, strengths and weaknesses.

  1. Scratch Golfers and Long Hitters

    • If you play at or near scratch golf and are long and straight off the tee, you will be eager to attack this course. At a modest 6,677 total yards from the championship tees and offering wide fairways, the River Club can be a big hitter's dream. A successful round will depend heavily on your approach shots. This will be apparent right from the first hole, a short 388 par 4. A good tee shot will put you a short iron from the green, but that narrow green is protected by water in front and surrounded by sand traps. This risk/reward scenario continues throughout the course, ending with the signature par 5 18th hole, on which, if you have the distance and accuracy to carry the water twice, you can reach the green in two with a chance for eagle.

    Low Handicappers

    • Even if you are not as long or consistent as the pros, if you have a pretty good game you may still want to tackle this course from the back tees. The key will be course management. With water on 15 of the 18 holes and over 100 sand traps to deal with, you must think your way around this course. The par 5 sixth at 496 yards, for example, with the water not a factor from the tee, will tempt you to go for the green in two. Your second shot, however, requires a long carry of 200 yards or more over water to reach the green. Consider hitting a layup, in itself not an easy shot to an approach area guarded on both sides. You will face these kinds of decisions all the way around the course.

    Intermediate Golfers

    • If your handicap is in the mid-teens to mid-twenties, you'll probably want to play River Club from the White tees, reducing the distance to 6,240 yards with a slope of 121. Again, course management will be a key factor in your strategy along with the ability to scramble your way out of trouble. You will almost certainly have to play out of a few sand traps, and success will depend heavily on your ability to chip and putt. A few extra minutes on the practice greens to familiarize yourself with the bent grass will pay dividends.

    High Handicappers

    • Rank beginners may by overwhelmed by River Club, but if you are comfortable with your game and can keep up with your fellow players, the forward tees can offer a manageable and enjoyable round. Concentrate on keeping the ball in play, avoiding trouble wherever possible. When faced with an intimidating hole like the par 3 14th, requiring a 122 yard carry over water to an island green, just take plenty of club, take a deep breath and trust your swing. If you miss, as even the best golfers do, just play from the drop area and concentrate on making bogey, still a good score on a course like the River Club.