Don't let the serene scene fool you; Rivers Edge is a thrill-a-minute course located just north of Myrtle Beach.
One of the most exciting Myrtle Beach golf courses you can play on a Myrtle Beach golf vacation isn’t in Myrtle Beach at all, but just across state border in Shallotte, N.C.
The 35-mile drive (which can take anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour depending on The Grand Strand’s notorious traffic) is well worth it.
Here, perched on the bluffs of the Shallotte River, Arnold Palmer created one of the most dramatic and challenging layouts available on a Myrtle Beach golf vacation, one that includes exceptional hole variety and unrivaled scenery.
Perhaps the best example is the 570-yard, par-5, ninth hole. In addition to an imposing yet tranquil marsh that looms all the way down the left-hand side, a vast ravine cuts across the fairway in front of an extremely narrow peninsula green.
All but the longest hitters must play their second shot to the landing area on the right to set up a nerve-wracking approach. And, any gambler who shoots for the green in two will probably suffer a penalty unless the ball lands softly on a target that appears to be embedded in the wetlands.
Like the signature ninth and others, the marsh-side final four holes are simultaneously picturesque and thought provoking. The par-3 15th involves a harrowing carry, but to a highly receptive green. And, on the short, par-5 17th, a lone tree near the green confounds players who opt for distance over a better angle into the pin.
The risk and reward is even higher on 18, a cape-style hole that finishes below the clubhouse on an amphitheater green.
After one round at Rivers Edge, you’ll clearly see why it was considered one of the 10 best upscale courses in the country when it opened in 2000 and why insiders include it on their Myrtle Beach golf vacation play lists.
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