Beauty or Beast? Three Toughest Par 3s on the North Strand

The 11th hole at Tigers’ Eye, the fourth on the White Course at Heather Glen, home of the infamous Devil’s Mistress pot bunker, and the island green 13th at Long Bay are all equal parts beauty and beast. While there is a compelling argument to be made for any of those holes, none made our list of the three toughest par 3s on the North Strand.

Without further ado, here are the three par 3s that will have you thinking long before you get to the tee box.
 

1. The 12th hole at Tidewater is as pretty as it is difficult. The peninsula green is surrounded on three sides by Cherry Grove, and the shot to the multi-tiered green is nearly all carry. The green slopes from front to back, toward the marsh, so getting up-and-down is difficult. The white tees are listed at 145 yards on the scorecard but are often back. The 12th is also, arguably, the prettiest par 3 along the Grand Strand, so in addition to bringing a great swing to the tee, bring your phone and take a couple pictures as well.
 

2. Carolina National is the Myrtle Beach area’s only Fred Couples design, and one of golf’s good guys got a little salty on the fifth hole of the Heron nine. The green is largely surrounded by the marshy waters of the Lockwood Folly River, raising the stakes on your tee shoot. There is bailout room to the right of the green, but the hole plays 182 yards from the blue tees, so pack a lunch. Four isn’t a bad score here.
 

3. The 17th hole at Glen Dornoch is one of the area’s most dramatic par 3s. Boats cruising the Intracoastal provide an idyllic backdrop to a hole that is much tougher than the scorecard suggests. Playing 164 yards from the white tees, the left side of the green borders the marsh and a large bunker, framed with soaring railroad ties is on the right. Throw in a tree that can come into play off the tee, and you have a hole that provide dramatic visuals and intimidation.

What are the toughest par 3s you’ve played on the North Strand?