Myrtle Beach Golf Course Ratings:  SouthCreek at Myrtle Beach National: Three Best Holes

The secret to the popularity of SouthCreek at Myrtle Beach National is its playability. Golfers like to be challenged but with the assurance that success is attainable if they play well and SouthCreek delivers on that account.

Whether you are a scratch golfer or a 25-handicap making your first Myrtle Beach golf trip, SouthCreek challenges players while still offering the chance to score.

We asked the Michael Burnside, the boss man at Myrtle Beach National, to identify SouthCreek’s three best holes, and he obliged with the expected mixture of challenge and playability.

1. Fun is the name of the game at 475-yard, par 5 6th hole. The hole is straight and a good tee shot will position you for a possible eagle putt.

“No matter if you are a blue tee player, a white tee player or gold or red, it’s nice to have the opportunity to go for the green in two,” Burnside said.

Players that avoid the bunker and mounding on the right side of the fairway will have a realistic shot at birdie.

2. The hardest hole on the course is the 532-yard 10th hole, and it’s a par 5 that isn’t reachable in two. A nearly 90-degree, dogleg right, a huge lake runs along the right side from tee to green (reminiscent of the famed 13th hole at the Dunes Club) and dares players to flirt with the water and waste bunker that lurk.

Players should be content to place their second shot 125 to 150 yards from the green, setting up the opportunity for a green in regulation and a possible par. Getting greedy isn’t a smart play.

“It’s a true three-shot hole, unless you are a bomber and you want to cut it off around the water,” Burnside said. “There aren’t many (capable of that).”

3. SouthCreek’s closing hole offers a completely different challenge. At 380 yards from the tips, the 18th hole isn’t long but it’s a dogleg left with mounding in the fairway and the clubhouse frames the hole, adding to its visual appeal.

“A little draw (on the drive) would be good,” Burnside said. “You can have anywhere from a sand wedge to a 7 or 8 iron in. The green is protected in front by a bulkhead bunker that is fairly deep. It’s a good finishing hole.”