
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="/media/images/Founders_2nd_Hole_1000.png" alt="Founders Club 2nd Hole"/></figure>


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<p><em>Story by Ian Guerin</em></p>
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<p>Distance doesn’t always mean more difficult.</p>
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<p>We want to get that out of the way early here.</p>
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<p>If you’re a readily able to admit that distance is often unrelated to how tough a course is, then, you’re also likely to understand that it can be enjoyed just the same. What makes 6,400 yards on one track play more favorably than 6,100 at another?</p>
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<p>Protection from wind. Sight lines. Hazards. You name it.</p>
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<p>Just the same, distance is distance.</p>
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<p>And some of the Myrtle Beach area’s courses pump it out front and center for its mainstream customers. Now, we’re looking at five of the longest.</p>
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<p>For our purposes, we’re going to stick with the standard tees on only the Par-72 tracks. No championship boxes for us &#8211; nor are we going to start fiddling with the small number of courses who went the Par-71 or 70 route and determine a by-hole average.</p>
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<p>These traditional locales found their own way to incorporate length in a way we can all understand.</p>
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<p><strong><u><a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtlewood-golf-club-palmetto">MYRTLEWOOD GOLF CLUB, PALMETTO COURSE</a></u>, 6,516 YARDS</strong><br>Myrtlewood in itself is an argument against pure length, as most people would agree that the PineHills Course here (at 6,100 yards) is more difficult than what Palmetto presents. Those 22 extra yards per hole are most notable in the Par 4s, where it might just take a 6-iron to reach the green in two instead of a 9. The balance between the front and back at Palmetto, though, allows players to stick with a rhythm and not feel the distance.</p>
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<p><strong><u><a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/shaftesbury-glen">SHAFTESBURY GLEN GOLF &amp; FISH CLUB</a></u>, 6,445 YARDS</strong><br>When the club recently switched to Sunday Bermudagrass greens, the reception was welcome because of the long approach shots that happen frequently. The huge fairways at Shaftesbury allow players to absolutely rip into their tee shots. But even guys playing the whites aren’t busting out 300-yard drives. The softer and expanded greens make a difference when playing here.</p>
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<figure class="alignright size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="250" height="300" src="https://mbn-admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/RIHI.png" alt="River Hills Golf Club" class="wp-image-9593"/></figure></div>

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<p><strong><u><a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/river-hills-golf-club">RIVER HILLS GOLF &amp; COUNTRY CLUB</a></u>, 6,401 YARDS</strong><br>The 10 forced carries at this Tom Jackson design mean you’re going to need to pay attention to distances on the specific holes much more than the overall total. Throw in the massive dogleg on No. 2, 6 and 18, and you catch the drift. The lack of places to cheat by air, though, are countered by the rolling terrain that appears to have been crafted out of nowhere. This is the most undulated course in the air, bar none, and nice rolls have been known to happen. <em>(River Hills 6th hole pictured right)</em></p>
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<p><strong><u><a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/founders-club">FOUNDERS CLUB AT PAWLEYS ISLAND</a></u>, 6,394 YARDS</strong><br>With fairways seemingly framed by waste bunkers throughout, this is one of those rare times when players who didn’t have a scorecard accessible might predict during their 19th hole that it was actually longer than the real distance. Founders Club is a hellscape of sand, designed to make you think just that. Of course, after a few holes and deciding to block out the light brown in favor of green will do wonders. <em>(Founders Club 2nd hole top photo)</em></p>
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<p><strong><u><a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/prestwick-country-club">PRESTWICK COUNTRY CLUB</a></u>, 6,347 YARDS</strong><br>Remember when we said distance doesn’t always mean difficulty? Forget we said that when it comes to Prestwick. No matter which local pro you ask, this doozy will live up to the Pete and P.B. Dye legacy, even from the standard tees. Five holes measure 444 yards or longer from the whites, and there’s even a 194-yard Par 3. Fairways are often squeezed, and bunkers are protecting greens en masse.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><em>Ian Guerin has been covering sports and golf in South Carolina since 2004. His game has ebbed and flowed like the Atlantic, but he&#8217;s never had to explain to his kids why his round won&#8217;t be televised. You can follow along with the day-to-day conversation on Twitter&nbsp;<u><a href="https://twitter.com/iguerin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@iguerin</a></u></em></p>
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Myrtle Beach’s 5 Longest Golf Courses

Courses in this Article

Prestwick Country Club

Founders Club

Shaftesbury Glen Golf and Fish Club

Myrtlewood Golf Club - Palmetto Course

Additional Myrtle Beach Golf News