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Historical Pine Lakes Golf Course Is a Modern Challenge

By Vacation Myrtle Beach Thursday, September 19th, 2013

At some point during your round at Pine Lakes, you’ll pause, take a look around and realize that you’re playing one of the best courses in Myrtle Beach. The 18-hole track isn’t overly difficult and the newly refurbished course offers plenty of birdie opportunities. However, the mystique of the course comes from its well-known history. Built in 1927, Pine Lakes is the oldest course in Myrtle Beach and a famous Robert White design that features numerous natural water features.

While history is great, it means nothing unless the course is fun to play. Thankfully, Pine Lakes mixes in challenging holes, well-groomed hazards, and scenic views similar to a bartender mixing your favorite cocktail with the perfect blend of flavors.

Known as “The Grandaddy,” Pine Lakes will challenge you in a variety of ways. Most of which you won’t realize until you have time to reflect on your round in one of the most elegant and beautiful clubhouses in South Carolina.

The Best Hole

Pine Lake’s best hole is the long par four 3rd hole that plays at 463 yards from the back tees. The tee shot is relatively straight forward with little danger on either side of the fairway aside from some trees placed some 20 yards away on either side. However, what makes this hole the best is the 2nd shot you’re faced with. Put the ball in the fairway and you’ll have a nice mid-iron into a slightly undulated green guarded by a small pond that runs the final 100 yards of the hole. Getting on the green in two is worthy of a celebration.

Most Underrated Hole

The par four 9th hole is a hole where your strategy will be dependent upon which tee you use. For the ladies, this par four could be played as a long par three at just 189 yards. For those who use the back tees, the large pond setting just to the left of the tee box, winds up the left side of the fairway and could gather any ball that is pulled to the left. Any shot that lands in the middle of the fairway will be rewarded with a short iron into a very accessible green. A birdie here is a great confidence builder heading into one of the easiest holes on the course in the par five 10th.

Short Game Wanted

At just 6,675 from the back tees, Pine Lakes doesn’t challenge most players from a distance standpoint. Like any golf course, there will be a few long-iron opportunities where a player could potentially go for a green in two on a par five. But, those opportunities are few and far between on this course. Where Pine Lakes challenges every golfer is on the approach shot and around the green. If you do not have confidence in your short game, Pine Lakes will eat you alive. From hidden breaks on the green to numerous greenside bunkers, there’s not much room for error from 100 yards and in.

Lasting Impressions

Pine Lakes is frequently noted as a course that you’ll return to time and time again. From the southern hospitality of the staff to the southern charm of both the clubhouse and the course, Pine Lakes has it all. While the course doesn’t have a true signature hole that rivals others in Myrtle Beach, the course itself is so elegantly groomed and well-maintained that it truly doesn’t matter. Whether you’re a true hacker or semi-professional, Pine Lakes is a course well worth adding to your next golf vacation in Myrtle Beach.