COURSE REVIEW

River Club doesn't have a river, but man, watch those approach shots

By Tim McDonald,
National Golf Editor

LITCHFIELD BEACH, S.C. (March 6, 2006) - The River Club is a club without a river, though it does have plenty of water. It also has plenty of bunkers, most of them taunting you after you've hit your drive and looking at the green.

"Irons are the key here," said Head Professional Christa Bodensteiner. "You've got plenty of room off the tee, but you have to be accurate going into the green."

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She's right as rain there; it seems like you're always feathering a short-iron over a bunker onto the green. It doesn't seem to matter what angle you're approaching from - there's a bunker in your face, daring you to show some touch after that boomer you just hit. Good wedge players will giggle like schoolchildren here.

The River Club is one of the Myrtle Beach National collection on the south Strand, along with the Litchfield Country Club and Willbrook Plantation. The River Club's fairways are much more open than Litchfield, with its narrow, tree-lined fairways. And the River Club doesn't have quite the old-time, picturesque beauty of Willbrook, set in the marshy Waccamaw River basin.

But, it does have its attractions. Like Litchfield, its fairways are tree-lined with oak and pine, with homes in the quiet neighborhood set back off the fairways, and out of bounds protecting them from inaccurate, marauding golfers. It's on relatively flat terrain, with only some fairways displaying good movement.

The closing hole is a very good one, named one of the top holes on the Grand Strand by the Sun News. The 518-yard par 5 wraps around a lake, providing birdie and even eagle opportunities for the big slamma-jammas. If you're merely mortal, you're looking at two water carries, the second one to the green being particularly treacherous.

It's still a picturesque course, dotted with lakes and ponds.

"It's not as difficult as it looks, if you know where to put it," said French Canadian Gaetan Cadorette, on a Myrtle Beach golf vacation. "It's very scenic with all the lakes around, one of the nicest we've seen here."

The verdict

The River Club, a Tom Jackson design opened in 1985, is considered one of the first plantation clubs in the area, before the opening of more heralded courses like Caledonia, True Blue or Tradition in the south Strand.

Its star attractions are the greens, which all had A1 bentgrass installed several years ago. Bentgrass is known for its pure roll, though it can be susceptible to scorching summer heat. In early November, though, the greens were in great shape.

It was actually harder when it was new, and officials filled in 10-15 bunkers to tone it down a bit; don't worry, there are still plenty of bunkers to negotiate, particularly those high-lipped devils around the greens. It is particularly favored by women, as is Willbrook.

Green fees range from $65 to $115 depending on the season and time of day, with various discounts available.

Stay and play

Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort is at the southern end of the Grand Strand, a great place to play the south courses. It's affiliated with three courses, the Litchfield Country Club, River Club and Willbrook Plantation. The latter two in particular are excellent layouts. There's a racquet club and fitness center, and several restaurants to choose from, Websters Lowcountry Grill and Tavern, the eateries at the golf courses and the Calypso Beach Bar and Grill.

Sea Trail Plantation has one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom accommodations, as well as mini-suites and luxury suites from $72 to $386 a night. It's on the southernmost coast of North Carolina, and most of the golf villas are on the fairways of the courses, within walking distance of the Byrd/Jones clubhouse and the Magnolia Restaurant.

The villas have full kitchens and the plantation has tennis, swimming and fitness centers. It's a good opportunity to play the plantation's three resort courses, as well as the other courses located here at the northernmost end of the Grand Stand.

River Oaks Golf Plantation, just to the west of the Intracoastal Waterway, is also a good, centrally located place for golfers to stay and play Myrtle Beach. It's easy to go north or south via Highway 17, and it's close to Broadway at the Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

They have one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, many of them overlooking the fairways of the 27-hole golf course on the property. It's also within walking distance of both Fantasy Harbour and the Waccamaw Pottery shopping complex. There are also indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis and walking trails.

Dining out

Myrtle Beach has more than 1,600 restaurants, and they aren't all fried fast food. In fact, the area has some nice eateries: Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Frank's Restaurant and Bar on Pawleysw Island, Bella Napoli, Islamorada Fish Company, just to name a few.

The buffet at Sea Trail Plantation is excellent. Try a drive through Murrell's Inlet to find one of dozens of specialized seafood restaurants, with freshly-caught seafood, or eat at Greg Norman's excellent grille at barefoot landing.

Fast fact

The River Club changed its name from the Waccamaw River Club several years ago, and is now sometimes confused with Rivers Edge and River Hills.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.