Rivers Edge Clings To Reputation As One Of Grand Strand's Best

By Shane Sharp,
Contributing Writer

SHALLOTTE, N.C. (Oct. 7, 2002) - It is not a particularly busy day at Rivers Edge, a rarity these days considering the Arnold Palmer signature track's popularity with traveling golfers. The course's bentgrass greens had just been aerified and the putting surfaces were still peppered with dime-sized holes, partially justifying the empty fairways and open seats on the patio.

An even better explanation for the scarcity of golfers on this soupy, late summer morning is timing. This is late September, the proverbial calm before the storm in "Golf Town U.S.A." Now is the time for courses to make the necessary cosmetic adjustments before they are critiqued by thousands of duffers from towns like Cheboygan, Michigan and Chillicothe, Ohio.

The fall golf season is only a couple weeks away, and courses from Brunswick County to Georgetown, S.C. are putting on their Sunday best as golfers from around the Eastern Seaboard get ready to descend upon the Grand Strand like recreationally deprived clones in search of good golf, an all-you-can eat buffets and cheap table dances.

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"The course should be in excellent shape by next week, and really peaking come mid-October," Harper says."

This is good news for those golfers who sampled Rivers Edge over the summer, only to find some greens in less than perfect condition. Growing the heat sensitive bentgrass in the Grand Strand is like trying to grow flowers in the desert. It's feasible, but one little mistake and they can be lost for good. In the case of Rivers Edge, Harper says that a few greens weren't receiving enough sunlight and airflow to survive.

"We had consultants from the U.S.G.A here and they helped us with some strategies to improve the greens," Harper says. "We've used fans and cut back some of the brush to allow for more air flow. I really believe that they will come all the way back and come next summer, we won't have that problem again."

Harper says that disseminating positive information about Rivers Edge has been a challenge ever since news of the course's conditioning struggles hit the chat rooms and message boards of the Internet.

"It's amazing. You can do everything right for two years and when one little thing goes awry, that is what everyone is talking about," Harper adds. "Getting the word out that we are in great shape seems like its twice as hard."

However, Harper doesn't claim to be in "great" shape … yet. The bentgrass on the 10th green is still a work in progress and it remains to be seen how the other temperamental putting surfaces respond to the USGA recommendations and the aerification. But the remainder of the layout is in prime condition and is as challenging as ever. Rivers Edge plays to a daunting 149 slope rating from the 6909 gold tees, eases off the throttle a bit from the 6440-yard blacks, and is actually quite playable from the 6033 white tees. The ladies even have two sets of tees to choose from, the 5295-yard greens and the 4692-yard blues.

The par-5 ninth is still the most talked about hole on the course, and the diabolical three-shotter hasn't changed a lick since Rivers Edge opened in 1999. The hole begins with a tee shot to a landing area that runs downhill towards the marsh of the Shallotte River. The second shot is over the marsh to a sliver of a layup area that could even make Fred Funk break into a cold sweat. All this vintage "placement" golf is capped by an approach shot to a peninsular green that is 48 yards deep and as narrow as a trash alley.

"It is still a love/hate relationship that they (golfers) have with that hole," Harper says. "A lot of people come back say they are coming back to conquer or survive the 9th hole."

Those who love the hole praise Palmer. Those who hate it curse him. Truth is, all their emotions are misguided. Erik Larsen, Palmer's senior designer and vice president of Palmer Course Design is actually the architect of record at Rivers Edge. Harper says that Larsen paid the course a visit last fall but didn't suggest any changes to the design.

"Other than the ninth hole, the response to the rest of the course has been too favorable to change anything," Harper says. "And even with the ninth, notoriety is a great form of publicity."

But the infamous hole actually overshadows a cadre of remarkably scenic golf holes that should be mentioned in the same breath as the fourth hole at Tidewater, the 16th at Glen Dornoch, and the 12th at Pawleys Plantation. The par-4 16th, par-5 17th and par-4 18th holes present one of the best finishing stretches in the Grand Strand. All three holes play along the Shallotte River, and each makes a range of scores readily available.

Keeping your tee shot down the left side on No. 16 could lead to a reasonable birdie putt. Hanging it out to the right in the marsh is a sure-fire recipe for a five or six. No. 17 features a double fairway that forces a decision on the tee box - aim for the upper fairway if you plan to get on in three, and shoot for the lower one if you crave the taste of an eagle putt.

The 18th is a fantastic example of a rare, risk-reward par-4. Cut as much of the hole to the right as your intestinal fortitude will allow. The risk is leaving it right in the river and sulking off the course, tail between your legs, with a high number. The reward is a mid or short iron into a narrow stadium style green.

"Those three are the memorable holes of the course, its just that they get remembered after the ninth," says Harper, laughing.

Rivers Edge can also lay claim to two of the best par-3's in the North Strand, the 200-yard 8th hole and the 200-yard 15th. The former marks the course's turn towards the Shallotte River, and the marsh in the background makes this downhill one-shotter on the property. The later is reminiscent of the 17th at Pawleys Plantation, with its shoebox sized tee boxes just right of the cart path and its formidable carry over the marsh.

Harper and his staff are banking on optimal conditions come mid-October, as the going rate for a round of golf and a cart will be $110. The winter rate is $65 and the peak spring rate is $165. Unlike most Grand Strand courses, Rivers Edge doesn't offer afternoon or twilight rates.

"We push ourselves as a premier golf course and we bank on our recognition by top golf magazines," Harper says. "But there is a still a misconception that we are too far away because we are in North Carolina."

That recognition includes "Americas Top 10 Best New Upscale Courses for 2000" from Golf Digest, "Top 20 New Courses for 2000" from Golf Magazine, "Top 10 Best New Courses for 2000" from North Carolina Magazine, and Best New Course on the Grand Strand for 1999" from MyrtleBeachGolf.com.

The locational misconception, however, has done little to keep golfers from making the 20-minute drive from North Myrtle Beach.

"The biggest thing up here (in Brunswick County) is the lack of accommodations," Harper says. "You have some chain hotels and some rooms at Sea Trail and some villas at Sand Piper. When you come across the Stateline, the accommodations stop."

If everything goes as plans as planned at Rivers Edge this fall, no one should notice.

Where to Eat

Turn east on Minneola and head towards the historic waterfront at Little River. You'll find a smattering of local joints serving up the region's specialties, blue crab and Grouper. The River Side Tavern is set in an old house and is easily one of the best "locals" joints in the North Strand. Chances are, the guy that caught your Grouper dinner is sitting right next to you. Crab Catchers serves up excellent (you guessed it) crab dishes, but the restaurant's double-decker hamburger is the stuff of legend. Back out on the Highway, Italian eateries and sports bars dominate the landscape. The Varsity Club was voted "Best Bar" by Myrtle Beach Golf Magazine, and is a local favorite with its 75-cent Natural Light drafts and 37 televisions.

Where to Stay

The Hampton Inn North Myrtle Beach-Harbourgate is a sand wedge away from Tidewater, Glen Dornoch, Heather Glen and just a 15-minute drive from the legion of courses in Brunswick County, across the Stateline. The Hampton features recently refurbished suites, complete with refrigerator, coffee maker, behemoth TV, love seat and data ports. An indoor pool, fitness center, and lounging area with TV are located just off the main lobby, and boat slips are available across the street. Continental breakfast is provided every morning, as are fresh copies of USA Today. The hotel does not have a full service restaurant on site, but the Marker 350 across the street serves up excellent seafood and steaks. Rates for the fall golf season are as low as $55 per night, and golf packages are available upon request. For more information, or to make reservations, call 1-866-409-2177.