River Club golf course - Pawleys Island

The River Club golf course, on Pawley's Island, south of Myrtle Beach, is a Tom Jackson design opened in 1985. It plays 6,677 yards from the championship tees and 5,084 from the forwards.

There's water on 15 holes, mostly in the form of tiny ponds, but even high handicappers can get around without losing a ton of balls, as most of the hazards are well off the roomy fairways. But your short game will get a workout from the plethora of heavily guarded greens.

The 18th is one of Myrtle Beach golf's most talked-about finishing holes, a risk-reward par 5 that plays 518 yards from the back tees. You can bail your drive out to the right and play it safe in three, but if you can carry the ball 240 yards over water you'll have about 180 yards into a green protected by more wet stuff.