One of these layouts is Arcadian Shores, which opened in 1974. In addition to being one of the area’s oldest courses, it carries an interesting distinction among golf course architecture buffs: it was the first solo course design in the career of Rees Jones, who has gone on to a storied career that includes work at many major championship venues, including Torrey Pines’ South Course and Bethpage Black, both U.S. Open hosts.
As they age, golf courses require special attention from time to time in order to keep them both looking and playing their best. Recently at Arcadian Shores, this has included some tree removal that has opened up corridors on many holes, peeling back layers of encroachment brought on by natural tree growth. And in 2016, construction began on a new clubhouse that will open this spring, replacing an original structure that had begun to show its age.
The commitment to making sure Arcadian Shores’ next 43 years are as successful (if not more so) than its first will take another step this summer, as the course will close for a couple months to receive new grass on its greens. This is a key step in the golf-course-updating process. Over the years, even the most conscientious mowers of greens will neglect to mow a fraction of an inch around the perimeter of a putting surface each time, meaning that the edges of the greens will creep inward, shrinking them. But with Arcadian Shores new greens – which will start being installed in May and should reopen in mid-August – those original perimeters will return, as will some recaptured hole locations, on many greens.
If you’re planning on coming to the Myrtle Beach area later this year, be sure and reserve your tee time to be one of the first to play the new-look Arcadian Shores Golf Club. It’s one of dozens of courses you can book through MyrtleBeachGolf.com.