River Hills Golf and Country Club - Myrtle Beach Golf Course Review
River Hills Golf and Country Club is located in Little River, South Carolina. It is one of the hidden gems among Myrtle Beach area golf courses, because it's an interesting and fun course to play, and it's reasonably priced. It is also one of the more challenging golf courses in the area.
River Hills was designed by Tom Jackson, and it is unique among Grand Strand golf courses in that it has several holes with elevation changes - a rarity in this coastal area. Many holes also have ponds or streams which add to the challenge.
The front nine offers a few difficult holes, but the back nine is where the course really shows its "teeth." Therefore, this review focuses on the back nine.
Hole #10 is a short par four, which requires an accurate drive to avoid a bunker on the right, and water and a bunker of the left. If you hit it long and straight, you'll have a short approach to the "pushed-up" green.
The "fun" on the back nine starts with hole #11, a long par five with water on the entire left side, and woods, which are marked as a lateral water hazard, on the right. The approach to the green is well-guarded by bunkers on the right and behind the green. A good drive and an accurate layup are required for this hole.
Hole #12 is a long par three, with two water carries from tee to green, and water and bunkers to the left of the green.
Hole #13 is a short par four with water on the right and in front of the green. The green is two-tiered, with bunkers on the left and right. An accurate tee-shot with a fairway wood or hybrid will leave you in good position to go for the flag on your approach shot. Driver off the tee is tempting, but there's no reward, and you risk an out-of-bounds on the left side, which will lead to a "blow-up" hole.
Hole #14 is one of the most difficult par fours on this course. It's lengthy with a dog-leg left and water down the left side. There's also water behind the small green. A good drive is a must on this hole.
Holes #15, a short par three, and #16, a short par 4, are not difficult and offer you a bit of a rest before the two finishing holes.
Hole #17 (shown in the image above) is another long par five. There's a water carry off the tee. An accurate, long tee shot will allow you to go for the green, but the attempt may be blocked by a large oak tree on the right side, and an errant shot will catch water on the right or one of the bunkers that guard both the left and right approaches to the large green. There's also another water carry for the second shot. Birdie is a possibility on this hole, but par is a good score.
Hole #18 is an uphill par four that dog-legs to the right. There's out-of-bounds right and left on this hole. The green is small and is protected on the middle-left by a deep slope. A fairway wood or hybrid is the smart play off the tee, but you need to avoid the bunker that guards the inside of the dog-leg.
The next time you are in the Myrtle Beach area, you should consider playing River Hills Golf and Country Club. It's reasonably priced, challenging, and fun. Just don't expect a low score or you may be disappointed!