Myrtle Beach golf insider Chris King gives five reasons why you should tee it up on one of the Grand Strand’s most underrated lowcountry gems, the Tom Jackson designed River Club. 

Hi, I’m Chris King, your Myrtle Beach Golf Insider, and today we’re at River Club, the chronically underrated Tom Jackson design. Why is River Club underexposed and why would your next golf trip be better for playing it? Here are five reasons that’ll convince you to tee it up on this Pawleys Island gem.

Number one, there’s water on 15 of 18 holes, including a few forest carries. But don’t be fooled by the course name, there isn’t a river on the property, and water doesn’t define River Club and the challenges you’ll face. The hazard you need to be most wary of are the omnipresent sand traps that fiercely defend in nearly every green.

Number two, River Club’s fairways aren’t the area’s widest, but there’s ample room, unless you’re really spraying the ball. This is a second shot golf course. Greens must be approached through the air to avoid those expansive greenside bunkers.

Number three, the course’s greens tend to run from front to back, so take that into account on your approach. Even more so than on most courses, landing a few yards short of the pin is ideal at River Club. Speaking of the greens, the courses aren’t super undulating, particularly by contemporary standards, but they do have distinct shelves, again, highlighting the importance of the approach.

Number four, par 5s typically represent your best chance for birdie, but the 3-shotters at River Club have teeth. The shortest of the quartet is Number 6, which plays 477 yards. All our distances are from the white tees, and there are two that stretch over 500 yards. And we haven’t even talked about Number 18, the risk reward par 5 that is River Club’s most famous hole. For long hitters, it’s reachable in two, but it requires as much nerve as it does power. You can score on River Club’s par 5s, but there isn’t a lot of margin for error.

Number five, River Club is everything you’re looking for in a golf course. The layout is challenging. There are holes you’ll be talking about in the clubhouse after the round, including the island green par 3 14th and Number 18. And it delivers the type of value we’re all in search of.

Bottom line, there are layouts that attract more attention than River Club, but this is a design that your group will be delighted to play. It’s challenging without being overwhelming. There are unforgettable holes and it always delivers on the value side.