Architect Brandon Johnson and his team began the overhaul of King’s North at Myrtle Beach National on June 3, and the dramatic nature of the two–stage renovation is already apparent.
The grading and expansion of the greens on the front nine are nearly complete and the putting surfaces will be sprigged with TifEagle bermudagrass by the end of the month, allowing ample time for grow-in prior to the reopening of King’s North in October.
(Reminder: the second stage of the project will begin in the summer of 2025 and include an overhaul of the back nine.)
While the recapturing of the greens and in some cases expansion beyond their original footprint will bring substantive change to the Arnold Palmer design, it’s the work occurring around the putting surfaces that is creating so much excitement.
Johnson and his team are reimagining the green surrounds and bunkering on one of the Myrtle Beach area’s iconic designs. While every front nine hole enjoys a summer facelift, here is an inside look at three holes that are undergoing major change:
No. 2, 409 yards, Par 4
While work has yet to begin on the fairway bunkers, the course’s first two-shoter will play differently from 100 yards and in, beginning with the waste bunker that bisects the fairway.
The bunker, which was mostly flat prior to the work, has been reshaped and regraded, bringing the left side up so players can more easily see the sand. While the bunker isn’t deep, there will be a small lip, which may give long hitters pause before they opt to mindlessly pound the driver off the tee.
The most dramatic changes are around the green as the mounding on the left has been reshaped. Previously, the mounds featured heavy rough and balls that landed there came to a stop; when King’s North reopens, that area will be lowered and in its place will be contour features that allow golfers to play shots off them.
There will be subtle changes to the green that create more pinning areas, particularly in the back left corner and a middle, right bowl pin. The large bunker to the starboard side of the putting surface is being repositioned and elevated in the back corner, making it more visible as well.
Additionally, the run-up area is more open, providing greater margin for error for mid to high handicaps and greater creativity for stronger players.
No. 5, 347 yards, par 4
The risk-reward aspect of this short par 4 will be heightened post renovation.
The tee box is being elevated moved to the right, making the dogleg left less severe and tempting the bold among us.
“This is a really fun, shortish hole,” Johnson said. “Long hitters can have a go at it (trying to clear the trees and dogleg), but for us mere mortals, the layup will be the more important shot.
A fairway bunker has been repositioned and reshaped, but more significantly, the large, stacked sod bunker that fronted the green has been replaced by three smaller traps (think of them as a string of pearls) that will give long hitters pause. If you are playing your approach from the right side of the fairway, you will be playing over all three of them. Meanwhile, there will be room left of the bunkers, allowing for easier recovery for balls that come up short.
Already one of the course’s most underrated holes, No. 5 will be a delight post renovation.
No. 7, 423 yards, par 4
Original plans called for the seventh hole to have relatively minor alterations but as Johnson began work, he started seeing enticing new looks, and plans changed.
The seventh hole you last played had two bunkers, including a large trap off the right side of the green. That bunker has been eliminated, allowing for the reshaping of the fairway cut.
Meanwhile, the bunker on the back right of the green has been expanded and will feature much more prominently, providing a striking visual as you approach from the fairway. The putting surface has expanded in the front right as well, bringing what should be a dramatic new pin position into play with your second shot over water.
The changes to the seventh green are representative of those occurring across the front nine.
“[The course] has a good set of greens and if we bring the line out sometimes 5-10 feet, we are discovering contour that wasn’t in that green before,” Johnson said. “So, we are bringing contour back into play. They are really subtle changes … There are no contours in these greens that are by any means crazy.”
Taken in the aggregate, the subtle changes Johnson is making should result in one of Myrtle Beach’s most enjoyable layouts being even more fun to play this fall.
Click Here to See Aerial Video of all Nine Holes Captured 7-11-24
