Admitting fear is perceived by some as a sign of weakness, but even if you won’t publicly cop to it, there is a point in almost every round when a golfer faces a shot that make him or her uneasy. The pulse quickens and the mind races as you prepare for a swing that could wreak havoc on your scorecard. As you contemplate your next Myrtle Beach golf trip, here are the five shots that strike fear into the heart of even the best players (and particularly this high handicapper!).

— There is no more daunting test along the Myrtle Beach golf scene than the tee shot on Pawleys Plantation’s 13th hole. (pictured above)The shallow, peninsula green is surrounded by a saltwater marsh and exposed to the wind coming off the Atlantic. It’s a delicate shot on the calmest of days and when the wind is whipping, it can be terrifying. Located in the middle of the back nine, No. 13 can set the tone for the rest of your round.

— The 13th hole at the Dunes Club, otherwise known as “Waterloo” is the area’s most renowned hole, and its tee shot is among the most daunting. Some people may find the second shot to be the scarier of the two but, for my money, the tee shot dictates how the hole will play. Waterloo is a 90-degree dogleg right, playing around Lake Singleton. The closer players are to the lake, the more room they have to challenge the water on their second shot. If your ball fades off the tee, it will likely be swimming with the alligators, and the hole (or at least your dreams of a good score) are over before they start.

— Technically, you don’t have to play to the alternate island fairway on the par 5, sixth hole at King’s North (aka The Gambler). You also don’t have to order steak at New York Prime, but let’s be real. Golf trips are about making memories and “The Gambler” is where it happens. You need to try and hit the alternate fairway and go for the green in two. That being said, it’s hard not to see all that water standing over the ball! The shot is scary, but the payoff is huge.

— The late Pete Dye has struck more fear into the heart of golfers than anyone who has ever dared to design a hole, so his namesake work at Barefoot Resort has to have an entry on the list. The toughest shot on the course, from my perspective, is the tee shot on the par 3 15th, which plays a meaty 162 yards from the white tees. The green is surrounded by eight bunkers and errant shots that aren’t in the sand quickly find the bottom of a run-off area. The green is big but if you miss short and left, the chances of penciling an ‘X’ on your scorecard rise exponentially.

— No list of Myrtle Beach’s scariest shots is complete without the par 5 ninth hole at Rivers Edge. Truth is the hole is difficult from tee to green, but the approach to a putting surface that isn’t much wider than Kate Moss in the 90s causes players of all ability levels to cringe. The hole plays 507 yards from the white tees, and players with anything more than a wedge in hand on the approach face a knee-knocking challenge.

Agree, disagree? Tell us what you think.