Golf-ageddon: Myrtle Beach, SC

We'll be leaving shortly for our family vacation in Myrtle Beach, which also happens to be somewhat of a golfing mecca. I bought a golf vacation package and thought I'd share the courses upon which I'll be losing a lot of golf balls. I will be playing four courses in three days (one day I'll be playing two courses).

First up (the day I arrive), my son and I will play at Long Bay. Its signature 10th par-4 has a fairway completely encased in a giant bunker.

The Long Bay Club is a magnificent Jack Nicklaus Signature Course that is consistently ranked among the top courses in the state. This is not a typical Nicklaus design; deep pot bunkers and vast waste areas add a unique identity and challenge.

[From Myrtle Beach Golf Course]

On the next day, I'll be playing two course at Myrtle Beach National, back-to-back: King's North and SouthCreek. King's North's signature par-5 hole, The Gambler, provides two choices: not safe and dangerous. SouthCreek seems a bit tamer, but only a little (and for my current level of play, I'm sure I'll be playing up on the 'old man" tees). All of the Myrtle Beach National courses are designed by Arnold Palmer.

Famous for the island green and "SC"-shaped sand traps of Hole 13; the famed par-5 sixth hole, nicknamed "The Gambler" that tempts golfers with a shortcut to the green via an island fairway.

[From Myrtle Beach Golf Course]

With just 6,400 yards from the back tees, this course challenges golfers to focus on accuracy not distance with each shot. Finesse is required by every golfer with its guarded MiniVerde Ultradwarf greens and protected waste areas, as it winds through wetlands and hardwood forests.

[From Myrtle Beach Golf Course]

After a day of rest where I do the beach thing with the family, I'll close out my golf vacation with the West Course at Myrtle Beach National.

From the regular tees, golfers of all abilities will enjoy the classic Arnold Palmer design, ranked 4.5 STARS in 2010 by Golf Digest's "Places to Play". But be prepared for a professional challenge from the back tees as the numerous doglegs, fairway bunkers and natural hazards come into play.

[From Myrtle Beach Golf Course]

Royal New Kent Golf Course

RITUAL JAPANESE SUICIDE RATING: FIVE CUTS with the short sword out of FIVE!

I played here this past Saturday. We played from the Black Tees. Stupid us. Next time I'll play from the White Tees! Still I got off the tee box well most of the round (very tough carries); the approach shots were a different story--there are no friendly lies here on the fairways (ball above or below feet; downhill and uphill lies). My chips and pitches were mostly good, but I putted horribly most of the round.

This course in Providence Forge, VA (located between Williamsburg and Richmond) was as hard or harder than the round I played last year at the TPC in San Antonio. Definitely a course for advanced players, unless you're willing to swallow your ego and play from the front most "ladies" tees (Green). Any lady playing well from the front tees is no slouch at RNK.

I found myself in a few of those crazy 15-foot tall bunkers and got out of one of them in a single shot. We didn't keep score…thank the Lord. That would have just been more humiliation. Still, it's a beautiful course, even in the winter. No walking this course, unless you want your body found by other golfers in a few weeks.

Back to the humiliation: Make sure you bring your ceremonial Japanese swords to commit ritual seppuku on the 18th.

But players should not get distracted by the views – each hole is also another opportunity for the course to wreck a player’s scorecard and shatter a golfer’s ego. Royal New Kent is designed for experienced golfers – it is a double black diamond ski run, two blitzing all-pro linebackers, and a Randy Johnson fastball all rolled into one.

At the start of the round, pick the correct set of tees. The regulation tees (whites – Rating 70.8, Slope 135) appear short on the card (6,126 yards), but the forced carries, wind, enormous mounds (to play in, around and sometimes over), and constant uphill approach shots make the course play much longer. The advanced tees (black – Rating 73.1, Slope 141) play a seemingly manageable 6,560 yards, but the forced carries and angles are much more pronounced.

[From A Walk In The Park » ROYAL NEW KENT – PROVIDENCE FORGE, VA]