In this installment of Nature Valley's Tips From the Pro, Brad Redding, the director of instruction at Grande Dunes Golf Academy, tells you how to find the sweet spot with your driver.

In a market that features more than 100 courses, Man O’War Golf Club has managed to distinguish itself from the competition with a truly original design. A 107-acre lake is the course’s centerpiece and water is everywhere, but it manages not to overwhelm players. Come along as Myrtle Beach Golf Buzz host Blair O’Neal challenges Man O’War’s consecutive island greens and some of the area’s best bentgrass greens.

There are more than 100 Myrtle Beach golf courses but none comes close to matching the rousing start provided by Waterway Hills Golf Club, a facility players don’t forget.

A 27-hole Robert Trent Jones design, Waterway Hills Golf Club has what might be the most unique entrance in the nation. At Waterway Hills, golf bags don’t arrive at the clubhouse in a car, they come via aerial tram. The parking lot is located along the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway, while the clubhouse and course are on the west side.

Players take the tram, rising more than 100 feet above the Intracoastal, across the waterway. The ride offers a stunning (and beautiful) start to a round of golf. The tram ride lasts less than two minutes and drops players off at a clubhouse overlooking the waterway. (In case you were wondering, the tram is enclosed, protecting players from the elements and the ride across is enjoyable)

When the tram reaches the clubhouse, attention immediately turns to golf. The three nines at Waterway Hills – Oaks, Lakes and Ravine – all showcase the architectural splendor that Trent Jones is renowned for.

Robert Trent Jones fans will recognize…

The PineHills Course was the first of Myrtlewood’s two layouts to open in 1966 and it has long been among the area’s most requested tee times. Its sister layout, the Palmetto Course, one of seven Myrtle Beach golf courses to play along the Intracoastal Waterway, opened in 1973 and together they made Myrtlewood a pioneering multi-course property.   What else do you need to know before teeing it up on the PineHills Course? We have five tips will assist you on the first

The PineHills Course at Myrtlewood is noted architect Arthur Hills only work on the Myrtle Beach golf scene. Hills remade the layout in 1993, skillfully using mounding and strategically placed water hazards to change the feel of the course.

We consulted with Myrtlewood’s director of golf, Matt Daly, for a list of the three best holes on the PineHills Course and how to attack each of them. Here are Daly’s recommendations on how to play the best of the best at PineHills:

– The

Meadowlands Golf Club is among the seven Myrtle Beach golf courses that installed new greens last summer, but the player-friendly layout took its refurbishment work a step further. 

Leopard’s Chase Golf Club was the fourth Big Cat to join the pride at Ocean Ridge Plantation, but it’s first in the hearts and minds of many Myrtle Beach golfers. The layout has been regarded among the area’s best since its 2007 opening, and the course’s popularity continues to rise. Before you challenge Ocean Ridge’s most fearsome cat, here are five things you need to know. If You Like The First 3 …: Tim Cate co-designed Lion’s Paw, and he was

The birth certificate says River Oaks Golf Plantation is 23 years old. Anyone that has been to the course during the last month will tell you the 27-hole facility is the closest thing Myrtle Beach has to a new golf course.

Located less than 10 minutes from Myrtle Beach International Airport, River Oaks – home of the Fox, Otter and Bear nines – has always enjoyed the benefit of a great location, but under previous management, the Gene Hamm/Tom Jackson design fell into disrepair, struggling with course conditions.

Those issues are a thing of the past.

Signature Golf Group took over management of River Oaks a year ago and the course’s ownership made a financial commitment to restoring the layout. River Oaks has undergone a $2 million renovation project and the results – as those who have seen the before-and-after efforts can attest – are stunning.

Architect Craig Schreiner, who spearheaded the renovation of Pine Lakes Country Club, led the effort at River Oaks. He oversaw a project that included the  installation of new Champions bermuda greens, new cart paths, new bunkers and drainage, and the removal of more than 2,500 trees.

The greens at River Oaks…

The Pearl, a 36-hole gem located along the Grand Strand, has long been a favorite of area golfers. Come along as Myrtle Beach Golf Buzz host Blair O’Neal goes inside each layout, including the 614-yard, par 5 14th hole on the West Course, one of the five longest holes on the Grand Strand golf scene. The Pearl plays along the Calabash, providing stunning visuals, and two quality layouts means golfers can make a day of their visit, just like Blair did!

See all news about The Pearl Golf Links

Have you played The Pearl? Please share your experience in the comments below!

The Grand Strand is chocked full of quality restaurants and one of the area’s newest offerings has quickly become a favorite. Bandito’s on the Boardwalk, a Mexican inspired eatery, offers a creative menu and a spectacular oceanfront view, making it an ideal venue for dinner or post-golf happy hour. Come along as Myrtle Beach Golf Buzz host Blair O’Neal gets an inside look at one of the area’s most popular new restaurants.

Farmstead Golf Links isn’t the most high profile Myrtle Beach golf course, but it is representative of what makes the area the game’s most popular destination. A nice course, good conditions and value mean a good day for golfers and Farmstead delivers on all accounts. Before you tee it up on the Willard Byrd design, here are five things you want to know. 1. Yes, Farmstead is home to one of America’s only par 6s, the 767-yard 18th hole. Ranked among America’s 18

Farmstead Golf Links has quietly established itself as one of the most popular courses on the North end of the Myrtle Beach golf scene. The links style layout has built its reputation on the strength of smooth, fast greens and a welcoming atmosphere.

We recently asked Farmstead’s general manager and director of golf Ricky Lyons to identify the three best holes on the Willard Byrd design, and he happily obliged.

Overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, Filets offers one of the Grand Strand’s most scenic views and best meals. Located in North Myrtle Beach, Filets specializes in steaks, seafood and sushi, a winning trio. Come along as Blair O’Neal visits Filets and talks everything from high-end entrées to happy hour in this installment of Myrtle Beach Golf

World Tour is a re-creation of some of golf’s greatest holes, allowing players to get a taste of what it’s like to play courses like Augusta National, but which holes constitute the best of the best at the Myrtle Beach layout?

We consulted with general manager Tom Plankers and he shared his favorites on each of World Tour’s three nine-hole layouts.

– The third hole on the Open 9 replicates one of the game’s most recognizable par 3s, the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.

Ever dreamed of playing Amen Corner, No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass or St. Andrew’s? World Tour Golf Links distinguishes itself in a competitive Myrtle Beach golf market by transporting players to the greatest courses the game has to offer. Every hole at World Tour was inspired by and designed as a nearly exact replica of some of golf’s most famous holes. The result is a course that produces an outstanding round of golf and a lot of stories. There are three nines at World Tour