The Jackson 4: Popular Designer’s Myrtle Beach Golf Courses Span the Strand
Big names often dominate discussion of golf course architecture, but the reality is a vast middle class of course designers are responsible for many of your favorite layouts.
Guys like Tom Jackson, for example.
Jackson doesn’t attract a lot of fanfare, but he has a quartet of Myrtle Beach’s most underrated courses to his credit. If your group isn’t comprised of architecture snobs, give one of these four Jackson designs a chance because they will deliver a good time and great value.
– Located along Highway 9, Aberdeen Country Club is ideal for a day of arrival or departure round of golf. The layout doesn’t overwhelm players with distance, playing just 6,672 yards from the tips and rewarding precision as opposed to raw power. The course plays along a rolling piece of property and Aberdeen’s greens are among the area’s most undulating, so make sure your short game is sharp.
– River Hills Golf & Country Club, located in Little River, is one of the area’s hidden gems and it’s in premium condition following a 2022 greens and bunker renovation project. As part of the project, the putting surfaces were restored to Jackson’s original size and specifications, an effort that expanded the greens by more than 40 percent. The work, which was blessed by Jackson and included the installation of new Concrete Capillary Bunker Liners, has been greeted by rave reviews.
– River Club, a Pawleys Island layout that has been delighting golfers since 1988, remains a treat to play. Water comes into play on 15 of 18 holes but it doesn’t overwhelm players, giving everyone a chance to score. The layout is highlighted by the risk-reward, par-5 18th hole, which gives players the opportunity to reach the green in two, provided they can carry water on a dramatic approach. River Club will make your next golf trip better.
– Arrowhead Country Club, a 27-hole facility he co-designed with Raymond Floyd, is Jackson’s highest profile Grand Strand course. Located in Myrtle Beach, just minutes from the airport, Arrowhead features several holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway and it’s in pristine condition throughout the year. In a survey of local PGA professionals, Arrowhead was voted one of Myrtle Beach’s top 20 golf courses and it won’t take your group long to figure out why.
Tom Jackson may not be a familiar name to everyone, but he has made countless Myrtle Beach golf trips better and will continue to do so long into the future.
