Leopard’s Chase is one of Myrtle Beach’s newest golf courses, and it has wasted little time staking its place among the area’s most acclaimed layouts.

Leopard’s Chase, a Tim Cate design, was ranked among America’s Top 10 new courses upon its 2007 opening by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine, so outstanding holes are many. But we asked Bill Long, the director of marketing at Ocean Ridge Plantation, to name the course’s three best holes.

An astute observer of Cate’s work, Long tells us about the best holes on the fourth of Ocean Ridge’s Big Cat courses.

No. 4, 190-yard, par 3: Coquina boulders ring what amounts to an island green, creating a stunning visual and one of the layout’s best challenges. The fourth hole isn’t exceedingly long (168 from the blues, 156 from the whites), but it’s all carry across the water.

“There is a little pressure on you when you are standing up there with the water all around,” Long said. “The wind tends to swirl, so you better check the direction before you tee off.”

While there is little margin for error in front, Cate leaves room on the sides, giving well struck, though slightly wayward shots, landing room.

No. 14, 543-yard, par 5: There is opportunity to score on this dogleg left par 5, but it’s not without peril. The fairway is wide and long hitters can get home in two by going over an environmentally sensitive area to cut the dogleg. But beware, there is trouble to the left and right of the green.

Players that layback will be tested by a relatively narrow landing area.

“It’s a thinking man’s hole,” Long said. “You must hit it straight but a good score can be made there.”

In terms of overall difficulty, No. 14 ranks in the middle of the Leopard’s Chase pack but an abundance of options make the hole special.

No. 18, 439-yard, par 4: The closing hole at Leopard’s Chase is probably it’s most memorable. The tee shot requires a carry over an environmentally sensitive area, a large waste bunker is on the right and a beach bunker on looms on the left. If that weren’t enough, a waterfall that runs 1,600 gallons per minute flows over coquina boulders around the 18th green.

It’s one of the course’s hardest and most memorable holes.

“You can hear the waterfall on your approach shot,” Long said. “It’s a great way to finish.”

What is your favorite hole at Leopard’s Chase?

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