Rivers Edge Golf Club Named Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association Course of the Year

Rivers Edge Golf Club, an acclaimed Arnold Palmer design, has been named 2023 Golf Course of the Year by the Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association (MBAGCOA).

The dedication of the staff at Rivers Edge and the leadership of East Coast Golf Management have helped make the course one of the Myrtle Beach area’s most sought-after tee times, and the commitment of owner Sandesh Sharda to further enhancing the experience has Rivers Edge positioned for even bigger things going forward.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be named Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association Course of the Year,” said Chris Hendrick, vice president of operations for East Coast Golf Management. “This award is a testament to the hard work of general manager Jason Monahan and the entire staff at Rivers Edge. They have worked tirelessly to provide the customer service and course conditions that are the equal of the scenery at Rivers Edge.”

Playing along the Shallotte River, Rivers Edge has been ranked among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” by Golf Digest and the layout is on every list of Palmer’s best, but more importantly is the course’s popularity with golfers.

Rivers Edge is renowned for its coastal beauty, highlighted by seven holes that reside along the marshy waters of the river, complementing Palmer’s architectural vision with an unforgettable piece of land. The par-5 ninth, which plays to a peninsula green surrounded by water, is one of the Grand Strand’s most iconic challenges, but it’s only one of many unforgettable holes.

The greatest testament to the quality of ownership and management at Rivers Edge is the multi-stage renovation project the property has undergone in recent years, reflecting leadership’s commitment to maintaining the course’s place among the region’s best for years to come.

The restoration of the course has included the overhauling of its clubhouse, highlighted by a new patio that offers stunning views of the river, renovating nearly every bunker, and a tree removal effort that has opened up the layout and helped improve conditioning.

The course’s beauty understandably attracts much of the attention, but it’s the strength of the design from the opening tee shot through the final green that makes Rivers Edge special.

The MBAGCOA evaluates Golf Course of the Year nominees on four criteria: exceptional quality of the golf course, exceptional quality of the ownership and management, outstanding contribution to the community, and significant contribution to the game. By virtue of winning the award, Rivers Edge becomes a candidate for state and potentially national honors.

Rivers Edge succeeds Tidewater as the MBAGCOA Course of the Year. The National Golf Course Owners Association implemented the award in 1996 and the MBAGCOA has since nominated courses from the Myrtle Beach area.

Past recipients of the award include Tidewater Golf Club (2022), TPC Myrtle Beach (2019), Meadowlands Golf Club (2018), Man O’ War Golf Club (2017), Litchfield Country Club (2016), River Oaks (2015), Moorland Course at Legends Resort (2014), The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort (2013), The Dunes Golf & Beach Club (2012), Founders Club at Pawleys Island (2011), Sandpiper Bay (2010) Shaftesbury Glen (2009), Grande Dunes Resort Course (2008), Wachesaw Plantation East (2007), Burning Ridge (2006), TPC Myrtle Beach (2005), Indian Wells Golf Club (2004), World Tour Golf Links (2003), Wild Wing Plantation (2002), Blackmoor (2001), Tradition Golf Club (2000), Bay Tree Golf Plantation (1999), Arrowhead Country Club (1998) and King’s North at Myrtle Beach National (1996). Six of the Myrtle Beach regional winners – Tidewater Burning Ridge, TPC Myrtle Beach, Wild Wing, Tradition, Arrowhead and King’s North – also captured the state award. World Tour was named as the national “Golf Course of the Year.”