Thirty Years Old and Better Than Ever, Long Bay Still Shines

Jack Nicklaus came to town to celebrate the 30th birthdays of his two Myrtle Beach golf courses, and the Golden Bear, like so many players, recalled his work at Long Bay Club fondly.

Long Bay’s popularity has endured since its 1988 opening, bringing players to the North Strand to challenge a layout that is lauded for its variety and creativity. A 4.5-star experience, according to Golf Digest, Long Bay is a favorite of locals and visitors alike.

With that in mind, here is what people love about Long Bay Club (no, we didn’t include the statue of Jack that greets players upon their arrival at the clubhouse!):

— The course’s defining architectural characteristics are its rolling fairways and yawning waste bunkers, which work in concert to test players from tee to green without ever being unfair.

— Those traits are on full display on the course’s signature hole, No. 10, a short par 4 that plays just 315 yards from the white tees. The fairway is surrounded by waste bunkers on each side; find that sand and reaching an elevated green in regulation is difficult. The price for missing the green, fronted by another bunker, can be heavy. From the tee and on the scorecard, the 10th hole doesn’t appear difficult, but for players that fail to execute a big number could await.

— Long Bay is a second shot golf course. You have plenty of room off the tee and the greens will provide opportunities, but you have to find the putting surface. The greens are often fronted by bunkers where dreams of birdie go to die. There isn’t typically trouble over the greens, so take an extra club and make sure you get there.

— The front nine at Long Bay is good, the back is great. The Sun News, Myrtle Beach’s local paper, has ranked the 10th, 13th and 18th among the top 100 holes along the Grand Strand. The 13th is an island green, and No. 18 is a meaty dogleg right that plays around a lake. It’s a great finish to a memorable round of golf.

— Want to play Long Bay? Seaside Golf Vacations offers a great 4-night, 4-round package that includes rounds at Long Bay, Grande Dunes Resort Course, Pine Lakes and Willbrook Plantation; lodging at Grand Atlantic Ocean Resort; and a $100 rewards card for each golfer that can be redeemed for food and beverage, merchandise and more at each of the aforementioned courses.

What are you waiting for?