Long Bay Club

The Long Bay Club, located at the northern end of the Grand Strand along Highway 9 in Longs, South Carolina, is one of two excellent Jack Nicklaus Signature designs in the Myrtle Beach area. Opened in 1989, it is set to celebrate a quarter-century as one of the area’s favorite courses, between the thousands of visitors who play it each year and the committed group of locals who call the course home. With undulating fairways and swift Champion Bermuda greens that are protected by muscular bunkers and pristine water hazards, the course is a memorable and challenging one.

At just over 7,000 yards from the back Gold tees, Long Bay sports a Rating of 74.3 and a slope of 140. From the most popular, 6,209-yard White tee set, the figures are a more manageable 70.5 and 129, respectively. Nicklaus gave the holes generous corridors, which encourages players to make freer swings off the tee. Sometimes it brings out long and straight drives, but on other holes, the course can bite back if free swings become loose ones. One hole where this is the case is the par five 15th, which doglegs subtly to the right. A hazard crosses the hole in the landing area, so players need to take care to hit the proper club off the tee. Even if driver may not be necessary, the green is still within reach in two shots for confident fairway wood players. The same stream that crosses the fairway continues along the entire right side of the hole, bordering the green closely.

Log Bay Club, in addition to its lovely golf course, offers a comfortable clubhouse with a full-service grille, pro shop and men’s and women’s locker rooms. The practice facility consists of a grass-tee driving range, putting green and a separate chipping green with a practice bunker.