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Golf's popularity may be at a recent high, but it doesn't mean golf course closures have ground to a halt - even in some of the game's most popular destinations
As Alan Blondin reported for On The Green Magazine, River Oaks Golf Club, a centrally-located and budget-oriented Myrtle Beach golf course, will close permanently in October. Its remaining 18 holes - 9 were purchased and redeveloped in 2021 - will become as many as 600 homes in the coming years.
River Oaks' fate is not exactly a surprise or a secret around Myrtle Beach golf. The property was purchased back by Chris Manning Communities, a developer based in North Myrle Beach. S.C., in February of 2024. Now that the approval and permitting process has moved along, the next step is to convert River Oaks, which was laid out by architect Gene Hamm and originally opened in 1988.
River Oaks has always had a reputation as one of Myrtle Beach's more affordable golf options, which has meant uneven conditioning over the years, especially since the course lies relatively close to the Intracoastal Waterway and has been susceptible to flooding in the past.
Recent reviews of River Oaks, which has a current rating of 3.9, have been mixed. "The staff was excellent and friendly," reads a recent review by golfer 'LeeDowney.' "The course was somewhat challenging and in decent condition except for the greens. We were told it was a rough winter for this course. The greens were the roughest part of this course. We would play it again if the greens were in better shape. For $60 a player, it felt a little overpriced based on these conditions."
River Oaks' closure removes another golf course from Myrtle Beach's U.S. 501 corridor. Two Rees Jones layouts at Belle Terre Golf Club closed between 2004 and 2015 to make way for the construction of Highway 31, while Wild Wing Golf Club's golf footprint was slashed from 72 holes to 27 in the late 2000s. Wild Wing's Avocet layout remains intact, while its Hummingbird course is a 9-holer; the Falcon and Wood Stork layouts were fully closed.
Some 1,300 miles northwest, another noteworthy golf course's fate has been decided: the University of Minnesota's Les Bolstad Golf Course. As reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the university recently announced that it intended to sell the 141-acre property, which sits just northeast of the university's main campus. As a result, the 2025 season will be the last in the history of the 96-year old course laid out by Tom Vardon (younger brother of early golf legend Harry Vardon).
At a time when golf has seldom been more popular, especially among young people, the decision to remove such a popular amenity for students during the fall and spring seems frustrating, especially considering the U of M's membership in the Big 10/B1G conference. Former Gopher golfers have made a solid impact in professional golf over the years. Tom Lehman's five PGA Tour wins include the 1996 Open Championship, and he has built a solid reputation in golf course design in recent years as well. More recently, South African pro Erik van Rooyen, with two PGA Tour wins of his own, is a University of Minnesota alum. While the golf team will have its pick of places to practice in the Twin Cities, this move feels like a loss for student recreation at a large state university.
More golf course news and notes
ARIZONA FAVORITE RENOVATED - Rees Jones' Quintero Golf Club, one of the Phoenix/Scottsdale area's most popular courses, will get a faceift this summer. [LINK: Golf Course Architecture]
NEW JERSEY #MUNAISSANCE - The West Course at Tamarack Golf Club in central New Jersey has reopened after a renovation project by architect Mark Mungeam. [LINK: Central Jersey News]
NoVa PUBLIC UNDER THREAT - The battle over whether to redevelop Reston National Golf Course rages. [LINK: Fairfax County Times]
PARK GOLF?! - One large New Jersey golf resort is pioneering a game that has been likened to pickleball, but for golfers. [LINK: NorthJersey.com]
GOLF-ADJACENT - A hammerhead shark fell from the sky at a Myrtle Beach-area disc golf course, causing a commotion. [LINK: People.com]
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