Litchfield - The River Club

Good early morning round using Primetimes Card while in Myrtle Beach. 1st off and caught the last group on the morning wave on the 2nd 9, but still completed under 4 hrs. Course was very enjoyable. Winter overseed just starting to kick in. They are taking very good care of this course. Nice grouping with Willbrook and Tradtions. Worth the drive down to LItchfield to play. Starter and Proshop folks were very customer focused.

Enjoyed playing the course as conditions were very good and the grill room and starter were great. Would have been a perfect afternoon of golf if it wasn't tainted by a very rude greeter. We were the last group in the afternoon and, at the end of the round, the same guy followed us to our car as we were unloading the bags and personal belongings from the golf cart into our car and he asked if we were done and I said no. He simply ignored that and started moving our personal belongings while still in the cart in order to bring the cart back so he could leave. Not the way to treat your guests. Find a new greeter River Club!!!!

River club is one of those courses you never tire. Water and bunkers abound with a few holes to boost your ego.

Have played numerous times in last 25 years and is kind of a fun sleeper course down in Pawleys area. This year course was in best shape we have seen in a while. Staff and starter were extremely friendly. Some of the best we encountered all week.

Was sad to see we only had nets to hit into vs. a range. Wish I had known that myself, hence I mention it early.

Course was wet, but in ok shape. None of the bunkers seemed to have been attended to, given the rain the night before I was surprised.

There are 2-3 memorable holes (bulkhead par 3 followed by the #1 handicap hole was a nice stretch and the finishing par 5 was very nice) otherwise just an average golf course in my opinion.

The staff was very nice, it was in decent shape, I just found it boring.

The staff at River Club seem to have returned the course to its glory days. Greens were fantastic, fairways great too. Love the layout there. It was extremely busy that day so word must have gotten around. Well done!

They say the prettiest ones cause the most pain. This course is beautiful from tee to green and it will bring you to your knees with trouble. Every time I play here (it is so pretty, I am a glutton for its punishment), I like it more and more. It is a fun layout that is kept up with the best courses around. Nice clubhouse and the people inside it are top notch. I recommend anyone coming down to play this course.

Played here the other day and what a course. My family ventures to Myrtle Beach from Atlanta about once a year, the course is about 20 minutes away from Myrtle Beach so not to much of a drive. The par 72 hole masterpiece was built on a rice plantation in 1985. The whole course is buetifuel with a lot wildlife and over 115 sand traps. Plus water comes into play on 15/18 holes on the course.

The best hole on the course in my opinion was the par 3 14th 150 yards from the member tees. The island green is gaurded by 5 bunkers and a water hazard and has to remind you of the infamous 17th hole at TPC sawgrass. The 18th hole was also incredible and 14&18 where named the 2 nicest holes south of Myrtle Beach. And when I played the course it was in magnificent shape.

The practice facilities where amazing and the clubhouse was a great surprise with a large ballroom and massive eating space. The course is a great course and on the Waccamaw golf trail.

River Club is a Tom Jackson creation that has been delighting – and frustrating – golfers in the Myrtle Beach area since it opened in 1985. Over the years, it has received numerous accolades, including 4.5 Stars from Golf Digest’s “Places to Play”, and having two holes named to the Myrtle Beach Sun News’ 100 Greatest Golf Holes Along the Grand Strand; the 14th and 18th. More on those two holes later.

River Club is located in Pawleys Island, about 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach and exemplifies everything Lowcountry golf is about. Built on the site of a former rice plantation, golfers will encounter pristine wetlands, maritime forests, Spanish moss-draped trees, abundant wildlife, over 100 sand traps and bunkers and lots of water, both natural and manmade. In fact, water comes into play on at least 14 holes. While the course is aesthetically pleasing, it can present a challenge to just about any caliber of golfer.

From the Black Tees, River Club plays 6,677 yards with a course rating of 72.3 and a slope of 134. The White Tees (6,240/70.2/127) provide a great challenge with some allowance to exit the facility with a little bit of dignity. Seniors can choose to play from the Gold Tees (5,807/68.4/120) and Ladies will be tested from the Red Tees (5,084/68.8/122). Pick the tees that best suit your game and you’re likely to really enjoy yourself.

My Favorite: Number 6, Par 5, 477 yards. If you can reach the dogleg off the tee on this par 5 hole, you’ll set up yet another risk/reward opportunity. It will require a drive of at least 255 yards from the White Tees and set up a manageable 223-yard approach over water to a slightly elevated green. Should you choose the three-shot route, beware of the fairway bunkers that dot the left side of the fairway and protect the back of the green.

Members’ Favorite: Number 14, Par 3, 149 yards (White Tees). I’m not surprised the members chose a par 3 as their favorite hole, for some reason a lot of golfers seem to think that par 3 holes are the easiest holes on the course. Number 14 is anything but; it features an island green fronted by four sand traps that catch anything hit short. The green holds the ball quite well, although a back-left pin position can prove to be very trying. There’s no way to get on the green without hitting over the water at some point. Number 14 will test both accuracy and distance control. Par is a good score here.

Staff’s Favorite: Number 18, Par 5, 493 yards (White Tees). As I mentioned earlier 18th hole was one of two holes named as one of the Grand Strand’s 100 most memorable holes by the Sun News. I spoke with several members of the staff who all gave number 18 the nod as their favorite hole, now I understand why. It’s a par 5 that plays 493 yards from the White Tees and is considered one of the harder holes on the inward nine. My guess is that the water that makes up the entire left side of the fairway has something to do with that. If you can manage to find the thin peninsula of fairway that sticks out just past the fairway bunker, you’ll leave yourself a little over 200 yards to the green; a manageable distance, or at least worth the effort. The way the hole is shaped and the green is set up, you’re most likely going to have to go over the water at some point or another, so it’s well worth the risk. Find the trap off the tee, and your chances of getting on in two diminish greatly, as I found out. The green is set at an odd angle and, if you’re playing Number 18 as a three-shot hole, it’s much wider than it is deep. In any event, par is always a good way to end the round.

Last Word: Because land is at a premium in this area, there is no formal driving range; pre-round warmup is limited to hitting into nets. However, there is a very large chipping and practice putting green, so no driving range is not a valid excuse for a bad first couple of holes.

The majority of golf holes out here have ample room off the tee, giving you the opportunity to keep it in the fairway. River Club is more about second shots, whether it’s sticking it close to the pin on some of the shorter par 4s or setting up your approach shot on the par 5s. What you see is what you get; there are no hidden surprises such as water hazards, pot bunkers or unexpected rough in an otherwise inviting landing area. Execute your second shot on each hole and you’ll be well rewarded. The greens are receptive and conducive to making putts, but you have to put the ball in the right spot.

With water infringing on so many holes, accuracy and proper club selection is essential to shooting a favorable score as is the ability to hit a variety of shots. If that’s not enough, there’s more than 100 traps to contend with. As a matter of fact, if you can make your way around River Club with the ball you started with and never having to hit out of the sand, you’ve accomplished something – hopefully a low score.

River Club is a proud member of the Waccamaw Golf Trail.

I played this course the day after they had 4+ inches of rain. Very wet everywhere. Every bunker had standing water (not the fault of course maintenance) but we had to play because it was a very big tournament. A lot of carries off the tees and quite a few shots to the greens over water. But, it is a great layout that would really be fun to play in better or perfect conditions.

Nice Layout.. Greens were quick, but still a little bumpy even after getting aerated a few weeks back. But after someone in my group talked to the Pro about the greens, he took care of us and gave us a rain check to come back. I'd play here again.

Course was in great shape even after the rain came that morning right before we started. The staff was extremely nice and helpful at every encounter from the bag drop to the clubhouse restaurant staff to the Pro shop to the starter! Play from the right tees to enjoy this round otherwise you will be playing from bunkers and in the water!

This course bills itself as a old country club style course. The operative word is old. I think it's mediocre at best. It is surrounded by a number of extremely good courses if you are in the area you may want to choose River club, heritage, Caledonia, true blue

Played here for my last course I played while near Myrtle beach. The course was fantastic I bad heard from many people that the course conditions where great and it definetly lived up to its expectations!

As I pulled in there where lots of people and the clubhouse was spacious and comforting. The staff was very nice and was helpful. The practice facility was great but not overly amazing. However the driving range was quite nice.

The course itself for winter conditions was great and really lived up to its expectations. There was lots of water and the cart paths where very nice. There where lots of bridges with the water. The bunkers where great. I missed a lot of greens of the hard greens and there where collection areas that got your ball every time. Overall really enjoyed the course.

We played this course as the second of 3 courses in Pawley's Island as part of a weekend golf trip and really enjoyed. The staff was extremely friendly. The food is excellent if you want to grab lunch. The course was in great shape. The greens were exceptional. They rolled 11 on the stimp and were amazing. I really enjoyed this course and will play it again.

Saw three of 'em at this course just sunning themselves by the fairway. Very cool. Found the course to be challenging but not overly difficult. Nice layout, I found the back 9 better than the front with some eye-pleasing holes. Fairways were in great shape, greens were also solid and rolled true. There is some water trouble on a lot of holes, but the fairways are wide. The par 3's are mid to long iron distance. Good fair course. I'd play it again.

Course is in outstanding shape from Tees to Greens. Pace of play 4hrs on the nose. Staff very accommodating. The 18th hole is a great finishing hole. I highly recommend playing here.

This was the last course we played in MB. Wish we had played it earlier as we had forgotten how nice it is and we would have played in twice. Course is challenging but fair. It was in great condition. There was a chipping area and a spot to hit into a net with golf balls for all to use. Staff were very friendly. Definitely recommended.

Water is on 14 of the holes but not in play on most of those. Course in great condition and the greens very fast. Not difficult but enjoyable. Would play again.

Our first round ever in Myrtle Beach area. Had this course recommended to us. All four of us thought this was an excellent course. Beautiful Greens. Scenic and enjoyable variety of design.
We will play this one again.