Think You’re Good? Try Playing These 4 Long Bay Holes from the Tips

Jack Nicklaus didn’t design Long Bay Club to be easy. Every round here is a study in strategy — a test of patience, precision, and nerve. With deep-faced bunkers, mounding that defines the fairways, and greens that demand touch and creativity, Long Bay rewards smart play and punishes the slightest lapse in execution.

Here are four holes that define its challenge — and why they stand out as the toughest tests on the course.

Hole 2 – Par 5 (568 yards)
This is one of the longest and most demanding holes at Long Bay. The fairway is fairly narrow, framed by mounding and sand, and every shot requires careful placement. The second shot must navigate a large fairway bunker that guards the left side for the final 100 yards, leaving a delicate third into a green protected by deep bunkers. It’s a true three-shot par 5 for most, and walking off with par feels like an accomplishment.

Hole 4 – Par 4 (472 yards)
From the back tees, the fourth hole stretches to 472 yards and feels every bit of it. Waste areas and bunkers frame both sides of the fairway, demanding accuracy off the tee. The slightly uphill approach adds distance and requires a well-struck mid- to long-iron to hold the elevated green. Par here feels like a birdie.

Hole 12 – Par 4 (443 yards)
This par 4 looks simple from the tee, but it’s full of subtle traps. The fairway narrows where two bunkers pinch the landing zone, forcing you to either lay back or shape your shot. The approach plays to a green flanked by sand on both sides, with subtle slopes that make even short putts tricky. Miss the fairway or misjudge your yardage, and you’ll pay the price. (top photo)

Hole 18 – Par 4 (445 yards)
Long Bay’s finishing hole is as scenic as it is intimidating. Water runs the entire left side, and the fairway tilts toward it, testing both aim and nerve. The ideal drive flirts with the right rough to open up the approach, but that leaves a mid-iron into a green guarded tightly by water and sand. It’s the kind of hole that can turn triumph into heartbreak in a single swing — a perfect Nicklaus finale.

Final Thoughts
These four holes capture everything that defines The Long Bay Club: bold design, strategic demands, and the unmistakable touch of Jack Nicklaus. They challenge your game, your focus, and your patience

Photos for this feature from MyrtleBeachGolfTrips Instagram Account