ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COURSES
KING’ S NORTH AT MYRTLE BEACH NATIONAL, NO. 6
Two decades ago, shortly after Arnold Palmer redesigned his King’ s North track at Myrtle Beach National, Kenny Rogers came to the area and found himself on the course. When he set foot on No. 6 that day in 1996, a marketing tool for the ages was born.
The country-music legend took one look at the hole and deemed it worthy to share the title to his hit song,“ The Gambler.”( A plaque with the tune’ s chorus stands at the entrance to the tee box.)
The 568-yard par 5 includes a piece of island terrain to the left of the primary fairway where the daring can shave significant distance to the green— if they are lucky enough to keep the ball dry.
“ The biggest thing is the aspect of an island fairway. A lot of courses have signature holes with island greens, but not island fairways,” Myrtle Beach National head golf professional Brad Crumling said.“ And when you get to the tee box and see the lyrics to the Kenny Rogers song, you know it’ s‘ The Gambler.’ It’ s a risk-reward hole. … If you’ re able to compromise that island fairway, you’ re a long iron into the green.”
That give and take of the most notable hole at King’ s North has had golfers talking for a generation.
J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2017 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 25