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