King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, an Arnold Palmer design that has long been one of the Grand Strand’s most popular layouts, has reopened following a comprehensive front nine renovation.
Founders Group International, Myrtle Beach National’s parent company, selected Brandon Johnson Golf Course Design to oversee the two-year, two-part renovation project, Phase 2, which will focus on the back nine, will take place in the summer of 2025.
Johnson, who worked for Arnold Palmer Golf Design for 17 years, reimagined the opening nine at King’s North, expanding the greens to their original size and specifications and in some cases beyond. Johnson’s work on the putting surfaces dramatically increased the number of pinnable locations and enhanced the subtle contours on the interior of the greens and the surrounding fringe, adding to the creativity of the layout.
“I know (Mr. Palmer) spent time up here, and this was a property that he loved,” Johnson said. “It’s been fun to come back and think about things that he might have wanted us to do, but also think about changes that now that I have my own company, I wanted to implement.
“This is a slightly new vision (for the course), but it is very respectful of his work and his intent out here. It’s been a wonderful opportunity.”
Johnson installed new TifEagle bermudagrass greens, in addition to overhauling every bunker on the front nine and installing Capillary Concrete bunker liners. He also leaned into the rugged look King’s North has long enjoyed, expanding the waste bunkers and spotlighting the naturally sandy soil that have long defined the course’s visual aesthetic.
“King’s North looks great, and Brandon has brought additional creativity to a layout that has always been among the Myrtle Beach area’s most enjoyable to play,” said FGI President Steve Mays. “We are thrilled to welcome players back for the area’s peak fall season and look forward to showcasing a reimagined King’s North to golfers from across America.”
While every hole on the front nine enjoyed a significant facelift, here is a closer look at the work Johnson and his team did on several prominent holes.
● The changes on the par 4 second hole are striking, beginning with the waste bunker that bisects the fairway approximately 60 yards from the green. The bunker, which previously had a low profile, is much more prominent and with the face raised will present a more formidable challenge.
The biggest changes on No. 2 are around the green and its surrounds. Mounds that were once covered in rough have been reconfigured and tightly mowed, allowing golfers the option to play off them to a reinvigorated putting surface that features several new pin locations and enhanced contouring.
● “The Gambler” is one of Myrtle Beach’s most recognizable holes, and the par 5 No. 6 enjoyed a significant makeover. The right side of the hole has been completely reimagined, beginning with the elimination of a cart path that was replaced by a new waste bunker that begins at the tee.
The new bunker redefines the hole from the tee, and Johnson reconfigured and recontoured all the fairway bunkers to enhance their visual interest and strategy. The hole’s famed, alternate island fairway, which players can attempt to hit off the tee to set up a much shorter approach, wasn’t changed in Phase One of the project, but the new green now features a backboard that could help push shots toward the hole.
● King’s North’s front nine par 3s are a delight and the eighth hole, which can require everything from a wedge to a long iron based on the setup, highlights their appeal. The eighth green is the largest on the opening side and Johnson has added two memorable new pin locations.
When the flag is set in the back left bowl, No. 8 will demand power and precision, while the new location in the front left will require a much more delicate shot over water. In many ways, the eighth hole encapsulates the new variety Johnson is bringing to King’s North.
With the project at the halfway point, golfers will get to experience the best of the old and the new at King’s North.
“This is a unique opportunity in that we’re at the midway point,” Johnson said. “A lot of times when you’re doing a renovation, the golf course closes for X number of months or a year, and no one gets to see how things have changed. Now you have the opportunity of getting to see the new front nine and compare that with how the original golf course looks and plays.”
The renovation of King’s North is the latest in a string of investments by FGI in its family of courses. In the summer of 2023, FGI commissioned a comprehensive greens, bunkers and clubhouse restoration project at Pawleys Plantation, highlighting the company’s commitment to providing the best golf vacation experience possible.
FGI owns 21 Myrtle Beach area courses and has undertaken significant capital improvement projects on 12 of them in recent years, including Grande Dunes, Pine Lakes and TPC Myrtle Beach.
With additional capital improvement projects on the horizon, FGI is reinforcing its commitment to providing golfers with the best golf vacation experience possible.
www.FoundersGolf.com.
Photo Courtesy of Founders Group International