Sweet (And Oh So Difficult) 16 at Oyster Bay
Course’s 16th hole defines design’s rare, harmonious blend of beauty, difficulty
One of the first links-style courses in the Myrtle Beach area, Oyster Bay presents an innovative layout in a phenomenal Lowcountry setting, with picturesque marsh-oriented holes, freshwater lakes, rolling terrain and large, devilishly undulating greens. The course’s main challenge, water, comes into play on 15 of 18 holes, including No. 16: a mammoth par 4 that will no doubt force you to bring your A game on your next MyrtleBeachGolf.net vacation.
No. 16 is a long par 4 measuring 470 yards from the back tees and is split into two primary sections: The teeing area and fairway, and the green complex. From the tee box, you’ll hit your shot down a fairway that doglegs slightly and is protected narrowly to the left by a forest of Carolina pines, and to the right by a massive lake that runs the entire length of the hole, jutting in at the end of the fairway and protecting the front of the green. But if you’re playing from the correct set of tees, reaching the end of the fairway where the lake juts in shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Once you’ve found the fairway successfully — and you really must hit the fairway here to have any chance of getting on the green surface in regulation — a mid- to long-iron shot or even fairway metal will be required for a forced carry approach shot over the lake to a heart-shaped green with very little room to bail out. There is a small run-up area of fairway that slivers from the short left up to the green, as well as a large bunker behind the green. But other than that, it’s just water and putting surface, so step up and save your best shot of the day for this moment.
The green itself is also highly creative, with a large spine running through the center of the heart and creating runoff areas to the left and right of it. Best of luck to you and your group if the superintendent has decided to cut the hole on the spine that day!
A great drive, great approach and great putt: You must be great on No. 16 to have a shot of conquering it.