"Go for the pin, I dare you."

This is what I'd hear my golfing buddies saying right now if I were at the 12th Hole of Myrtle Beach National Golf Club - King's North in South Carolina. And actually, I'd agree with them because I'd have no choice but to go for it all.

Myrtle Beach National Golf Club - King's North opened in 1972. Then in 1996, Arnold Palmer completely transformed King's North into one of the most inspired and challenging courses in America. In 1997 Golf Digest ranked it among "America's Top 10 New Upscale Public Courses," and the National Golf Course Owners' Association proclaimed it as "South Carolina's Course of the Year."

Usually, a golf course has one signature hole that stands out above the rest, but at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club - King's North there are several holes worthy of such a distinction. The course measures 6431 yards from the Gold Tees, and it presents one inspiring hole after another. Here are a few of the highlights:

The 12th Hole is a small island green surrounded by water. The green's left-side is playfully protected by two bunkers shaped like the letters "S" and "C" for South Carolina (see photo above). A 140-yard par-3 hole, the 12th challenges you to let go of any safety precautions and go for the pin.

The 6th Hole, nicknamed "The Gambler," is a 525-yard par-5. Some players swear to revisit Myrtle Beach every year just to face this single hole again. It tempts a golfer with two choices off the tee: Take the long way around to the right along a narrow fairway, sandwiched between water and sand bunkers; OR, Hit 200 yards dead-straight ahead onto a long, thin island. The first choice ensures 3 plays onto the green and is considered the "safer" option. The second choice involves a courageous tee shot and opens up a chance at eagle. You'll be singing the words from "The Gambler" himself, Kenny Rogers, when approaching this hole: "You've got to know when to hold 'em; Know when to fold 'em; Know when to walk away; and Know when to run."

The 18th hole, nicknamed "The Bull's-Eye" by Golf Magazine, is a 377-yard par-4. A total of 41 bunkers line the fairways and surround the green like a sand fortress. That's right ... 41 bunkers! Keep your sand wedge handy and be prepared to empty the sand from your shoes at the end of this round.

Aside from the sandy 18th hole, the most dominant hazard at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club - King's North is water. On some holes the water simply provides a scenic backdrop and is no serious threat; on other holes your entire strategy is altered by the omnipresent marshes, ponds, and lakes. Water often poses a psychological barrier for players, and this course definitely stimulates a thinking man's approach to the game. To really engage players, the pro staff provides a complimentary guide to the course, mapping out diagrams and strategies for each hole.

One way to save a little money on this trip is to make it part of a hotel-golf vacation package. With over 90 golf courses to play in Myrtle Beach, you'll want to spend as much time as you can out on the links (and out of the water!).

This is Article #1 in a series on Myrtle Beach Golf Courses.