South Carolina's Hidden Gems - Hole No. 9: The 9th Hole at The Witch

The Witch is Myrtle Beach golf at its finest with many tricks up her devious sleeve as it plays through 500 acres of tranquil cypress groves and wetlands. Mother Nature has provided plenty of hazards - especially on the front side - as it plays through a vast swamp complete with cranes, bald eagles, alligators and even black bears. This is no grip-it-and-rip-it John Daly course. Smart play is rewarded in spades as the par-71, 6,702-yard layout is an ideal test.

The epitome of the strategic golf required to tame The Witch is provided by our wonderful (and diabolical) 9th hole. Not overly long as it plays to 376 yards from the back tees and 349 from the whites, you better have your thinking cap on tight as danger lurks everywhere. Few holes playing under 400 yards are as demanding as this Dan Maples masterpiece.

Your drive requires a 175-yard carry from the back tee to an oval fairway that is essentially an island as it's completely surrounded by the lush wetlands. Most anything hit less than 220 yards will require a layup shot as the green is hidden by a thick swath of forest flanking the left side. A 230-yard drive to the right center leaves you around 140 yards with a view of the putting surface that sits perpendicular to the fairway. Your task is just starting.

Now the challenge is to pick the right club to hit the narrow, elusive green with ball-gobbling wetlands both in front and behind. Two bunkers lurk sinisterly right and provide an extremely difficult up-and-down. The approach needs to be hit crisp as anything not on the center of the clubface will bound off the back, leaving a tough pitch if not in the hazard. Good luck. From tee to green it's as challenging and fun as golf can be.

It's one of the most unique holes in Myrtle Beach and most every day we hear one of our guests come in the clubhouse and say, "I'm going to come back next year and conquer that 9th hole!"

For information on The Witch and Mystical Golf's two other acclaimed courses - The Wizard and Man-O-War - visit: www.mysticalgolf.com or call 843.282.2977.