THE GAMBLER
The Gambler…..Kenny Rogers… No.. the par 5 at Myrtle Beach National Kings North made the list on the Best 18 Beach holes. This hole is one of the most cussed and discussed golf holes at the beach. Going for the island green landing area to me has always been a suckers bet. Even if you get on the island you’ll either have a long iron, hybrid or wood to get back across the water much less hit the green with your second shot. You take a chance of taking a penalty shot to get on the island and a second possible penalty shot getting off of the island and back onto the fairway. The long carry over the water to the green is breathtaking. However, the tried and true route is to hit the fairway, hit a second shot onto the fairway in front of the green or try for the green flying over grass instead of water. GO FOR IT…it’s a suckers bet that I never play on my own. But in a captains choice tournament with 4 players hitting the shot, now that is a different story…. have fun GO FOR IT.
As a conversation piece, The Gambler is a definite top 18 hole at the beach. If you play the hole as a normal par 5…then it is just… that…. a normal par 5 with water on the left and bunkers surrounding the green. Nothing difficult or challenging about that. BUT that is what golf is all about…. having a choice…risk or reward.
