Opened in 1988 Beau Rivage Golf Club Resort is an 18 hole facility 50 miles north of Myrtle Beach It is unique for a coastal course because the Joe Gessner layout incorporates many hills and valleys Carved out of long needle pine forests The Beau demands that golfers find the fairways off the tee The greens are known for their smoothness and speed to attacking the flags from the rough and pine straw is a perilous undertaking A unique feature to Beau Rivage is the back to back par 3s on the front nine The fourth hole a 198 yard par 3 is all carry over a pond to a green that is guarded by a large bunker on the right side The fifth hole requires another carry over a pond to a green that is 154 yards away