Thistle (Cameron & MacKay)

Myrtle Beach is one of the most golf-dense destinations on Earth but if for some reason you’d rather not cross into South Carolina, there are a decent number of golf options available at the North Carolina border as well. One of those is Thistle Golf Club, a public-access facility featuring 27 holes, all designed by Tom Cate.

The most celebrated combination of nines is the Cameron and MacKay; the former of the two plays into a similar formula to that which you’ll find in Myrtle Beach, with ample water hazards to challenge the best and make the rest think about laying up. Although No. 4 is not quite an island green, as it comes so early in the round, players will be prepared for similar challenge throughout.

Although No. 7 on the Cameron will maintain this theme, with a long, forced carry over a lake to the green, players may be surprised to note the lack of water impeding them on the MacKay nine, which takes an approach more in line with North Carolina's sandhills, with large waste areas and pine trees lining the route. At the last moment, however, players will emerge to a 560-yard par five, that curves all the way around the lake, until forcing a carry to the green.