Courtesy of King’s North at Myrtle Beach National / Founders Group International
King’s North at Myrtle Beach National is almost ready to welcome back golfers after a two-phase renovation that started more than a year ago.
Golf course architect Brandon Johnson wrapped up the renovation of the front 9 of the Arnold Palmer original during the summer of 2024, then started work on the back nine starting May 26 of this year.
Drawing on his 17 years with Arnold Palmer Design Group, Johnson is enhancing King’s North’s rugged aesthetic while reimagining its greens and surrounds. The result will be a course that offers golfers more strategic options on approach and recovery shots, in addition to striking new visuals.
“Players will discover familiar features that now stand out more prominently, both aesthetically and strategically,” Johnson said. “At the same time, several green surrounds have been completely reconfigured to introduce new challenges and greater variety.”
Among the highlights are significant updates to holes 10, 13, 15 and 16, where golfers will see dramatic changes in how the greens and surrounding areas play and appear. Johnson’s vision will also come to life most vividly on two of King’s North’s more prominent holes:
- The island-green par-3 12th, where Johnson has expanded the putting surface and modernized the iconic “SC” bunkers, breaking them into seven distinct traps that still clearly form the letters.
- And the par-4 18th, which was once home to more than 40 bunkers and will now feature fewer but equally impactful hazards, complemented by a green nestled against a linear pond edge on the right and a massive kicker slope on the left.
“One of the things that will be fun for players is seeing what’s brand new, what feels very similar, and what remains exactly as they remember it, but with a fresh look alongside the new elements,” Johnson said.
Founders Group International, which owns King’s North and 20 other Myrtle Beach-area courses, has fully backed Johnson’s vision.
“We have given Brandon free rein to renovate King’s North, and we were thrilled with the results on the front nine,” FGI president Steve Mays said. “We are equally excited about what’s taking shape on holes 10 through 18 and can’t wait to welcome golfers back to one of Myrtle Beach’s best courses.”
FGI has made significant capital investments across its 21-course portfolio, including recent work at Grande Dunes, Pine Lakes and TPC Myrtle Beach among almost a dozen renovations in recent years.
