River Oaks Golf Plantation

The Bear Course at River Oaks Golf Plantation is a Tom Jackson and Craig Schreiner design that opened in the mid-1990s as part of Myrtle Beach's significant golf expansion during that era. The course takes its name from its reputation as the more challenging of River Oaks' original layouts, designed to test accomplished players with demanding length and strategic hazards. Jackson and Schreiner, both active in the Carolina golf market during this period, created a layout that incorporates the region's natural pine forests and wetland areas into the routing. The course plays through typical Lowcountry terrain with moderate elevation changes and corridors framed by mature pines. Water hazards feature prominently throughout the design, appearing on multiple holes and requiring both strategic positioning off the tee and precise approach play. The layout emphasizes accuracy over pure distance, though championship tees provide sufficient length to challenge better players. Bunker complexes guard greens and landing areas in the traditional Carolina style. River Oaks Golf Plantation operates as a semi-private facility that accommodates both members and daily-fee play, a common model in the Myrtle Beach market. The Bear Course serves as one of several layouts at the property, contributing to the area's concentration of golf options. The course remains part of the region's extensive network of courses that attract golf tourists year-round, particularly during the spring and fall seasons when weather conditions are most favorable.