Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, famously nicknamed the ‘Golf Capital of the World,’ is a golfer’s paradise – a destination that perfectly blends sublime natural beauty with world-class golf facilities. With over 100 well-manicured courses dotting its landscape, golf aficionados of all skill levels have continuously flocked to Myrtle Beach seeking memorable golfing experiences. Below are a few favorite hotspots that make Myrtle Beach a must-visit golf mecca.
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club
Nestled by the beautiful Atlantic, the legendary Dunes Golf and Beach Club is synonymous with sophistication and classic golf. The Robert Trent Jones-designed course, inaugurated in 1949, quickly established itself as a beacon of challenging, yet enjoyable golf in Myrtle Beach. The Club’s signature hole, the par-5 13th, dubbed ‘Waterloo,’ offers players a stiff challenge with a ruthless dogleg wrapping around Singleton Lake.
Tidewater Golf Club
Tidewater Golf Club, located in the Northern Strand, blends challenging golf and awe-inspiring nature. This Ken Tomlinson-designed course is renowned for its meticulous layout which amplifies the naturally hilly terrain, providing eye-catching elevation changes. Its signature hole, the 12th, demands pinpoint precision to negotiate the marshy hazard snaking around the contoured green.
Barefoot Resort and Golf
Encompassing four top-tier courses designed by Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Greg Norman, and Davis Love III, Barefoot Resort serves as a golf utopia for quality and variety. The Dye Club, the jewel in the crown, is known for its undulating fairways, punishing bunkers, and notoriously difficult raised greens. In contrast, the Norman course showcases seven holes that utilize the Intracoastal Waterway, providing a picturesque backdrop to your teeing adventures.
Caledonia Golf and Fish Club
Situated on the site of a former rice plantation, the Caledonia Golf and Fish Club presents a glorious blend of golf and history. With centuries-old oak trees lining the fairways and blossoms strewn across the course, Caledonia offers much more than just your typical golf round. The Mike Stranz design imposes a test of accuracy over distance, accentuated by the final hole – a daring risk/reward par-4 wrapped around an expansive water hazard.
Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club
Jack Nicklaus’s wizardry is on display at Pawleys Plantation Golf and Country Club. Its true allure lies in holes 16 to 18, which overlook the Salt Marsh and serve up the most mesmerizing views on the course. Combined with the high-walled bunkers, this course will test your strategic golf thinking and ability to manage the course’s natural terrain.
Grande Dunes Resort Club
Rounding off the list in grand style is the Grande Dunes Resort Club, characterised by its Mediterranean-style clubhouse. The resort offers a striking hole that stretches beyond 200 yards, extending towards the Intracoastal Waterway. The tract, designed by Roger Rulewich, embodies a mix of strategic and heroic design principles providing an unrivaled golf experience.
In conclusion, Myrtle Beach’s diverse assortment of enchanting courses offers something for golfers of all competency levels. Each course reveals a unique story woven from creativity, strategy, and pristine natural landscapes. As winter thaws into spring, and the fairways burst into life, there is never a better time to embark on your memorable Myrtle Beach golf adventure.
Good read, I love golfing in Myrtle Beach! Played all these course except Tidewater Golf Club (sadly on my missed list!) – nothing tests your mettle like a good round on the Dunes. The Waterloo hole… man, it’s a trip. And the Norman course at Barefoot? Unbeatable!
Thorough blog! Took a trip to the Caledonia Golf and Fish Club and let me tell you, the scenery alone is worth the price of admission. That last hole is indeed daring… but so worth it with a good drive. Anybody been to the Grande Dunes Resort Club? How’s the clubhouse?