Golf is a mood-based game.
Ask the same person every day what type of round he’s looking for, and the responses will change from one morning to the next. From a test to the course that will allow him to cruise, from the thoughtful to the carefree, from those where your driver matters to those where you better know how to putt, the range is vast.
But what I know after two decades of playing Grand Strand golf is that I have my own personal bucket list that I share.
Frequently.
These 10 courses, in order, are the ones I’ve advised friends, family and those in my other line of work to play at least once. No, few visitors are going to have the luxury of knocking them all out on one trip.
Over time, though, each of the 10 need to be on your list.
River Club
When River Club opened 40 years ago, the existing thought was that this much water wouldn’t last or that players would tire of it. Well, four decades later, a course with the wet stuff on 15 of the 18 holes isn’t simply hanging on. Tom Jackson’s design keeps working its way up to the magnificent Par 5 18th, a crescendo worthy of the wait. (River Club pictured right)
Tidewater Golf Club
The backdrop of hole after hole at Tidewater gives players every opportunity to snap that frame-worthy picture of your visit. If we didn’t know any better, we’d say every inch of the Cherry Grove inlet was created to specifically make this course shine even more. The reality is that it was laid out to let those visuals come to the forefront.
Dye Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf
While I could make an argument for at least two of the other Barefoot tracks on this list, Dye sets itself apart with its super-crisp layout. There isn’t a shot here you won’t think and re-think before you take it, that is, if you’re doing it right. The back-and-forth and give and take here is something to truly behold.
Grande Dunes Resort Course
If you read the book on Grande Dunes, you’d assume the anticipation of getting to its crop of holes lining the Intracoastal Waterway would be a detraction from the round. Thanks to the first holes on the course, players have too much to focus on well in advance. There isn’t an off hole here, and when you do reach the holes atop the bluffs, it will only add to the high esteem. (Grande Dunes picture right)
True Blue Golf Club
Those of us who call the Myrtle Beach area home know how truly flat it is living here at sea level. True Blue and designer Mike Strantz challenged all of it by dipping and diving through the old rice and indigo land. It was crafted from the existing elevation changes, as opposed to flattening it all out. What was left was a magnificent second act from Strantz.
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
The first time I played here, my playing partner uttered something I can only paraphrase now as “I’m not good enough to play here.” Caledonia is a perfect mix of the buttoned up golf days of old blended with a new-age design that was in many ways ahead of its time when Mike Strantz unveiled his project in 1994.
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
The back nine at Pawleys Plantation ushers players to a different world, one far away from the tourism traffic and, to be honest, daily life. Jack Nicklaus’ work here has been tinkered with (some by the Golden Bear himself), allowing for more of your everyday player to succeed. It’s still a doozy, but you won’t care even if your scorecard jumps to the triple digits. (Pawleys pictured right)
Dunes Golf & Beach Club
Dunes might have jumped a rung or two upon the debut of the Myrtle Beach Classic PGA Tour event in 2024. After all, teeing up where the pros have isn’t an everyday occurrence, even here on the Grand Strand. Dunes has high-end golf with ocean views, and the layout is meshed perfectly with the marsh lands stemming from the coast.
King’s North at Myrtle Beach National
This Arnold Palmer layout is most notably known for The Gambler, a big ol’ Par 5 with an island fairway. It’s only one of the reasons I’ve held the track in such high regard since I first played it nearly 20 years ago. Finding so much as a blade of grass out of place here is a chore. And while parts of its are difficult, it can be similarly rewarding elsewhere.
Pine Lakes Country Club
From nostalgia of time’s past to the here and now, the O.G. of Myrtle Beach golf has it all. This Par 70 design has some dynamic Par 4s that will leave you feeling like you’ve played golf royalty without the royal price tag. Keep an eye out on 14, where you’ll have a clear view of the oceanfront skyline. (Pine Lakes top photo)
Photos for this feature from our Instagram Account @MyrtleBeachGolfTrips
