FEATURE STORY

Grand Strand Central: The perfect Central Myrtle Beach golf itinerary

By Tim McDonald,
National Golf Editor

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Nov. 27, 2006) - The Grand Strand is grand not only in terms of the quantity of its golf but in its length as well: 50 miles of unbroken beach, from the southern tip of North Carolina down to Georgetown, S.C.

A perfect South Myrtle Beach itinerary The perfect North Myrtle Beach itinerary Top 10 courses on the Strand Swamp things: A look at Myrtle Beach's top marsh golf courses Play it easy at the Grand Strand and get your groove back

With stays averaging about five days, few golfers can do more than scratch the surface of the Strand's 100-plus playing possibilities. Sensible visitors confine their stay to either the north, central or south Strand and play the best courses in that area.

The northern and southern tips are relatively peaceful places, suited to older golfers looking for some serenity with their tee times. The central Strand tends to draw younger crowds with its active nightlife.

For each portion, there's a perfect itinerary. Here's our suggestions for the Central Strand.

Monday

Since you're in the epicenter of the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach, start out where it all started. Pine Lakes Country Club, aka "The Grandaddy," is the oldest course on the Strand.

The antebellum clubhouse sits gleaming white like a come-alive post card from another era. There's occasionally hot chocolate on the first tee when it's cold, and mimosas when it's hot. A gregarious man named "Dog" serves clam chowder at No. 7. Azaleas bloom in the spring and there are rocking chairs on the porch.

No clutter at Pine Lakes - for now, at least; development is scheduled to begin soon. It isn't the most challenging course on the Strand, but you do get to use your head and most of your clubs, and there are enough risk-reward options to keep it interesting. It's a solid country-club track.

Tuesday

You get a choice today. The priority play is the Dunes Golf and Beach Club, if you can get on (you have to be a member of the Dunes or a club that offers reciprocal privileges).

For well over half a century this Robert Trent Jones Sr. design has been considered the creme de la creme of Myrtle Beach golf. It's consistently ranked among the top 100 U.S. courses.

Since opening in 1949 the course has been renovated by both Jones and his son, Rees. The latter's work included installing bentgrass greens, which most purists consider the ultimate putting surface.

If the Dunes is off-limits try Prestwick Country Club. The back nine here elevates the entire course, literally.

Not that the front nine is bad, but it's a little brother, appetizer to the back nine's main course. From No. 10 on the fairways take on lives of their own, with big dips, swooshes and ripples. Hills slope dramatically down to fairways and mounds rise from the terrain. The melody stays the same, but the crescendo swells. It's the front nine jacked up on steroids.

Wednesday

Grande Dunes Country Club is grand indeed. Some of the Strand's most spectacular scenery is here, with holes overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway from high bluffs. The design, by Jones Sr. pupil Roger Rulewich, lives up to the name as well, with multi-level fairways and water in play on nearly every hole.

Indeed, everything here is done on a grand scale. A big bridge takes you to one of the biggest residential developments in South Carolina, a $20 billion project on 2,000 prime waterfront acres.

After a quick lunch head to King's North at Myrtle Beach National. This isn't one of those Myrtle Beach courses that wows you with ocean or Intracoastal Waterway scenery, but the Arnold Palmer course grows on you as you progress through the round. The shot values are excellent, the routing feels natural and it's very playable depending on which set of tees you choose. Enter away message text here.

Golf Digest listed King's North 20th among Myrtle Beach tracks last year, and Golf for Women magazine named it one of the 100 best courses in the country for female players. Just playing No. 6, "The Gambler," is worth the price of admission.

Thursday

TPC of Myrtle Beach is no longer part of the TPC network, but it remains one of the finer tracks in the area. Golf Digest rated it one of the 10 best new upscale courses in America upon its opening in 1999.

Towering pine trees frame many holes, and the wetlands throughout the routing will get your attention. The pro shop and clubhouse have earned national recognition, the practice facilities are top-drawer and the layout of the course itself makes many a Grand Strand golfer's top five. You'll pay for all that quality: Green fees are in the $185 range.

Friday

The Witch Golf Links isn't one of those Grand Strand courses you'll read a lot about. It isn't long and brutish, nor does it have any water views. But this is one of the most underrated courses on the Strand, and a worthy wind-up to your trip.

Out in the vast, virtually undisturbed wetlands of Conway, well away from the hubbub of Myrtle Beach proper, there's nary a house or condo to intrude on your experience (but watch out for snakes in the undergrowth). Bridges - 4,000 feet worth - ferry you over the swamps and under thick canopies of flora.

The marsh is integral to the course. On some holes you'll be hitting over swamp grass so high it virtually blocks out the landing area, and there's lots of elevation change, making club selection key. Stretch it like saltwater taffy and the Witch barely exceeds 6,000 yards, but the slope rating is 133, and the narrow fairways can be quite the curse.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.