As much fun as it is to forget about calendars and times and meetings when you’re on a golf vacation, set a schedule for your Myrtle Beach golf trip. It may sound boring, but it’s the best way to maximize your time on and off the courses. Let’s assume you’re spending a full seven days in Myrtle Beach and your primary goal is to get in as much Grand Strand golf as possible. Here’s our recommended course of action. Pun intended.
Day 1: Pick an easy course. Find a course that’s a little bit off the radar. When you start out mountain climbing, you don’t head straight to the Himalayas for Mount Everest. So when you come to Myrtle Beach, don’t play Barefoot’s Dye Course, True Blue or Pawleys Plantation right at the beginning. Warm up by playing a less famous, but still fun course like Indian Wells or Wicked Stick.
Follow up your round with a nice big dinner and rest up for 36 holes on day 2!
Day 2: You’ve gotten your bad shots and mishits out of your system. You’re ready to show Myrtle Beach why you came to visit. Grab an early morning tee time. Find two course you’ve been dying to play in an area where there are a number of good courses. (Which is almost anywhere.) One suggestion is to head to Pawleys Island. Spend the morning at Pawleys Plantation and the afternoon at True Blue or Caledonia.
If your visit is in July or August, you may want to bring a change of clothes for your afternoon round due to the heat and humidity!
Day 3: I don’t recommend that you play 36 holes on back-to-back days. In fact, spend the early morning relaxing on the beach. Then schedule a lunch tee time at a nearby course. I’d look for a fun, but not too challenging course like Myrtle Beach National SouthCreek or Possum Trot.
Day 4: It’s time for a day trip! If you’re staying closer to the southern end of Myrtle Beach, head up north to the beautiful courses in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. The Big Cat Plantation offers 72 holes of challenging golf. If you’re staying near North Myrtle, head on down to Litchfield or Wachesaw East. The nice day trip will be refreshing and allow you to see different types of Myrtle Beach golf.
Day 5: Be sure to check out some of the golf retailers in the area. You can get some great deals on golf shoes at some of the local discount stores, and you can head over to the PGA Tour Superstore to get the latest offerings from all of your favorite golf brands. Once you have all of your needed golf equipment, I’d get your game back in order by heading to a less challenging course like Blackmoor or one of the Myrtlewood courses. You want to gear up for days 6 and 7!
Days 6 and 7: It’s signature course time. You’ve been playing all week with these two courses in the back of your mind. You’ve been reading the hole-by-hole previews and course reviews all week. These are courses Myrtle Beach is famous for, and you want these to be the last ones you play on your trip. Everyone has their favorites, but I’d save these courses for last: The Dunes Club, Barefoot Resort, Myrtle Beach National – King’s North, Tidewater, Glen Dornoch, TPC Myrtle Beach.
Bonus Day 8: Plan your next Myrtle Beach golf vacation, when you get to do it all again!
(posted 9/30/14)