Save the best for last. This statement especially applies to your Myrtle Beach golf vacation. Most courses in the Grand Strand provide vacationers with an exceptional experience. Having said that, there are some world-class golf courses in Myrtle Beach that provide unforgettable experiences that go beyond the rest. These are the courses that you should always schedule as the last course on your trip. You want your swing in top form. You’ll be fully adjusted to the ocean breezes. You want to take full advantage of the beauty and challenge of these “last hurrah” courses. Here are our choices:
Pawleys Plantation
You will want to have your shot shaping at its peak when you get to this breathtaking Jack Nicklaus golf course. While the fairways are relatively wide, doglegs persist throughout the course. In addition, golfers are required to carry the ball over hazards on a number of holes. Despite playing at over 7,000 yards from the Golden Bear (championship) tees, consistent with Jack’s golf philosophy, each hole requires strategic golf shots. The craftsman has the opportunity to beat the bomber at Pawleys Plantation. Fittingly, a short hole, #13 at just 145 yards, is the one you won’t forget. The marsh turns the green basically into an island and the relentless wind constantly plays with your mind.
Tidewater Golf Club
Consistently rated one of the top public golf courses in South Carolina, Tidewater Golf Club in North Myrtle Beach offers a true test of golf skill at every turn. The action really heats up at #4. An impressive par 4, this number one handicap hole features a waste bunker on the left that runs nearly the length of the hole and two fairway bunkers on the right. The well-guarded green penalizes balls left above the hole with treacherous downhill putts. Mature trees, scenic marshland, the ocean inlet and multi-level greens make Tidewater a gorgeous yet challenging layout for all golfers.
TPC Myrtle Beach
Our Last Hurrah list would be incomplete without the Myrtle Beach course where some of the biggest names in golf have played. That track would be the Tom Fazio-designed TPC Myrtle Beach, which hosted the 2000 Senior PGA Championship. Like the other courses mentioned, shot placement matters more than length off the tees. Borrowing some luster from its sister course at TPC Sawgrass, TPC Myrtle Beach’s 17th features water on three sides, but is 50 yards longer than the “island green” hole. The levels of the green deliver additional challenges once you safely avoid the drink.
Before You Go
While arguments could be made for other last-stop courses in the Grand Strand area, Pawleys Plantation, Tidewater and TPC Myrtle Beach are three courses every hardcore golfer should experience on one of their trips to South Carolina. Now comes the even more difficult part: which Myrtle Beach golf courses will you play leading up to your grand finale?
(posted 5/6/14)