The Myrtle Beach golf scene has an interesting connection to Masters Championship winners.
Several Grand Strand courses have architects who won this tournament. Winning a Masters green jacket — the tournament’s iconic prize — comes with prestige. Winning names, etched in history, carry considerable pull for all time.
That’s why their vision is so revered when it comes to designing new courses.
In April 2021, Hideki Matsuyama became the first Japanese golfer to win the Masters. He finished with a 10-under score in his best performance at Augusta National, and it was his first major win. He beat Masters rookie Will Zalaboris by a stroke for his first PGA Tour victory since 2017.
Could he someday join these legends as the mind behind a future Myrtle Beach course?
Green Jacket Winners Who Have Designed Grand Strand Courses
Arnold Palmer
Known for sheer talent and charisma, The King was one of the first sports superstars of the TV era. He played for more than six decades, winning 62 PGA Tour titles from 1955 to 1973. He won the Masters in 1958, 1960, 1962, and 1964.
King’s North at Myrtle Beach National
Opened in 1973, this course is among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by Golf Digest. Redesigned in 1996, King’s North is famous for The Gambler hole, the famed No. 6. The course is a challenge, and ends with 40 fairway bunkers on No. 18!
Rivers Edge
Palmer’s last design in Myrtle Beach opened in 1999 and is also on Golf Digest’s list of 100 best public courses. The ninth hole at Rivers Edge is as challenging as it is stunning, playing into a peninsula green. First, you must carry the marsh twice on this par-5 beauty.
South Creek at Myrtle Beach National
The third Myrtle Beach National course opened in 1975. South Creek features manmade and natural obstacles and demands accuracy and skill to navigate. The picturesque course rolls through protected waste areas, wetlands, and hardwood forests.
West Course at Myrtle Beach National
The facility’s middle course meanders through majestic pines and has a private club vibe. Play the regular tees on the West Course for a treat of Palmer’s iconic design. Drop to the back tees for challenges and hazards to test your game to the hilt.
Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus won 117 pro tournaments and a record 18 major championships. The Golden Bear played in 164 majors, more than anyone, and is third in career PGA victories (73). He won the Masters in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, and 1986.
Long Bay Club
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a bigger challenge in Myrtle Beach, and that is what draws players to Long Bay Club. There’s a 137 slope drop from the back tees, the greens are tough, and par-3s could break your heart. It’s a total 5-star experience that’ll make you feel like you could be the Golden Bear after all.
Pawleys Plantation
Within the splendor of Pawleys Island beauty, it’s a tough course regarded as one of the state’s finest. Among lakes and marshes, you’ll enjoy bent-grass greens and split fairways. A round — and a weekend — at Pawleys Plantation is the perfect getaway.
Gary Player
Player won nine major championships on the PGA tour and nine more on the Champions Tour. A South African, he’s the only non-American to win all four majors in his career. The Black Knight won the Masters in 1961, 1974, and 1978.
Blackmoor Golf Club
This gem in Murrells Inlet isn’t so harsh on players and beckons players to think outside the norm. Blackmoor is an 18-hole masterwork with an elite playing surface you can’t grip and rip your way through. Early club selection is paramount at this beauty with many dogleg holes.
Ready to Hit the Links on the Grand Strand?
As you play in Myrtle Beach remember these winners. They’ve helped to shape the game you love in the Golf Capital of the World. Be sure to play these courses for your next golf getaway.
