Spring is a magical time for golf in Myrtle Beach. With nearly 80 courses spanning the 60-mile stretch of Carolina coast known as the Grand Strand, golfers get to play these scenic layouts in full bloom and in the peak of their beauty during the spring season.
So which courses are best to play in the spring? There are no wrong answers; all of Myrtle Beach’s layouts have their own merits. But if you are looking to play a challenging course and experience the natural beauty of the Carolina coast, check out these 10 links:
Barefoot Resort, Dye Course
Legendary designer Pete Dye passed away in early 2020, but his artistry lives on at several Grand Strand area layouts. Chief among them is the Dye Course at Barefoot Resort, a semi-private course that highlights Dye’s trademark design elements. Home of the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After The Masters Celebrity Pro-Am, the Dye Course presents a tough test in a lovely setting. If you want to pay your respects to Dye at his other area courses, play his layouts at Prestwick Country Club and The Legends’ Moorland track.
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
This Pawleys Island layout is widely considered the best course on the Grand Strand, and it’s hard to argue against it. Built on a former rice plantation and nestled in the Lowcountry wetlands and woodlands, Caledonia has a distinct feel that’s hard to duplicate. Arrive at the antebellum-style clubhouse under a canopy of live oaks and you know you’ve found a special place, a feeling that is reinforced at every turn on the beautiful course. Carry a camera to capture all the beauty and be sure to visit the famed 19th hole.
Dunes Golf & Beach Club
Robert Trent Jones built a true masterpiece on the north end of Myrtle Beach that opened in 1950. Seventy years later, the design has stood the test of time. Situated along the oceanfront amid tidal creeks and maritime forest, the Dunes Club offers scenic charm and a high degree of difficulty. The signature 13th hole, aptly named Waterloo, presents the toughest test with a fairway that wraps around Lake Singleton before crossing the water to the green. Watch out for gators and bunkers that stand between you and the cup.
Heritage Club
Spring is the perfect time to test your skills against this Dan Maples design, which is ranked among the top layouts in the Myrtle Beach area. Located on a former rice plantation in Pawleys Island, Heritage Club offers a high degree of difficulty that is masked by the course’s natural Lowcountry beauty. Crossing tidal creeks and avoiding dense forests is the name of the game at the Heritage.
Myrtle Beach National, King’s North
This Arnold Palmer design is befitting its creator, with challenging holes scattered through the swamplands and forests of inland Myrtle Beach. Foremost among them is the par-5 6th, one of the most renowned holes on the Grand Strand, featuring an island fairway for those with the nerve to use it. Kingís North also boasts a memorable finishing hole – a long par-4 with 33 bunkers to navigate.
Pawleys Plantation
Jack Nicklaus’ craftsmanship is on full display at this Pawleys Island layout. Carved from a former rice plantation, Nicklaus used his skills as a golfer and a designer to create a true masterpiece. Unforgettable moments include the par-3 13th, the signature hole and most scenic stop on the track. An elevated tee box overlooks an imposing salt marsh that must be carried to the green in a stiff breeze.
Tidewater Golf Club
Few places on the Grand Strand feature the scenic beauty of this layout. Situated between the Intracoastal Waterway and Cherry Grove Inlet, this Ken Tomlinson design takes full advantage of the tidal creeks and salt marshes to create a tough test for golfers. The back nine offers scenic charm and challenging holes all the way to the clubhouse, including the signature 13th with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
TPC Myrtle Beach
This Murrells Inlet course debuted by hosting the 2000 Senior PGA Tour Championship, and the bar remains high on this layout 20 years later. A collaboration between Tom Fazio and Lanny Watkins, TPC Myrtle Beach was meant for championship-level play and has a setting to match it. Lowcountry swamplands and dense forests provide difficult obstacles, but the beauty of nature makes for a relaxing round.
Best of all, there are still more than 60 courses on the Grand Strand that offer equal combinations of challenge and charm. With the native flora and fauna of the Grand Strand springing to life in the spring, you are sure to enjoy the breathtaking beauty even if your score isn’t quite as pretty. Be sure to include these layouts in your package itinerary when you book your Myrtle Beach Golf spring vacation.