Golfers have no shortage of choices to play championship golf in Myrtle Beach. With more than 80 courses located along the 60-mile stretch of Carolina coastline known as the Grand Strand, golfers could play 18 holes every day for nearly three months without repeating a layout.
But what about after the sun goes down, or those rainy days when it’s too wet to play? Myrtle Beach has you covered, both literally and figuratively, with several places to work on your game or just have a good time putting around. Here’s a list of places for golfers to play their game even when they aren’t on the links:
Par 3s
Myrtle Beach recently lost two of its most popular Par-3s when Cane Patch and Midway shut down, but there’s still a great miniature course at Tupelo Bay Golf Center in nearby Garden City Beach. Adjoining the 18-hole executive course is a challenging Par-3 with holes ranging from 73 to 105 yards in distance and featuring sand traps and water hazards. The course is illuminated for night play and offers cart and club rentals.
Practice Ranges
There’s no better way to brush up on your game than a session at the practice range and putting greens. Myrtle Beach has many well-lit facilities where you can put in the work after the sun goes down. Among the more popular picks in the Myrtle Beach area are Cane Patch Driving Range, River Oaks Golf Plantation, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Possum Trot Golf Course, Barefoot Golf Resot and Whispering Pines Golf Club.
Putt-putt
Sure, the fake volcano and dinosaur statues might seem silly, but the additional putting practice should pay off while you’re having fun with friends and family. A little good-natured competition (loser buys the Sno-Cones) only adds to the excitement. Some of our favorite and most challenging layouts include Dragon’s Liar Fantasy Golf at Broadway at the Beach and Cancun Lagoon Mini-Golf, the area’s only indoor putt-putt course.
Sand golf
The beach is a great place to kick back and relax, but it also provides the perfect practice spot, including a massive and natural sand trap and water hazard. After high tide, golfers can chip from the thick sand down to a hole you dig below the tide line where the packed sand offers a nice putting surface. Best of all it’s free, but watch out for the surf or it could cost you in lost golf balls.
TopGolf
Myrtle Beach recently added a franchise of this golf sensation that is sweeping the country. TopGolf is sort of like golf meets bowling, with patrons using a bay to drive, chip and putt at moving targets. TopGolf features a variety of golf-themed games that allow visitors to compete while also working on their swings. Food, drink, music and entertainment make this a fun way to get in some practice time.
Virtual Reality
Modern technology has made it easier than ever to work on your golf game without setting foot on the fairways. Golf simulators and video games do a great job of replicating a real round of golf, particularly the latest high-tech experiences at the new VR arcades to open on the Grand Strand. Places like Dave & Buster’s and other arcades offer golf simulators that allow you to play the top courses in the world.
OK, so there’s nothing like playing a real round of golf on the Grand Strand, but these places provide the next best thing, along with some additional entertainment value. When booking your Myrtle Beach golf package, plan to hit some of these hot spots to keep the fun and the little white ball rolling after your rounds.