Renowned for its stunning landscapes and captivating history, South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach is a paramount golfing haven for players of every proficiency level. With over 90 golf courses, the region’s lush landscapes create an unparalleled golfing experience – fittingly dubbed the ‘Golf Capital of the World.’ The meticulous design of the courses, paired with the area’s natural beauty and rich history, consolidates Myrtle Beach as a must-visit stop on any golf enthusiast’s itinerary.
Myrtle Beach Golf Community: A Hub of Golfing Excellence
Myrtle Beach’s golfing community is teeming with a diverse selection of courses ranging from beginner-friendly to professional-standard greens. The golfing culture is pervasive, attracting veterans, beginners, and everyone in between. Seasoned golfers can immensely enjoy challenging courses such as The Dunes Club, while those new to the sport can take in the scenic views of simplified courses such as River Oaks Golf Plantation at a relaxing pace.
Iconic Courses: Showcasing the Best of Myrtle Beach
The Dunes Club, inaugurated in 1949, is the corner-piece of Myrtle Beach’s club courses. Iconic for its hole #13 – ‘Waterloo,’ the scenic but challenging Par 5 hole, bending around Lake Singleton, and culminating in a subtle, dog-legged design demands accuracy, strategy, and excellent shots from golfers.
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, whilst being relatively younger with its establishment dating to 1994, is another must-visit course. With Spanish moss-draped oak trees providing an enchanting tunnel to the club’s entrance, players are immediately transported to an 18th-century southern rice plantation, a setting reflective of the region’s rich history. The 6,526-yard course with a par value of 70 is exceptionally challenging and combines this rigor with the lush beauty of South Carolina’s low country.
The Perfect Mix: Combining Difficulty and Scenic Views
The TPC Myrtle Beach, better known as the Tour Player’s Club, provides another exciting challenge. Having received a five-star rating from Golf Digest magazine, this course is one of only a few open to the public that has hosted a Senior PGA Tour championship. The clever use of waste areas and bunkers, along with undulating Bermuda grass greens and expansive fairways, entice golfers to bring their A-game.
True Blue Plantation is another standout course that marries challenging play with outstanding vistas. Designed by renowned architect Mike Strantz, this course possesses Palmetto trees and native grasses lining the massive fairways, while cavernous bunkers and significant undulations add to the challenge.
Embracing History and Blossoming Progress
Lastly, Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club could be considered the epitome of Myrtle Beach’s blend of history and golf. Designed by the only man of ‘The Big Three’ – Gary Player, the course elegantly meanders through salt marshes and 200-year-old moss-draped oaks, whispering stories of the region’s storied past.
However, it’s not just history that makes Myrtle Beach special, but also the embracement of progress. Take, for instance, the 2017 re-opening of The Dunes Club. The club was reimagined by the renowned design firm Robert Trent Jones Jr. while upholding the style and substance of the original Jones Sr. design – a marriage of the past and future.
Final Thoughts
Myrtle Beach’s golf landscapes truly are a marriage of history, design excellence, and natural splendor. Each course, charting its legacy and innate charm, encapsulates the diversity and allure of South Carolina’s low country. For a golfer, Myrtle Beach is no less than a pilgrimage, a journey through some of golf’s pinnacling landscapes, reverberating with compelling golfing lore and modern-day attractions. The golf experience in Myrtle Beach isn’t merely game-play; it is essentially a celebration of the sport in all its richness and wonder.