For as much as South Carolina’s Grand Strand golf scene has expanded some 25 miles to the south and well into North Carolina to the north, the heart of it all is still very much an anchor.
Don’t believe us? How about the fact that when most folks say “Myrtle Beach,” they’re actually not referring simply to the city of about 42,000 full-time residents but the entire corridor between the two states.
As such, the most centrally located courses in our area have no choice but to solidify that anchor status. Competition is very real, after all. But trust us when we tell you that these pipes haven’t burst from the pressure.
In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
The courses physically located within city limits (and not simply with a Myrtle Beach postal code) have each gone through some serious upgrades in recent years and are better than ever. So much so that we’re seeing more than our share of players who travel here, stay within those city limits and then don’t leave them again until they fly or drive home. The golf is that good, and it’s also that diverse.
So, if you’ve got four rounds in you, here’s how we’d set you up to experience the heart of Myrtle Beach.
ROUNDS 1 & 2: MYRTLEWOOD GOLF CLUB – PINEHILLS & PALMETTO
Day one is going to be a twofer, and we want you to start off your Myrtle Beach trek with 36 holes smack dab in the middle of city limits. Myrtlewood PineHills originally opened in 1966 and then bolstered its approach to the game with an Arthur Hills renovation in 1992 that earned him a moniker addition to the name. All of that happened after the Palmetto Course joined the fray in 1972.
Together, PineHills and Palmetto have flourished, especially as a two-for-one day. Palmetto is a true risk-reward option with plenty of safety from start to finish, while PineHills tends to test players, with Hills’ keen eye for navigating the land taking center stage. Together, they give players an awesome double-up experience.
ROUND 3: PINE LAKES COUNTRY CLUB
If you’ve ever played golf in the area or have even only searched around for ideas, you’ve heard of Pine Lakes. The Grand Strand’s first course opened in 1927, well in advance of the golf boom of the 1970s and 1980s that turned us into a monster.
To put that in perspective, Pine Lakes predates the internet, color TV and, yes, even sliced bread distribution. The par-70 course has excelled throughout nearly a full century of action with a creative layout that puts serious emphasis on its distinctive par 4s and a crisp design players of all skill levels will adore.
ROUND 4: GRANDE DUNES RESORT COURSE
On the north end of city limits sits one of the true gems of Myrtle Beach golf. Opened in 2001 and designed by the Roger Rulewich Group and later touched up by architect John Harvey, Grande Dunes is a delight of a track, with several holes playing parallel to the Intracoastal Waterway, massive fairways and pristine playing surfaces encapsulating every tee box, fairway and green.
Tack on a clubhouse overhaul and bunker and green renovations within the last five years, and this is a true bucket-list round worthy of your group’s final round of the trip.
Photos for this feature from MyrtleBeachGolfTrips Instagram Account (Top photo Grande Dunes, pictured right Pine Lakes Country Club)
