As the golf world turns its attention to Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, for this week’s Open Championship, fans will once again watch the game’s best chase the Claret Jug on one of golf’s most historic links venues. Royal Birkdale has hosted many memorable Opens, including Jordan Spieth’s dramatic victory in 2017, and returns to the spotlight as the game’s oldest championship is contested for the 154th time.

While Myrtle Beach is a world away from England’s northwest coast, the Grand Strand has a unique connection to The Open. Eight Myrtle Beach-area golf courses were designed by players who captured the Claret Jug, allowing golfers to experience the work of some of the game’s greatest champions right here along the South Carolina coast.

Greg Norman – Greg Norman’s only Myrtle Beach resort course opened at Barefoot Resort in 2000, seven years after the second of his two Open Championship victories. The Norman Course is best known for its memorable stretch along the Intracoastal Waterway, highlighted by the picturesque par-3 10th hole. While “The Shark” experienced plenty of heartbreak in major championships, his Myrtle Beach design remains one of the area’s most enjoyable and visually striking layouts.

Arnold Palmer – Arnold Palmer’s impact on The Open Championship extends well beyond his two Claret Jug victories. His decision to compete at St. Andrews in 1960 helped reignite interest among American golfers and played a significant role in restoring the championship’s international prestige.

Palmer left an equally lasting legacy in Myrtle Beach. He designed all three courses at Myrtle Beach National—King’s North, SouthCreek, and West Course—with King’s North becoming one of the Grand Strand’s signature layouts. His fourth local design, Rivers Edge in nearby Shallotte, North Carolina, features seven unforgettable holes along the Shallotte River and remains one of the region’s most scenic rounds. (King’s North 8th top photo)

Gary Player – Gary Player won nine major championships, including three Open Championships, and brought his design philosophy to Myrtle Beach with Blackmoor Golf Club. Opened in 1990, Blackmoor continues to earn praise for its thoughtful layout, strategic shot values, and conditioning.

Jack Nicklaus – Jack Nicklaus captured three Claret Jugs during his legendary career and designed two standout Myrtle Beach courses: Long Bay Club and Pawleys Plantation, both of which opened in 1988. Long Bay showcases Nicklaus’ signature use of bold bunkering and sculpted fairways, while Pawleys Plantation features one of the Grand Strand’s most scenic back nines, with six holes winding through the tidal marsh. (Long Bay 5th pictured right)

As this week’s Open Championship unfolds at Royal Birkdale, it’s a reminder that some of golf’s greatest champions have left their mark far beyond the links of the United Kingdom. From Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus to Gary Player and Greg Norman, their design philosophies can still be experienced right here in Myrtle Beach.

The next time you’re planning a Grand Strand golf trip, consider adding one of these Claret Jug-winning architects’ courses to your itinerary—and let us know which one is your favorite.

Click Here to Get a Free Myrtle Beach Golf Trip Estimate

Photos for this feature from MyrtleBeachGolfTrips Instagram Account