It’s never too early to plan your fall golf vacation on and off the course. With a little planning, you can enjoy all the festivities and still have time to play a round or two this fall. Kicking off the fall season will be the 8th annual Coastal Uncorked Food and Wine Festival on Aug. 31 through Sept. 4. This event offers nearly 100 wine and beer varieties with food to match, as well as mixology competitions and live music. The festival, which will also offer the Brews ‘N the Beach Craft Beer Event, is held in downtown Myrtle Beach, just a 10-minute drive to Pine Lakes. Known as the “The Granddaddy,” Pine Lakes is the oldest course on the Grand Strand and is the birthplace of Sports Illustrated. Besides its rich history, pristine clubhouse, and numerous freshwater lakes, the par-70 course features water on a dozen holes, deep soft-sand bunkers, fairways that roll over natural dunes, and elevated greens.
Before heading to the 26th annual St. John’s Greek Festival on Sept. 27 through Sept. 30, book a tee time at nearby Myrtlewood. Home to two 18-hole courses, PineHills and Palmetto, these courses run along the Intracoastal Waterway and feature lush rolling greens and sloping fairways, making Myrtlewood perfect courses for the average golfer. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head over to the festival and try some authentic Greek cuisine, from gyros to moussaka, along with family-friendly live music, vendors, and inflatables.
Another fall festival you won’t want to miss along the Grand Strand is the 15th annual Irish Italian Festival on Sept. 29 at Main Street, North Myrtle Beach. This festival is just 13 minutes away from Colonial Charters Golf Club. This course offers 6,427 yards of iconic greens with tree-lined fairways and two waterfalls. The many water features along the course offer an added challenge for those looking to improve their game. With green and luxury on your mind, try some green beer and delicious pasta all in one place. On Main Street you’ll find live bagpipes, all sorts of vendors, restaurant competitions, and even a spaghetti-eating contest at this food-filled festival.
Your fall season wouldn’t be complete without some fine Southern Hospitality. Luckily, you’ll find it at World Tour Golf Links and Myrtle Beach’s 35th Taste of the Town. World Tour’s courses offer recreations of 18 of the world’s most renowned and challenging layouts. It’s magnolia-lined entrance and scenic Carolina landscape show you what it’s like to be welcomed in the South. With inspiration from Augusta National, Oakmont, Pine Valley, and more, you’ll get a feel for holes the masters have played for decades. Following a round or two, you can find out where food-lovers get a small taste of what the Grand Strand has to offer. The event, which takes place from Oct. 8 and Oct. 9 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, is just a short 12-minute drive. The event offers a specially selected sampling of some of the best restaurants in the area, all while supporting a good cause, St. Andrew Catholic School.
Get a taste of the South at River Hills and the 14th Annual Little River Shrimp Fest. Designed by Tom Jackson, River Hills offers 18 holes of magnificent fairways, moss-draped live oaks, and wooded terrain giving this course its own southern charm. At this course, you’ll find added challenges since 14 out of the 18 holes have water in play. The best time to visit is the weekend of Oct. 13-14 when about 25,000 guests gather just seven minutes away to enjoy local music, face painting, a variety of vendors, and of course some delicious low-country boil stuffed with shrimp, corn, and sausage.
Your last stop this fall season is a top rated course with some of the best authentic southern food nearby. Long Bay, a 4.5 star rated course, according to Golf Digest, was designed by Jack Nicklaus to offer difficulty and unrivaled beauty. Dogwoods, pines, and maples line bunkers and greens of different elevations giving this course a tough, but unbelievable feeling. Once you’re finished with a round or two, elevate your taste buds at the 39th annual Loris Bog-Off Festival on Oct. 20, which takes place just 16 minutes away from Long Bay. Loris welcomes the best chicken bog of them all to compete for the champion title. Whether you chose to make you own or eat someone else’s, the Bog-Off is a fun and delicious time for the whole family.
