With the spring season rapidly approaching, group leaders are mulling prospective Myrtle Beach golf trip itineraries. Given the number of courses, the variations are endless, but if you are in search of a local’s perspective, here is the ideal 4-day, 5-round trip.

For starters, my preferred package is the Founders Group All-Inclusive, which allows you to choose among FGI’s 21 courses and it includes range balls, lunch and two draft beers or beverages.

With that in mind, here is a Myrtle Beach itinerary that delivers a combination of great golf and outstanding value:

Thursday
1 p.m. – Before checking into your room, stop at the Long Bay Club for a round on the way in. If you want to play nearby Aberdeen, an easier start, I won’t argue, but I’m welcoming my guys to Myrtle Beach by taking a picture with the statue of Jack Nicklaus at Long Bay. Just getting out of the car, you are unlikely to go low on this Nicklaus design, but the back nine will provide a memorable start to your vacation.

6 p.m. – Check-in to your condo at Myrtlewood, which provides a great central location.

7 p.m. – Dinner at Bumstead’s Pub. Craft beer and a great sandwich menu are an opening night winner in this small bar locals enjoy.

Friday
8 a.m. – The Granddaddy awaits. Pine Lakes Country Club was Myrtle Beach’s first course and it’s in prime condition heading into the spring season. Holes 12, 13 and 14 are the area’s toughest trio of consecutive par 4s and they are a wonderful challenge. The course and property are dripping with history and the layout is a good time.

12:30 p.m. – Your package includes lunch and the food at Pine Lakes is outstanding; take the opportunity to enjoy the Robert White Pub.

2:15 p.m. – Make the 15-minute drive to play Wild Wing’s Avocet Course. The Jeff Brauer-Larry Nelson design features a legit drivable par 4, dual fairways and a double green. Avocet is a treat and well worth the short afternoon commute.

7:00 p.m. – After 36 holes, order takeout from Little Pigs Bar-B-Q. It’s a hole in the wall (like every good BBQ place should be) and the pulled pork plate is outstanding. Make sure you get a side of hush puppies and a sampler of their sauces, all of which are homemade using family recipes.

Saturday
9:30 a.m. – You’ve played one Nicklaus design, so take the time to drive to Pawleys Plantation Golf Club (top photo) and enjoy Jack’s most famous Myrtle Beach course. The back nine at Pawleys features six holes that play along a tidal marsh; it’s a stunning stretch that is as pretty as any along the Myrtle Beach golf scene. This is a round you will always remember.

6:00 p.m. – After returning to the room and getting a little rest, it’s time to head to Broadway at the Beach for a night on the town. Sushi at King Kong is a great place to start the evening but if your group wants something more conventional, Grumpy Monk is the spot. After dinner, go to Crocodile Rocks and enjoy the dueling pianos; it will make for a rollicking evening and more than a few stories.

11:00 p.m. – You need to be back home by now!

Sunday
9:00 a.m. – The Grande Dunes Resort Course is the perfect way to cap your trip. A 2022 greens, bunkers and clubhouse renovation project elevated an already outstanding layout. Grande Dunes’ greens are as compelling as any along the Grand Strand and the holes along the Intracoastal Waterway will send you home with a phone full of pictures.

1:30 p.m. – After concluding your round, everyone can gather for lunch in Terrazza 19, Grande Dunes’ new clubhouse restaurant, to relive the good times before heading home.

Enjoy because that’s a tough trip to beat.

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All photos for this story from our Instagram account @myrtlebeachgolftrips