Over the years, the area colloquially referred to as Myrtle Beach has expanded to include everything from Pawleys Island to Brunswick County, N.C.
But Myrtle Beach and the Central Strand, as it’s sometimes called, remains at the heart of the area’s appeal.
Courses like Grande Dunes Resort Club, King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, the Dunes Club and Pine Lakes Country Club are among the Grand Strand’s best and most recognizable but look beyond the headlines and a host of layouts that deliver good golf and value await your group.
As you are planning your next Myrtle Beach golf trip, here are three of the Central Strand’s most underrated experiences:
● Myrtlewood Golf Club, a 36-hole complex located in the heart of the town, is one of the area’s most popular facilities, but the Palmetto Course attracts much of the attention. I get it. Palmetto, which enjoyed a 2019 renovation, offers a single tee throughout the day and finishes along the Intracoastal. But PineHills (top photo) isn’t the weaker sister in this family. The Arthur Hills design is a treat to play and it’s always in outstanding condition. Sure, it doesn’t conclude along the water, but it’s par 4 finisher is actually a more dramatic challenge.
● Wild Wing, once home to four layouts, was the area’s most popular multi-course facility. Today, the Avocet Course is the property’s only 18-hole layout and it flies way too far under the radar. The Jeff Brauer-Larry Nelson design is home to a par 4 you actually have a chance to drive – the 265-yard 14th – and it’s interesting from beginning to end. I get it, you miss the Woodstork and Falcon, but Avocet remains and it’s a course everyone in your group will enjoy playing.
● Let me be the first to concede, I’m a late comer to the Burning Ridge party but it’s worth attending. The course isn’t among the area’s best, but it’s a good, straight-forward challenge and it offers one of the area’s most value-packed rounds. The back nine, in particular, offers a significant challenge. If you are operating on a limited budget, play Burning Ridge to allow for a bit of a splurge at Grande Dunes. It’s a decision you won’t regret.
PineHills, Avocet and Burning Ridge won’t be making any top 100 lists, they are at the heart of what makes Myrtle Beach the game’s most attractive destination, delivering quality golf and an unmatched value.
