Golfweek has released its annual list of the best public-access courses, a ranking of the best courses you can play in each state, and to no one’s surprise, Myrtle Beach again dominated the list of South Carolina’s best.
Eleven of the Palmetto State’s top 20 public courses are located along the Grand Strand, led by Caledonia Golf & Fish Club (No. 4), Dunes Golf & Beach Club (No. 5) and True Blue Golf Club (No. 6).
Rounding out the Myrtle Beach contingent were TPC Myrtle Beach (No. 10), Grande Dunes Resort Course, Tidewater Golf Club and Moorland Course at Legends Resort (all tied at No. 11), Heritage Club and Barefoot Resort’s Dye Course (tied at No. 15), Prestwick Country Club (No. 17) and Heathland Course at Legends Resort (No. 18).
There was little surprise at the top of the rankings. Caledonia, Mike Strantz’s first solo design, is consistently ranked among America’s top 100 public courses, while the Dunes Club continues to enhance its reputation as host of the PGA Tour’s Myrtle Beach Classic.
True Blue, another Strantz layout, is renowned for its bold architecture, featuring expansive fairways framed by waste areas and some of the largest greens on the Grand Strand.
TPC Myrtle Beach, a Tom Fazio design, has tested players such as Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa and Cameron Young over the years, cementing its status as one of the area’s premier big event venues.
Grande Dunes has climbed numerous rankings since a 2022 renovation that introduced new greens and bunkers to a layout highlighted by five holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Tidewater remains one of Myrtle Beach’s most scenic courses, with nine holes bordering either the Intracoastal Waterway or Cherry Grove Inlet. Moorland is a P.B. Dye layout that was once ranked among America’s 50 toughest courses by Golf Digest.
Heritage Club showcases the natural beauty of Pawleys Island and some of the region’s most undulating greens. Barefoot’s Dye Course, home to the annual Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am, is classic Pete Dye layout.
Heathland, one of Tom Doak’s first solo designs, pays tribute to the great links courses of Britain and Ireland, making it a favorite among architecture enthusiasts. Prestwick, another P.B. Dye creation, is best known for an unforgettable back nine.
The rankings underscore the depth of Myrtle Beach’s golf offerings. Just as noteworthy as the 11 courses that made the list are the many other Grand Strand layouts that could have easily earned a spot among South Carolina’s top 20.
Photos for this feature from MyrtleBeachGolfTrips Instagram Account (TPC Myrtle Beach pictured top, True Blue right)
