Myrtle Beach has long been America’s most popular golf destination and over the years, some of the area’s most loyal visitors have become residents.

Put another way, the Grand Strand’s popularity as a golf and travel destination have helped make it one of the nation’s fastest growing areas. A byproduct of that growth has been an increased demand for real estate, a reality that led to the recent announcements that The Witch and Farmstead will be closing at the conclusion of the fall season.

A Dan Maples design that plays through a cypress swamp, The Witch (top photo) will close November 21. The course has always been a favorite of locals, due in no small part to a piece of land that showcases both the area’s coastal beauty and uncommon elevation change, but what made the property special also made it difficult to maintain in recent years.

Golfers love the front nine at The Witch, which requires them to traverse more than a mile of wooden bridges that weave through the swamp. It’s a beautiful stretch, full of cypress and live oak trees and a surplus of wildlife, including many alligators that ended up unwittingly posing for Instagram photos.

Unfortunately, the swamp was susceptible to disruptive flooding, which led to the decision to sell the property. What is now the front nine will be developed for housing. The Witch, long regarded as one of the area’s under-the-radar stars, will be missed, though its sister courses, Man O’War and The Wizard, will continue to delight golfers.

Farmstead, home to the area’s only par 6 (pictured right), will close its fairways on October 31. The course, despite its success, was sold to developers as Brunswick County continues to grow.

While the par 6 generates all the buzz, it’s not the only thing that attracts players to the layout. Farmstead is always in outstanding condition and delivers the type of value that makes a trip to the area so popular.

For groups that have interest in playing either course, both are being maintained to the highest of standards through their closing dates, allowing golfers to enjoy a last walk down memory lane.

While we hate to see golf courses close, Myrtle Beach remains home to 88 layouts, including some of the best South Carolina and all of America have to offer.