Story by Ian Guerin
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. | The perfect day for some is as simple as a morning round. For others, it’s a fantastic meal to wrap up the evening. Combining the two isn’t necessarily always a possibility, but for those who can pull off the double up, it can lead to memories for years to come. So, what if we told you that five of the best courses up and down Golf Capital, U.S.A. were also conveniently located extremely close to some of the best dining options available? For those willing to spend a little more, you can pair that top-flight round with a top-flight dinner. This is your blueprint toward finding that slice of heaven.
BAREFOOT RESORT DYE CLUB/21 MAIN
The semi-private Dye Club provided a bit of the boost toward Barefoot being named the International Association of Golf Tour Operators 2017 North American Resort of the Year and the course gains national attention annually with the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am. Head due east from there to find 21 Main, where steaks are a top draw and the ocean waves are crashing just a few steps away.
CALEDONIA GOLF & FISH CLUB/BISTRO 217
Caledonia’s two-plus decades of excellence have been as well-documented as any course in the Myrtle Beach area. It cleans up annually in state and regional awards, is frequently the creme de la creme for visiting golfers and has struggled to find a way to disappoint anyone. Across U.S. 17, Bistro 217 has inspired social media posts galore of the dishes brought to tables for years. The menu isn’t massive, but trust us when we say it doesn’t need to be.
GRANDE DUNES RESORT COURES/WATERSCAPES
On one side of the Intracoastal Waterway lies the Roger Rulewich-designed Resort Course, 18 holes of immaculate golf, with several of those holes nestled atop the bluffs overlooking the water. On the other is the Marina Inn resort, an oasis of sorts on the high-traffic area between the heart of Myrtle Beach and Restaurant Row. Inside the hotel is Waterscapes, a seafood-first upscale restaurant looking back over the Intracoastal, across the Marina and toward the course.
PINE LAKES COUNTRY CLUB/SEACAPTAIN’S HOUSE
Maybe no pairing on the list is as appropriate as this one; Pine Lakes is more than 90 years old, and Sea Captain’s isn’t far behind it at 60-plus. The two stalwarts of Myrtle Beach golf and food are also only a few short blocks away from each other, and they deserve your attention individually or as a pairing. The golf course recently re-instituted its old-time feel, and the restaurant is a throwback to classy oceanside meals.
TPC OF MYRTLE BEACH/COSTA
The Grand Strand’s Italian selection pales in comparison to its seafood ones for obvious reasons. But at Costa, fans of the two styles find a delectable duality near the Murrells Inlet Marshwalk. Meanwhile, everything about the Tom Fazio designed TPC Myrtle Beach exudes pristine golf. Within months of its opening in 1999, it was awarded the Senior PGA Tour Championship and then swayed the world’s No. 1 golfer, Dustin Johnson, to place his golf school there.