More than 50 Myrtle Beach area PGA professionals participated in a first-of-its-kind survey asking them to rank the Grand Strand’s top 20 courses. This is the second of three stories unveiling the results of the poll.
Ranking courses 11 through 20 wasn’t easy, but the margins got substantially smaller as Myrtle Beach’s PGA professionals ranked the area’s 10 best courses. While they voiced a wide-range of opinions, the top 10 Myrtle Beach golf courses separated themselves from the pack. For some perspective, the points gap between the 10th and 11th ranked courses on the list is 149 points, which is greater than the gap between No. 10 and No. 3. Myrtle Beach’s PGA professionals have spoken, and here are the courses they ranked six through 10.
No. 10 King’s North at Myrtle Beach National (472 points) – This Arnold Palmer design is one of Myrtle Beach’s iconic layouts. The course is scenic, creative and leaves players talking long after they’ve returned home.
Biggest Reason King’s North Made the List: King’s North is home to three of the area’s most memorable holes. Golfers never forget “The Gambler,” the famed par 5, sixth hole with an alternate, island fairway, the par 3 12th, which features a pair of SC bunkers and an island green, and No. 18 has more than 40 bunkers.
No. 9 Dye Course at Barefoot Resort (494 points) – The longtime host of the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am, the Dye Course is as challenging as architect Pete Dye’s reputation would suggest.
Biggest Reason the Dye Course Made the List: Dye is arguably the most feared architect in golf history. He is also one of the best, and he delivered – again – at Barefoot.
No. 8 Fazio Course at Barefoot Resort (509 points) – No surprise that Fazio leads the three Barefoot entries on this list. The course is tough but fair, and this was Tom Fazio at his best.
Biggest Reason the Fazio Course Made the List: There isn’t a signature hole or defining trait that pushes the Fazio Course near the top of the heap. It’s just an outstanding design from start to finish.
No. 7 True Blue Golf Club (538 points) – The Mike Strantz layout is currently ranked among Golf Magazine’s Top 100 You Can Play and Golf Channel travel guru Matt Ginella has it among his personal top 50, so this might seem a little low to some. Either way, True Blue in unquestionably one of the area’s best.
Biggest Reason True Blue Made the List: Expansive fairways, enormous greens and the layout’s signature waste bunkers work in concert to create an unforgettable round.
No. 6 TPC Myrtle Beach (558 points) – The layout meets the lofty standards associated with the TPC brand and recent capital of improvement projects have continued to elevate the course.
Biggest Reason TPC Myrtle Beach Made the List: Earlier this year, Links magazine wrote of TPC, “I don’t think I’ve seen lusher, greener, or more perfect conditions.” What more needs to be said of a layout that has hosted the Senior PGA Tour Championship and been Dustin Johnson’s home course?