Playing golf, followed by a couple cold drinks with buddies, might not be the perfect day, but it’s an awfully good one. With the return of football and Myrtle Beach’s fall golf season teeing off, the opportunities to combine the two for an idyllic Saturday or Sunday afternoon are abundant.
Myrtle Beach is home to nearly 90 golf courses and even more bars and restaurants. After soliciting the opinion of experienced locals, here are five golf courses – sports bar combinations you will want to consider.
– A round at World Tour Golf Links, allowing you to get a taste of what it would be like to play Amen Corner at Augusta National, followed by a trip to the Sneaky Beagle (pictured right) is a hard combo to beat. World Tour is one of the area’s most popular experiences, providing players a collection of some of the game’s most famous holes. The Sneaky Beagle, beyond having a great name, has one of the area’s best happy hour menus (daily from 4-7 p.m.), offering everything from sushi to chicken wings. Distance from World Tour to Sneaky Beagle: 3.2 miles.
– The Wizard, with its Scottish links inspired design, pairs perfectly with Handley’s Pub & Grub. Featuring the wide fairways, mounding and native grasses people associate with golf in the Olde Country, the Wizard is a player-friendly design. It’s the type of course that gives you every chance to score, meaning you will be in a good mood on the short trip to Handley’s. With 28 TVs, 68 beers and an outstanding menu, Handley’s will bring a smile to the face of even the crustiest of players. Distance from the Wizard to Handley’s: 1.4 miles.
– Myrtlewood Golf Club, home of the Palmetto and PineHills courses, is located in the heart of Myrtle Beach. Both layouts are renowned for their customer service and conditioning, complementing designs golfers flock to. While Myrtlewood is an institution, Carolina Ale House (top photo) is a relative newcomer to the area’s social scene, but it’s a great place to watch a game. Featuring indoor and outdoor seating, Carolina Ale House is an appealing landing spot no matter the conditions. Distance from Myrtlewood to Carolina Ale House: 2.4 miles.
– The courses that play out of the resort clubhouse at Barefoot – Fazio, Love and Norman layouts – are three of the area’s best. The Fazio and Love designs have been ranked among America’s top 100 public courses and Norman features several holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway. After golf is over, a trip to Putter’s Pub, which overlooks the resort’s driving range is in order. Putter’s offers a casual atmosphere, good food and it’s never hard to find a TV. Distance from Barefoot to Putters: 0.5 miles.
– Litchfield Country Club was Pawleys Island’s first course, opening in 1966, and the old school design continues to delight players. As opposed to rewarding bomb-and-gouge golf, Litchfield is a thinking man’s (and woman’s) layout. Quigley’s Pint & Plate is a decidedly new-school establishment, serving an assortment of craft beers and a varied menu (count this as a vote for the meatloaf to refill the tank after a day on the course). Distance from Litchfield to Quigley’s: 1.8 miles.
Let us know where you like to watch a game after a round at your favorite course.