If your group took an annual three-round trip to Myrtle Beach, you could go 30 years without playing the same course twice. Most of us like to revisit our favorites but over time, courses – even very good ones – can slip off the radar.

As you plan your next trip, here are five layouts that have a tendency to be overlooked, due primarily to geography, that you need to be aware of.

● The one thing the courses on this list all have in common is a drive that’s a little longer than normal, and that’s certainly the case with Founders Club, the area’s southernmost layout. The Thomas Walker design is worth the couple extra miles. Founders Club is a different design, featuring elevated fairways framed by waste bunkers, but it’s fun. This is a course that has been on a steady ascent and if you haven’t played it recently, it’s time to return. (top photo)

● Staying along the South Strand, where it’s easy for courses to be overshadowed by the likes Caledonia, TPC Myrtle Beach, True Blue and Pawleys Plantation, Tradition Club is a gem. As the name suggests, it’s an old-school design that’s a treat to play. Since the installation of Sunday ultradwarf bermudagrass greens in 2018, the putting surfaces have been pristine, enhancing an already outstanding layout. (pictured right)

● The Pearl, now a 27-hole facility in Brunswick County, N.C., plays along the Calabash River and is in consistently good condition. That’s a recipe for a good time. Home to six holes that reside along the water, if your crew is in search of beautiful views and value, the Pearl offers an outstanding combination of the two.

● Jack Nicklaus is an 18-time major champion, so very little he does is underappreciated, but Long Bay Club is. Sure, it’s located a few miles west of the beach but Highway 31 has made it easily accessible and the layout is home to three of the area’s top 100 holes – numbers 10, 13 and 18. Your group will enjoy the challenge of the mounding and waste bunkers and the back nine is unforgettable.

● Shaftesbury Glen is the area’s westernmost course and like the other layouts on our list, it’s worth the effort. The installation of 500,000 square feet of waste bunkers added needed visual contrast (don’t worry, the sand isn’t nearly as penal as it sounds) and the Sunday ultradwarf bermudagrass greens are pure.

The lesson from this list is don’t let driving an extra five minutes deter you from an otherwise enjoyable golf experience.