Every golfer has an opinion about the toughest course in Myrtle Beach. Ask around and you’ll likely hear names like TPC Myrtle Beach, Tidewater Golf Club, Prestwick Country Club, and Dunes Golf & Beach Club. But rather than relying on opinion, we wanted to see what the numbers had to say.
Using the USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating information available through the GHIN app, we reviewed the back-tee ratings for many of Myrtle Beach’s most recognizable courses. Course Rating estimates the score a scratch golfer is expected to shoot under normal playing conditions, making it one of the best measures of a course’s overall difficulty. Slope Rating measures how much more difficult the course becomes for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer.
The courses below are presented in descending order by Course Rating, with Slope Rating included for additional context.
Grande Dunes Resort Course
Course Rating: 76.7 | Slope Rating: 143
Grande Dunes Resort Course claims the highest Course Rating of any course we reviewed. Roger Rulewich’s design stretches across a dramatic landscape featuring elevation changes, waste areas, and demanding approach shots. While the fairways provide room from the tee, the course’s length and challenging green complexes make it one of the most difficult tests on the Grand Strand.
Dunes Golf & Beach Club
Course Rating: 76.3 | Slope Rating: 145
For generations, Dunes Golf & Beach Club has been regarded as one of the finest and most challenging layouts in the Southeast. Robert Trent Jones’ masterpiece rewards precision from tee to green, while its elevated greens, strategic bunkering, and famous par-5 13th hole, “Waterloo,” continue to test golfers of every skill level.
Barefoot Resort & Golf’s Dye Course
Course Rating: 75.6 | Slope Rating: 149
Pete Dye’s influence is impossible to miss at Barefoot’s Dye Course. Railroad ties, visually intimidating hazards, and strategic risk-reward decisions are found throughout the layout. The combination of a 75.6 Course Rating and 149 Slope Rating confirms what many golfers already know—this is one of the toughest rounds in Myrtle Beach.
Prestwick Country Club
Course Rating: 75.3 | Slope Rating: 150
Prestwick has long enjoyed a reputation as one of Myrtle Beach’s sternest tests, and the numbers back it up. Designed by Pete & P.B. Dye, the course features elevated greens, forced carries, water hazards, and deep bunkering. There are very few opportunities to relax during a round at Prestwick.
Barefoot Resort & Golf’s Love Course
Course Rating: 74.7 | Slope Rating: 142
The Love Course is often praised for its beauty and playability, but its Course Rating tells another story. Davis Love III created a layout that challenges golfers with demanding approach shots, strategic bunkering, and large greens that require excellent distance control.
Founders Club at Pawleys Island
Course Rating: 74.5 | Slope Rating: 148
One of the biggest surprises on the list, Founders Club quietly ranks among the area’s toughest courses according to the USGA. Wide landing areas can be deceptive, as the course’s elevated greens, strategic hazards, and difficult recovery areas create a challenge that becomes more apparent as the round unfolds.
King’s North at Myrtle Beach National
Course Rating: 74.4 | Slope Rating: 154
Following its recent renovation and re-rating, King’s North has moved firmly into the conversation among Myrtle Beach’s toughest courses. Arnold Palmer’s signature design features several memorable risk-reward holes, but its 154 Slope Rating—the highest on this list—shows just how punishing the course can be for the average golfer.
TPC Myrtle Beach
Course Rating: 74.3 | Slope Rating: 154
TPC Myrtle Beach remains one of the premier championship layouts on the Grand Strand. Tournament-caliber conditioning, strategically placed hazards, and demanding green complexes challenge golfers from the first tee shot to the final putt. Its 154 Slope Rating matches King’s North for the highest figure among the courses reviewed.
Tidewater Golf Club
Course Rating: 74.1 | Slope Rating: 147
Often called the “Pebble Beach of the East,” Tidewater combines stunning scenery with a formidable challenge. Routed between Cherry Grove Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway, the course requires precision, patience, and the ability to adapt to changing wind conditions.
Legends Parkland Golf Course
Course Rating: 74.3 | Slope Rating: 144
Legends Parkland quietly ranks among the Grand Strand’s toughest championship tests. Its 74.3 Course Rating edges out its sister course, Legends Moorland (73.6/143), highlighting the demanding nature of its tree-lined fairways, well-protected greens, and strategic layout that rewards accuracy and smart course management from the back tees.
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
Course Rating: 74.1 | Slope Rating: 144
Jack Nicklaus’ Lowcountry masterpiece remains one of the Grand Strand’s most demanding championship layouts. Following its 2023 Nicklaus Design renovation, Pawleys Plantation continues to reward thoughtful course management while punishing overly aggressive play. Its dramatic marsh-side finishing stretch is among the most memorable in Myrtle Beach golf.
A Few Surprises In The Data
Our review of the USGA data revealed several courses that rank higher than many golfers might expect. Grande Dunes Resort Course posted the highest Course Rating of any course reviewed, while Barefoot’s Dye and Love courses both finished ahead of several layouts that are more frequently mentioned in discussions about Myrtle Beach’s toughest golf.
Founders Club at Pawleys Island may be the biggest surprise of all. While it isn’t always mentioned alongside some of Myrtle Beach’s marquee names, its 74.5 Course Rating ranks ahead of King’s North, TPC Myrtle Beach, Tidewater, and Pawleys Plantation, demonstrating just how demanding the course can be from the back tees.
The data also highlights the difference between Course Rating and Slope Rating. While Grande Dunes Resort Course and the Dunes Golf & Beach Club own the highest Course Ratings, King’s North and TPC Myrtle Beach carry the highest Slope Ratings at 154. That means many recreational golfers may find those courses even more difficult than some layouts ranked above them.
Every golfer will have their own opinion about which course is the toughest, but the USGA’s Course Rating system offers an objective way to compare the challenge presented by Myrtle Beach’s best-known layouts. It’s also important to remember that these comparisons are based solely on each course’s back tees. Recreational golfers should always choose the tee set that best matches their ability, as Course and Slope Ratings change significantly from one set of tees to another. And if nothing else, the data proves that a few of the Grand Strand’s toughest tests may not be the courses most golfers expect.
(Course rating and slope data as of 6.24.26. Top photo: King’s North from MyrtleBeachGolfTrips Instagram Account)
