Myrtle Beach / South Carolina

The take

Myrtle Beach is the Grand Strand golf machine: 60 miles of coastline, more courses than any sane trip can play, package infrastructure everywhere, and a quality spread that runs from legitimately excellent to "why did we wake up early for this?" The trick is not finding golf. The trick is avoiding filler.

The serious version starts with Dunes Golf & Beach Club, Caledonia, True Blue, Tidewater, the right Barefoot courses, and TPC Myrtle or Pawleys Plantation depending on geography. The wrong version chases four cheap rounds, ignores north/south drive times, and lets a package pick the trip because nobody wanted to do the homework.

Read the full take

Myrtle is still valuable because it can handle large groups, mixed budgets, and high round counts better than almost anywhere. Caledonia and True Blue give it genuine architecture credibility, Dunes Club gives it history, and the rest of the right list gives it depth. Just do not confuse volume with curation. That is how golf trips become spreadsheets with sunburn.

Best version

Large buddy trips, Value-conscious groups, High round-count itineraries, Mixed-skill groups, Golfers who want package simplicity, Groups that care more about total golf than luxury polish

Skip if

Luxury-only travelers
Architecture purists who only want elite courses
Groups that hate driving between course clusters
Players who will blindly book the cheapest package

Insider notes

Large buddy trips
Value-conscious groups
High round-count itineraries
Mixed-skill groups
Golfers who want package simplicity
Groups that care more about total golf than luxury polish

The courses

10 core rounds. Scan first, then click into the course detail when you want the full read.

Full destination course detailsExpand this section for the deeper course reads, then click again to hide it.Expand

#79GD Public

4.7(622)

9000 N Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572, USA

(843) 449-5236

Must play

Dunes Golf & Beach Club

Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Year: 1948
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,370
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Premium Myrtle public/resort access; verify current guest and package rates.

Dunes Club is the course that gives a Myrtle trip credibility. RTJ Sr. built the market's classic anchor, and the "Alligator Alley" stretch around Lake Singleton is still the Grand Strand's most serious old-school test. If the group wants one old-school anchor with real history, start here.

Strengths

Classic RTJ pedigree
Strong routing
History
Trip credibility

Weaknesses

Premium by Myrtle standards
Less convenient for some lodging bases
Not always easy package filler

Must play

0/5

Signature holes: 9, 11, 13, 18

4.5(949)

369 Caledonia Dr, Pawleys Island, SC 29585, USA

(843) 237-3675

Must play

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

Designer: Mike Strantz
Year: 1994
Par: 70
Yardage: 6,526
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Premium daily-fee/package rate; verify current pricing.

Caledonia is mandatory for a curated Myrtle trip. Strantz's former plantation routing, live-oak entrance, and veranda-over-18 finish give it more soul than almost anything in the market. It has charm, architecture, and enough bite to matter. It is also proof that Myrtle can be much better than its package-golf reputation.

Strengths

Lowcountry atmosphere
Mike Strantz strategy
Beautiful oak-lined setting
Essential Pawleys identity

Weaknesses

Shorter than modern trophy courses
Premium demand
Not convenient from North Myrtle

Must play

0/5

Signature holes: 6, 9, 17, 18

4.4(652)

900 Blue Stem Dr, Pawleys Island, SC 29585, USA

(843) 235-0900

Must play

True Blue

Designer: Mike Strantz
Year: 1998
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,126
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Premium daily-fee/package rate; verify current pricing.

True Blue is the louder sibling. Caledonia is charm; True Blue is swing-space, sand, big greens, and Strantz drama. Play both if the group cares about good golf.

Strengths

Big Strantz scale
Great companion to Caledonia
Match-play energy
Wider and bolder than it first appears

Weaknesses

Less intimate than Caledonia
Can scare casual players
South-end logistics if staying north

Must play

0/5

Signature holes: 3, 7, 12, 18

4.5(978)

1400 Tidewater Dr, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

(843) 913-2424

Strong play

Tidewater Golf Club

Designer: Ken Tomlinson
Year: 1990
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,078
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Premium seasonal public/package rate; verify current pricing.

Tidewater is the north-end course that deserves respect. It is not just another package stop.

Strengths

Marsh and waterway scenery
Legitimate north-end anchor
Memorable setting
Strong package upgrade

Weaknesses

Can be pricey
Conditions/pace matter
Route can conflict with south-end anchors

Strong play

0/5

Signature holes: 3, 12, 13, 18

4.5(573)

2600 Pete Dye Dr, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

(866) 587-3578

Strong play

Barefoot Dye

Designer: Pete Dye
Year: 2000
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,343
Difficulty: High
Green fees: Barefoot premium package/public rate; verify current pricing.

The Dye is the hard one at Barefoot. Put it in if the group wants a test. Skip it if half the group is already negotiating breakfast beers.

Strengths

Strongest Barefoot test
Pete Dye identity
Good for better players
Adds edge to resort-heavy trips

Weaknesses

Can frustrate casual players
Less charming than Love
Not the softest group fit

Strong play

0/5

Signature holes: 9, 12, 16, 18

4.4(131)

4980 Barefoot Resort Bridge Rd, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

(843) 390-3200

Strong play

Barefoot Love

Designer: Davis Love III
Year: 2000
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,047
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Barefoot package/public rate; verify current pricing.

Love is the Barefoot course most groups should like. It has enough character without turning the day into an argument with Pete Dye.

Strengths

Most charming Barefoot course
Ruins/visual character
Playable
Fun/substance balance

Weaknesses

Less stern
Resort setting can feel busy
Not as famous as the top Pawleys courses

Strong play

0/5

Signature holes: 4, 7, 13, 18

4.4(957)

4980 Barefoot Resort Bridge Rd, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

(877) 585-9357

Strong play

Barefoot Fazio

Designer: Tom Fazio
Year: 2000
Par: 71
Yardage: 6,834
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Barefoot package/public rate; verify current pricing.

Fazio is solid. That sounds boring until you are planning for 12 guys with different handicaps. Solid has value.

Strengths

Reliable resort polish
Fazio shaping
Middle-of-rotation fit
Good mixed-group playability

Weaknesses

Good-not-great feel
Limited must-play pull
Can blur into package depth

Strong supporting play

0/5

Signature holes: 5, 13, 16, 18

4.2(67)

4980 Barefoot Resort Bridge Rd, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

(832) 778-0028

Strong play

Barefoot Norman

Designer: Greg Norman
Year: 2000
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,035
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Barefoot package/public rate; verify current pricing.

Norman is useful if the group is staying at Barefoot and wants volume. It should not knock out the better anchors.

Strengths

Marsh/waterway feel
Playable resort round
Useful if staying Barefoot

Weaknesses

Weakest Barefoot priority for many groups
Less architectural bite
Depth role

Depth play

0/5

Signature holes: 6, 10, 17, 18

4.4(811)

1199 TPC Blvd, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576, USA

(843) 357-3399

Strong play

TPC Myrtle Beach

Designer: Tom Fazio and Lanny Wadkins
Year: 1999
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,950
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Premium package/public rate; verify current pricing.

TPC Myrtle is a good test and a useful premium support course. It is not the trip's soul. That job belongs to Caledonia and the Dunes Club.

Strengths

Tournament-brand credibility
Strong Fazio test
Good south-end support
Useful for better players

Weaknesses

Can be slotted too high
Location matters
Less atmosphere than Caledonia

Strong play

0/5

Signature holes: 9, 13, 17, 18

Pawleys Plantation, SC 29585, USA

Google Maps

Strong play

Pawleys Plantation

Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Year: 1988
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,031
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Public/package rate; verify current pricing after renovation work.

Pawleys Plantation is a good route-fit course, especially after improvements. It belongs when the trip is already south-end heavy.

Strengths

Nicklaus design
Pawleys-area support
Improved product
Useful south-end depth

Weaknesses

Not Caledonia/True Blue level
Can be hard for casual players
Depth play unless staying nearby

Strong supporting play

0/5

Signature holes: 13, 17, 18

Full course library

Where to stay, eat, and stray

Lodging

Where to stay

Barefoot Resort Golf Villas / Yacht Club Villas

The cleanest North Strand golf base. It solves the actual problem: beds, golf access, and fewer dumb drives.

Marina Inn at Grande Dunes

This is the polished hotel answer if the group wants a nicer Myrtle experience without going full beach-house chaos.

Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes

Better for a lifestyle Myrtle trip than a hard-core buddies sprint.

Dining

Where groups actually eat

Sea Captain's House

Classic Myrtle Beach restaurant play. Not edgy. Not hidden. Useful because it gives the group seafood, ocean view, and a sense of place without culinary gymnastics.

Hook & Barrel

Good when the group wants a better dinner than fried-everything without going formal.

Chive Blossom

If the trip is south-end heavy, this belongs on the list.

Things to do

Beyond the golf

Beach time

Obvious, useful, and good for mixed groups. Build it into the schedule if the group is not playing 36 every day.

Brookgreen Gardens / Huntington Beach State Park

The best actual culture/nature add-on on the Grand Strand. Use it for mixed groups, recovery afternoons, or anyone who needs proof Myrtle is not only mini-golf and neon.

Murrells Inlet MarshWalk

Good for south-end groups who want drinks and casual nightlife without heading back to central Myrtle.

Planning mechanics

Logistics

Flights, driving, walking

Flights

Myrtle Beach International (MYR): easiest commercial option and closest to the central Grand Strand. Wilmington (ILM): useful backup for North Strand / North Carolina-side routing. Charleston (CHS): possible for Pawleys / south-end trips, but a longer drive. Grand Strand Airport (CRE): private aviation option in North Myrtle Beach. MYR is the cleanest answer when flight options work. If fares or schedules are ugly, check ILM for north-end trips and CHS only if the trip is already leaning Pawleys/Georgetown.

Ground transportation

Rent cars or book group transportation. Myrtle is not one compact resort. Splitting north and south courses without transportation discipline is how the trip captain ages five years in four days.

Weather

When the trip works best

Best window

March-May and September-November

Summer reality

Hot, humid, storm risk, crowded beach season

Winter

Playable, cheaper, but not always warm

Planning ranges

Cost and value levers

Premium anchors

Mid-high to high - Dunes Club, Caledonia, True Blue, Tidewater, and Barefoot Dye/Love drive the quality.

Package depth

Low to mid-high - Myrtle can be great value if curated carefully.

Lodging

Flexible - Villas/houses can make large groups economical.

Itinerary builder

Build your itinerary

The sample on the right is an illustrative Streamsong example.

It is meant to show the depth and shape of a real plan. Build your own around your group, dates, rounds, lodging, dining, and travel timing.

Build my itinerary

Illustrative sample output

Streamsong in 3 Days: 4 Rounds, Mixed Group

3 nights at Streamsong Lodge covering all 3 courses plus a repeat of whichever lands best with the group. With a mixed-skill group and a social thread running through the trip, the sequencing matters: start approachable, build toward bold, and protect evenings for the group to decompress together.

Recommendation

Start with Red to set the right tone for mixed players, not Black. Black's scale can deflate weaker players early and that poisons the rest of the trip.

Day 1

Morning: Arrive, check in to Streamsong Lodge, and get settled without rushing. Arrival timing is unknown, so do not force a same-day round.

Afternoon: If arriving early-to-midday, use the practice facilities to shake off travel; skip forcing an afternoon round on an unknown schedule.

Evening: Make this the nicer dinner night. Gather the group, debrief the plan, and use the evening to build energy for the heavy golf days ahead.

Insider note: Day 1 is the setup day, not a golf day. Burning a round here on travel legs is the most common mistake groups make at Streamsong.

Day 2

Morning: Tee off on Streamsong Red first thing. It is the most balanced course and the right anchor for a mixed-skill group on fresh legs.

Afternoon: Afternoon round on Streamsong Blue. It is more open and wind-affected, which rewards better players while staying manageable enough for the group.

Evening: Keep dinner casual and on property. Two rounds is a full day and the group needs to recover, not power through a production.

Insider note: Red in the morning lets the group settle in before Blue asks harder questions in the afternoon wind.

Day 3

Morning: Play Streamsong Black. Use it as the bold contrast round the guide describes, not as the centerpiece, and set expectations accordingly for higher-handicap players.

Afternoon: Replay the course that resonated most with the group. Red is the likely call for mixed groups, Blue for stronger players who want another look.

Evening: Final evening on property. Keep it relaxed since departure timing is unknown and no one should be grinding through dinner logistics.

Insider note: Black is the experience round, not the best round. Frame it that way for the group before the first tee so no one is quietly disappointed by the rougher edges.

Tradeoffs

Four rounds in two full golf days is aggressive but workable at a comfortable pace. The plan keeps Day 1 golf-free to protect legs and group cohesion rather than chasing a fifth round nobody would enjoy.

Black is scheduled for Day 3 morning rather than being skipped. It adds useful contrast and a memorable moment, but it was deliberately placed after the group already has two courses under its belt rather than as an opener.

The nicer dinner was placed on Day 1 rather than a golf day. This protects energy on the days that matter and gives the group something to build toward without splitting a long golf day around a formal meal.

Book first

Book all four tee times at Streamsong before lodging fills. The property manages its own tee sheet and availability tightens fast in peak season.

Confirm Streamsong Lodge rooms for all three nights in a single block. A small group of 3-4 makes this manageable, but winter weekends can still book out early.

Arrange caddies for at least Red and Blue if the group is open to walking. First-time looks benefit significantly from local knowledge on both courses.

Watchouts

Two rounds on Day 2 is the heaviest ask of the trip. If anyone in the mixed group is a high-handicapper or infrequent player, build in flexibility to skip the afternoon Blue round rather than grinding through it.

Streamsong is genuinely remote and there is no nightlife option off property. Groups expecting energy beyond the lodge bar will be disappointed, and that expectation gap kills trip morale faster than a bad round.

Black's scale and difficulty can frustrate less experienced players, especially after already playing 36 holes the day before. If the group's weakest player struggled on Day 2, consider swapping Black for a Red replay.

LodgingExpand

Pick the lodging base around the courses, not the cheapest room block. Myrtle Beach is long, spread out, and weirdly easy to make annoying. A Pawleys-heavy tee sheet should not sleep in North Myrtle. A Barefoot/Tidewater trip should not pretend Pawleys is next door.

Golf villas / stay-and-play base

Barefoot Resort Golf Villas / Yacht Club Villas

0/5

Best for: Barefoot, Tidewater, and North Strand trips

Cost: Seasonal package/villa pricing; larger villas can be good group value.

3.9(38)

2151 Bridge View Ct, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

The cleanest North Strand golf base. It solves the actual problem: beds, golf access, and fewer dumb drives.

Pros

Best for Barefoot access, villa format, North Myrtle dining/nightlife, package-friendly

Cons

Villas vary, not ideal for Pawleys-heavy itineraries, practical more than premium

Upscale hotel / golf-package base

Marina Inn at Grande Dunes

0/5

Best for: Central-to-north trips, smaller premium groups, couples

Cost: Premium hotel pricing by Myrtle standards.

4.5(2,317)(866) 437-4113

8121 Amalfi Pl, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572, USA

This is the polished hotel answer if the group wants a nicer Myrtle experience without going full beach-house chaos.

Pros

More upscale feel, suites, central/north location, good for mixed golf-and-spouse trips

Cons

Less group-house energy, not ideal for Pawleys-only routing

Beach resort

Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes

0/5

Best for: Couples, mixed groups, nicer beach-resort trips

Cost: Premium beachfront resort pricing.

4.5(3,261)(843) 449-8880

8400 Costa Verde Dr, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572, USA

Better for a lifestyle Myrtle trip than a hard-core buddies sprint.

Pros

Beachfront amenities, spa/pool, brand consistency, good for non-golfers

Cons

Not a golf-compound setup, higher price, group logistics require driving

Pawleys / Litchfield resort and rentals

Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort

0/5

Best for: Caledonia, True Blue, Pawleys Plantation, TPC Myrtle, south-end trips

Cost: Seasonal resort/rental pricing.

3.9(2,369)(888) 734-8228

14276 Ocean Hwy, Pawleys Island, SC 29585, USA

Monday: Open 24 hours

The smart base when the trip is really a Pawleys Island golf trip.

Pros

Better geography for the best south-end courses, rental options, quieter Lowcountry feel

Cons

Farther from North Myrtle nightlife and Barefoot/Tidewater

Course-community condo rental

True Blue / Pawleys golf condos

0/5

Best for: Caledonia / True Blue-first groups

Cost: Unit-specific rental pricing; quality varies materially.

4.7(26)

1041 Blue Stem Dr, Pawleys Island, SC 29585, USA

Google Maps

This is the sharp golf-first move for foursomes and sixsomes who care more about Caledonia/True Blue access than lobby polish. Inspect the actual unit, not just the community name.

Pros

Best geography for the Strantz courses, kitchens/common space, strong group value

Cons

Owner-managed quality variance, no hotel service, not a luxury resort

Practical hotel

Hampton Inn Pawleys Island

0/5

Best for: budget-conscious south-end groups

Cost: variable chain-hotel pricing; verify direct

4.3(663)(843) 235-2000

150 Willbrook Blvd, Pawleys Island, SC 29585, USA

Not romantic. Very useful. Myrtle Beach rewards useful more often than people admit.

Pros

reliable, well located for Pawleys courses, lower cost

Cons

not memorable, no resort energy

Group rental

0/5

Best for: Barefoot-based groups

4.6(4,081)(843) 936-4017

4846 Hwy 17 S Unit 60, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, USA

Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM