Myrtle Beach is known as the “Golf Capital of the World” for good reason. It has over 80 big golf courses across a 60-mile stretch of South Carolina coast called the Grand Strand. You’ll find historic classics and modern courses designed by famous golf legends. Whether this is your first trip to Myrtle Beach or you’re a regular visitor, these 12 amazing courses are the best of the best.
Grande Dunes Resort Club
Grande Dunes sits high above the Intracoastal Waterway, giving players both beautiful views and a fun challenge. Designer Roger Rulewich created this 7,618-yard course with wide fairways bordered by local grasses and well-placed sand traps that make you think about each shot.
The most famous hole is the par-3 14th, where you must hit your tee shot across the Intracoastal Waterway to a green that looks like it’s floating above the water. Seven holes play alongside the waterway, offering stunning views throughout your round.
What makes Grande Dunes special is how well it’s maintained. The bentgrass greens are smooth and fast, while the Bermuda fairways provide perfect playing surfaces all year. The Mediterranean-style clubhouse has a great pro shop and The Waterway Grille restaurant, where you can enjoy drinks and food on a porch overlooking the 18th hole.
Since it opened in 2001, Grande Dunes has won many awards, including being named one of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” by Golf Digest. With its beautiful scenery, challenging layout, and top-notch facilities, Grande Dunes Resort Club is a must-play for any golfer visiting Myrtle Beach.
Pine Lakes Country Club
No Myrtle Beach golf trip would be complete without playing Pine Lakes Country Club, nicknamed “The Granddaddy.” Opened in 1927 as Ocean Forest Country Club, Pine Lakes was Myrtle Beach’s first golf course and started the area’s growth into a world-famous golf destination.
Designed by Robert White, the first president of the PGA of America, Pine Lakes got a big update in 2009 that kept its classic design while modernizing its features. The course has rolling fairways lined with tall pine trees, strategic sand traps, and testing, well-guarded greens.
Pine Lakes offers more history than any other Myrtle Beach course. The stately colonial clubhouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, displays items that tell the story of both the course and the creation of Sports Illustrated magazine, which was planned during a meeting at Pine Lakes in 1954.
A special tradition awaits golfers at Pine Lakes: women dressed in old-fashioned clothes serve the club’s famous clam chowder at the halfway point of your round. This touch of Southern hospitality, along with the course’s historical importance and good playing conditions, makes Pine Lakes Country Club an essential stop on any Myrtle Beach golf trip.
Arrowhead Country Club
Designed by the popular team of Ray Floyd and Tom Jackson, Arrowhead Country Club stands out since of its unique 27-hole layout with three different nine-hole courses: The Lakes, The Cypress, and The Waterway. This setup lets you play three different 18-hole combinations, basically giving you three courses in one location.
What makes Arrowhead truly special is its natural setting along the Intracoastal Waterway. The course blends perfectly with the natural landscape, with holes winding through tall Carolina pine trees, around peaceful lakes, and alongside the waterway. The Cypress nine offers several spectacular holes that play along the water’s edge.
Arrowhead is every time one of the best-maintained courses in the area, with perfect MiniVerde Bermuda greens and lush fairways. The course design rewards accuracy more than distance, with water coming into play on 23 of the 27 holes. Well-placed sand traps and gentle hills add to the dare.
The course has won many awards, plus being named “South Carolina Course of the Year” multiple times. Located just minutes from Myrtle Beach International Airport, Arrowhead offers a complete practice area, golf carts with GPS, and a friendly clubhouse with a fully stocked pro shop and restaurant. For golfers looking for variety, excellent course conditions, and strategic challenges, Arrowhead Country Club is a must-play destination.
Kings North Golf Course
When famous course designer Arnold Palmer redesigned Kings North at Myrtle Beach National in 1996, he created what many consider his best work in the Myrtle Beach area. Kings North features several of the most special holes in all of Myrtle Beach golf, including the famous par-5 6th hole nicknamed “The Gambler.”
The Gambler gives players a risk-reward choice that shows Palmer’s bold design style: try a brave shot over water to an island fairway for a chance to reach the green in two shots, or take the safer route around the lake. This hole alone has earned Kings North a place on many golfers’ must-play lists.
Another standout is the par-3 12th hole, known as “SC,” where the sand traps are shaped to form the letters S and C. The par-4 18th is a dramatic finishing hole, with water running the entire left side and multiple sand traps guarding the right, forcing players to make precise shots under pressure.
Throughout the course, Palmer added creative mounds, strategic hazards, and wavy greens that require thoughtful approach shots. Despite these challenges, multiple tee options make Kings North playable for golfers of all skill levels.
The course has received many awards, plus being named among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” by Golf Digest and earning 4.5 stars in Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” guide. With its creative design, excellent conditions, and player-friendly facilities, Kings North Golf Course delivers a memorable experience that lives up to Arnold Palmer’s legacy.
Dunes Golf and Beach Club
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club is Myrtle Beach’s crown jewel and most prestigious golf course. plan by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1949, this private club (which visitors can access through select golf packages and certain hotel partnerships) represents the best of Myrtle Beach golf.
The course layout takes full advantage of its oceanfront location, with the front nine winding through tall pine forests before the back nine ventures toward the Atlantic Ocean and along the tidal marshes of the Singleton Swash. Jones’s masterful design incorporates natural elevation changes, strategic sand traps, and challenging green complexes that have tested generations of golfers, including participants in multiple major championships and PGA Tour events.
The signature hole is the par-5 13th, nicknamed “Waterloo,” where players must navigate a right-turning dogleg that wraps dramatically around Lake Singleton. This hole, considered one of the greatest par-5s in golf, offers risk-reward options with each shot presenting increasingly difficult challenges as players approach the well-protected green.
The Dunes Club has hosted many prestigious events, plus the U.S. Women’s Open, Senior PGA Championship, and multiple PGA Tour qualifying events. Its championship history, perfect conditions, and traditional golf atmosphere make getting a tee time at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club the ultimate achievement for serious golfers visiting Myrtle Beach.
Legends Golf & Resort
Legends Golf & Resort offers a unique all-inclusive golf experience with its three on-site championship courses: Heathland, Moorland, and Parkland. While each course deserves recognition, it’s the complete experience that makes Legends a must-visit destination for Myrtle Beach golf enthusiasts.
The Heathland Course, designed by Tom Doak, is move by the great links courses of England and Scotland. Wide fairways, strategic sand traps, and large, wavy greens create a traditional links feel rarely found in American golf. The open layout makes wind a significant factor, adding another challenge to your game.
P.B. Dye’s Moorland Course presents perhaps the toughest test at Legends, featuring dramatic elevation changes, deep bunkers, and waste areas that create intimidating tee shots. Golf Digest has accept Moorland as one of “America’s 50 Toughest Courses.”
The Parkland Course, designed by Larry Young, offers a more traditional American layout with tree-lined fairways, challenging water hazards, and well-protected greens. The course’s name reflects its style, which resembles the classic parkland designs of the early 20th century.
What makes Legends truly special is its all-inclusive packages, which typically include lodging, green fees, cart fees, breakfast, lunch, and drinks. The Scottish-inspired clubhouse serves as the central hub for all three courses, offering comprehensive practice facilities, a well-stocked pro shop, and authentic pub dining. For golfers seeking variety and value, Legends Golf & Resort delivers an experience that honors golf traditions while providing modern amenities.
Myrtle Beach National
Myrtle Beach National Golf Club features three distinct Arnold Palmer designs that together offer something for every golfer. While Kings North typically gets the most attention, the West Course and SouthCreek provide excellent complementary options that make Myrtle Beach National one of the area’s premier golf complexes.
The West Course delivers a classic Palmer experience with generous fairways framed by Carolina pines and strategic bunkering that rewards thoughtful play. Water comes into play on 10 holes, including the challenging par-4 9th, which features a green nestled against a picturesque lake. The West Course’s player-friendly design makes it accessible to golfers of all skill levels while still offering enough challenge to engage better players.
SouthCreek, the shortest of the three courses, emphasizes accuracy over distance with tree-lined fairways and water hazards on 11 holes. The course’s signature par-3 3rd hole requires a correct tee shot over water to a well-protected green. Despite measuring just 6,416 yards from the back tees, SouthCreek’s intricate design and strategic challenges make it a favorite among thinking golfers.
What sets Myrtle Beach National apart is the comprehensive space that serves all three courses. A large clubhouse houses a well-appointed pro shop and casual dining options, while extensive practice areas provide the perfect warm-up before your round. The convenient location, just west of Myrtle Beach off Highway 501, makes Myrtle Beach National an accessible option for golfers staying anywhere along the Grand Strand.
TPC Myrtle Beach
As the only course in the Myrtle Beach area to earn a 5-star rating from Golf Digest, TPC Myrtle Beach speak for the best of public golf on the Grand Strand. Designed by Tom Fazio with player consultant Lanny Wadkins, this Tournament Players Club opened in 1999 and immediately established itself as one of the most challenging and well-maintained courses in the region.
The course winds through natural wetlands and mature forests, creating a sense of isolation on each hole despite being just minutes from the Myrtle Beach coastline. Fazio’s design incorporates significant elevation changes unusual for coastal South Carolina, with several holes featuring dramatic rises and falls that add both challenge and visual interest.
TPC Myrtle Beach’s signature hole is the par-3 17th, which need a nerve-testing tee shot over water to a peninsula green surrounded by bunkers. The par-5 18th provides a fitting finale, offering long hitters the chance to reach the green in two but punishing bad shots with strategically placed hazards.
The course has championship history, having hosted the 2000 Senior Tour Championship won by Tom Watson and serving as the site of Dustin Johnson’s college home matches while he attended Coastal Carolina University. Today, it houses the Dustin Johnson Golf School, adding to its prestigious honor.
The TPC experience extends beyond the course itself, with tour-quality practice facilities, professional caddies available upon request, and a stately clubhouse featuring southern-inspired cuisine at its restaurant. For golfers seeking a PGA Tour-level challenge in Myrtle Beach, TPC Myrtle Beach delivers an unforgettable experience worthy of its distinguished TPC designation.
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
Built on a historic rice plantation, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club represents the late Mike Strantz’s first solo design and remains his masterpiece. Opening to universal acclaim in 1994, Caledonia combines artistic vision with strategic challenge to create what many consider the most beautiful golf experience in Myrtle Beach.
The entrance alone sets the tone for what’s to come, as a half-mile drive through a tunnel of 150-year-old live oak trees draped with Spanish moss leads to a southern-style clubhouse. This sense of Southern charm continues throughout the course, where Strantz seamlessly integrated the layout into the natural Lowcountry landscape.
Playing at just 6,526 yards from the back tees, Caledonia isn’t about overwhelming length but rather about strategic shot-making. The course features creative bunkering, contoured greens, and numerous risk-reward opportunities that reward thoughtful play over raw power. Ancient live oaks frame many holes, while others navigate alongside natural marshes and tidal creeks.
The par-4 18th provides one of golf’s most memorable finishing holes, requiring a precise approach over water to a green situated directly in front of the clubhouse porch, where other golfers often gather to watch incoming groups finish their rounds.
Beyond the exceptional golf, Caledonia’s commitment to Southern hospitality shines through in details like the famous chowder served at the turn and the rocking-chair-lined porch overlooking the 18th green. The combination of artistic design, pristine conditioning, and authentic Lowcountry ambiance makes Caledonia Golf & Fish Club an essential stop on any Myrtle Beach golf trip.
Read This: Difference between 9 and 10-5 drive
Tidewater Golf Club
Often described as “the Pebble Beach of the East,” Tidewater Golf Club offers perhaps the most dramatic natural setting of any course in Myrtle Beach. Designed by Ken Tomlinson, Tidewater opened in 1990 and immediately gained fame for its spectacular layout along the Intracoastal Waterway and Cherry Grove Inlet.
Nine holes play right along either Cherry Grove or the Intracoastal Waterway, creating stunning views rarely matched in East Coast golf. The signature hole is the par-3 3rd, which requires a carry over marshy waters to a green perched on a bluff overlooking the inlet, with the Atlantic Ocean visible in the distance. The par-5 13th offers another breathtaking moment, with the tee shot played from an elevated position providing panoramic views of the inlet and ocean beyond.
While the views might be the initial draw, Tidewater’s architectural merits stand on their own. The course features significant elevation changes unusual for coastal South Carolina, along with undulating fairways, strategic bunkering, and challenging green complexes. Multiple sets of tees make the course accessible to golfers of varying abilities, though the forced carries and water hazards demand accuracy from all players.
Tidewater has received numerous awards throughout its history, including being ranked among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” by Golf Digest and receiving 4.5 stars in Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” guide. With its combination of natural beauty, challenging design, and immaculate conditioning, Tidewater Golf Club provides a truly memorable golfing experience that justifies its reputation as one of Myrtle Beach’s premier destinations.
Arcadian Shores Golf Club
Opened in 1974, Arcadian Shores Golf Club represents one of Rees Jones’s first signature plan and helped establish his reputation as the “Open Doctor” for his skill in preparing courses for major championships. Following an extensive renovation in 2017-2018, Arcadian Shores has reclaimed its position among Myrtle Beach’s must-play venues.
The course features Jones’s trademark challenging green complexes, with subtle contours and strategic bunkering that demand precision on approach shots. Water comes into play on 13 holes, creating both visual interest and strategic challenges throughout the round. The par-3 2nd hole exemplifies Jones’s design philosophy, requiring a carry over water to a well-protected, undulating green.
What sets Arcadian Shores apart is how it balances challenge with playability. Multiple tee options accommodate golfers of various skill levels, while the generous fairways provide some forgiveness off the tee before the demands increase on approach shots. The course’s tree-lined corridors create a sense of isolation on each hole despite the nearby coastal development.
The 2017-2018 renovation included new TifEagle Bermuda greens, upgraded bunkers, cart path improvements, and a completely new clubhouse with modern amenities. These improvements have restored Arcadian Shores to the premier condition that initially earned it recognition as one of the Grand Strand’s top courses.
Located just minutes from Restaurant Row and other Myrtle Beach attractions, Arcadian Shores offers a convenient option for visitors staying in the heart of Myrtle Beach. For golfers seeking a classic Rees Jones plan with modern amenities and excellent conditioning, Arcadian Shores Golf Club delivers a memorable experience that honors its architectural pedigree.
Read More: Golf ball compression chart
Barefoot – Love Golf Course
Rounding out our list of must-play Myrtle Beach courses is the Love Course at Barefoot Resort,sketch by homegrown Carolina legend Davis Love III. Opening in 2000 as part of Barefoot’s ambitious four-course development, the Love Course quickly established itself as one of the Grand Strand’s premier golf experiences.
What makes the Love Course special is its unique tribute to traditional Carolina architecture. Love incorporated design elements reminiscent of classic Southeastern courses, including recreations of old-style brick ruins and an abandoned plantation home that frame several holes on the front nine. These architectural features create not only visual interest but strategic challenges that require careful navigation.
The course quality generous fairways lined with waste bunkers filled with native grasses and wire-cut brick, creating a rustic look that difference beautifully with the well-maintained playing surfaces. Greens featuring Champion UltraDwarf Bermuda grass provide consistent, true rolling surfaces that test players’ putting skills.
The par-4 4th hole exemplifies Love’s creative design, featuring green-side ruins that create both a visual backdrop and a strategic hazard. The par-5 13th offers a risk-reward opportunity for long hitters while challenging all players with its strategic bunkering and undulating green.
As part of Barefoot Resort, the Love Course benefits from first-class amenities, including an expansive practice facility with multiple short game areas and a 35,000-square-foot clubhouse shared with the resort’s other courses. The Love Course has received numerous accolades, including being ranked among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” by Golf Digest.
Planning Your Myrtle Beach Golf Bucket List Adventure
With over 80 courses along the Grand Strand, planning a Myrtle Beach golf trip can seem overwhelming. Here are some practical tips to help you make the most of your bucket list golf adventure:
Best Times to Visit: Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) offer ideal golfing conditions with moderate temperatures and courses in peak condition. These seasons are also the busiest for golf, so book well in advance. Summer provides more affordable rates but expect afternoon thunderstorms and higher humidity. Winter golf can offer great deals, though coastal courses may face wind challenges.
Package Deals: Many golf travel agencies specialize in Myrtle Beach packages that often include accommodations, tee times, and sometimes meals at significant savings compared to booking everything separately.
Logistics: Consider course locations when scheduling multiple rounds. The Grand Strand stretches over 60 miles, so playing courses in the same general area on the same day saves travel time.
Accommodations: Options range from golf resorts with on-site courses to oceanfront condos and hotels. Many offer stay-and-play packages with preferred access to certain courses.
Beyond Golf: Myrtle Beach offers abundant dining options, from fresh seafood restaurants to steakhouses perfect for post-round celebrations. The area also features numerous entertainment venues, shopping centers, and, of course, miles of beautiful beaches for non-golfing activities.
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer golf vacation, these 12 exceptional courses represent the very best of what Myrtle Beach has to offer. Each provides a unique experience that combines challenging play, scenic beauty, and the warm hospitality for which South Carolina’s Grand Strand is known. From historic Pine Lakes to the modern challenge of TPC Myrtle Beach, from the artistic brilliance of Caledonia to the dramatic coastal views of Tidewater, these courses deserve a place on every golfer’s bucket list.