Golf has boomed in popularity in recent years, which means there are a lot of new players looking to take their first trip to Myrtle Beach.
If you are among the newbies, here is a beginners guide to planning an unforgettable Myrtle Beach golf vacation.
Get to know the Grand Strand
If you’ve never been, you might be surprised to find out that the area many generally refer to as Myrtle Beach is a 60-mile stretch of coastline that begins in Pawleys Island and extends across the state line into Brunswick County, N.C. Prepping for a golf trip is part of the fun, so spend time researching what each area of the Grand Strand – north, south, central – offers your group. To help jump start the effort, here is a brief overview of each area.
Central Strand – This refers to Myrtle Beach proper and it’s the heartbeat of the destination, providing easy access to great golf (Grande Dunes, King’s North, Pine Lakes (top photo) and good times off the course.
South Strand – Starting in Murrells Inlet and extending through Pawleys Island, the South Strand is renowned for its more casual pace and memorable courses, highlighted by TPC Myrtle Beach, Caledonia, Pawleys Plantation and True Blue.
North Strand – With North Myrtle Beach as its epic center, this area offers the best of both worlds with a surplus of golf (Long Bay, Barefoot Resort, Tidewater, River Hills), a lot of nightlife, and the calm of Brunswick County. (Long Bay pictured right)
Pick a must-play course
The Grand Strand is famously home to nearly 90 golf courses, designed by the likes of Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, Mike Strantz and Tom Fazio, among many others. While the numbers can seem overwhelming, try to identify a course you really want to play and build your trip around it. You are coming to the coast to play golf, so make sure you enjoy some of that scenery. The memories will stay with you long after the return home.
Good times keep rolling
The good times in Myrtle Beach don’t end on the 18th hole. The area’s restaurant scene is chock full of locally owned establishments serving everything from fresh seafood to prime steaks. Check them out.
If you want to enjoy a couple cold pops and watch the game, there is no shortage of sports bars and nightclubs, and you always have the option to go to PopStroke or Topgolf. You are coming for the golf, but the experience is certainly complemented by the good times off the course.
Do drive times matter?
Pay attention to where the courses you are playing are in proximity to your accommodations. Most people don’t mind driving an extra 10 minutes to play a particular course, but make sure your group knows what to expect before arriving.
You should have a new friend
This might be the most important tip, especially for newbies: your golf package provider (the person you book your trip through) should be more than someone on the other side of an email. These men and women are your eyes and ears on the ground here in Myrtle Beach. They play the courses, eat at local restaurants, and they want you to have the best experience possible, especially the crack team at MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com. Lean on them. Ask questions. Your trip will be better for it.
Booking a golf vacation is part of the fun, and that’s certainly the case in a destination with as much to offer as Myrtle Beach. It’s time to do your homework and start prepping for your first (of hopefully many) trips.
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Photos for this feature from our Instagram Account @MyrtleBeachGolfTrips
