Myrtle Beach is a famously public golf destination, largely devoid of the pretension that accompanies upper crust private courses. We welcome players at every level of the game with open arms, and here are the area’s five best entirely public courses to play in 2022, based on a survey of area PGA professionals.
(Please note the reference to “entirely public,” which means the Dunes Club, a semi-private facility, will not appear on this list.)
1. Whether it’s PGA professionals, golf course raters, or the general public voting, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club (pictured right) is a consensus No. 1 among Myrtle Beach’s favorite golf
courses. Mike Strantz’s first solo design – which fits snugly on a 120-acre property – plays through a beautiful piece of lowcountry land. The course is equal parts art and architecture and players love it.
2. The beauty of Tidewater Golf Club is at the heart of the layout’s popularity. With nine holes that play along Cherry Grove Inlet or the Intracoastal Waterway, Tidewater’s visuals are as good as any at the beach. Hole No. 4, a gentle dogleg left that plays along Cherry Grove, is arguably the area’s best par 4. Players don’t forget a round at Tidewater.
3. Located in the heart of town, the Resort Course at Grande Dunes is also on the short list of the area’s best, highlighted by the stunning par 3 14th hole. Playing from an elevated tee box to a green that runs along the Intracoastal, the hole is impossibly dramatic. The Roger Rulewich design is home to five holes that play along the Waterway but the layout, featuring wide fairways and generous greens, is outstanding throughout.
4. Prestwick Country Club (pictured right) has always been regarded as one of Myrtle Beach’s hidden gems, but it’s hard to call a course ranked this high underrated. The P.B. Dye
design presents a demanding test of golf, but it’s fun and fair throughout. In particular, the back nine is a treat to a play. Prestwick is an unforgettable track that delivers value as well.
5. When a course carries the TPC brand name and it was Dustin Johnson’s home course, you know you are looking at a strong layout. TPC Myrtle Beach, a Tom Fazio-Lanny Wadkins design, certainly lives up to expectations. Playing through pine tree-lined fairways, the challenge builds throughout the day, reaching a crescendo on the par 3 17th, which features a peninsula green, and the reachable, yet risky, par 5 18th hole. (top photo TPC Myrtle Beach 7th hole)
Those are Myrtle Beach’s five best public courses, according to the experts. Which courses are in your top 5?
