Golf never misses a chance to pay homage to its rich history. The game’s first course – St. Andrews – remains its most revered and its earliest architects continue to be venerated for their work.

Myrtle Beach’s past isn’t measured in centuries, but that doesn’t mean the area lacks history. The area’s five oldest courses – in addition to their role as building blocks for the destination’s growth – remain among the Grand Strand’s most popular tee times.

Here are Myrtle Beach’s five Golden Oldies:

— Pine Lakes  Country Club (1927) was the first course to welcome golfers to Myrtle Beach. Designed by Robert White, the inaugural president of the PGA of America and a resident of St. Andrews, Scotland, the layout attracted immediate attention and continues to rank among the area’s most sought-after tee times. If you’ve never played Pine Lakes (pictured above), you have to add it to the list.

— Despite the early popularity of Pine Lakes, two decades passed before the opening of Myrtle Beach’s second course, Dunes Golf & Beach Club (1948), but it was worth the wait. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. design received immediate national acclaim and continues to be ranked among America’s top 100 public courses by Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golfweek. The Dunes Club was the early driver of Myrtle Beach’s rise from sleepy beach town to international golf destination.

— The George Cobb designed Surf Club (1960) has vacillated between being a private and semi-private facility, providing it a relatively low profile. If the opportunity to tee it up on the North Myrtle Beach layout arises, take advantage of it. The gently rolling terrain and Cobb’s design work form the backbone of an enjoyable round of golf.

— Municipally owned Whispering Pines (1962) is most known as the course located adjacent to Myrtle Beach International Airport, making it the first thing people see when they hit the ground. Whispering Pines is a good time, especially if you want to go from the tarmac to the tee.

— Golfers have flocked to the PineHills Course (1966) at Myrtlewood since its opening, which helped kickstart the area’s boom. Following a 2018 greens and bunker renovation project, PineHills  (pictured right) continues to be as popular as ever, delighting players with a playable layout, outstanding conditions, and value price.