From the original to the new blood, South Carolina’s Grand Strand golfing Mecca can boast about its overall image because it never stopped growing.
Sure, it started with the 1927 opening of Pine Lakes Country Club. But not until the late 1980s did it all start to come into focus. Myrtle Beach meant golf, and it would continue to mean just that for decades to come.
We’ve seen some fantastic courses fall by the wayside, of course, and we’ve seen others age like fine wine. Yet, the havens of the state’s northeastern coastline may very well be the following six tracks. They steer in plenty of traffic and drive conversations for months after they’re played.
They are the Icons of Myrtle Beach golf.
PINE LAKES COUNTRY CLUB
When Robert White designed the layout at what was formerly known as Ocean Lakes Country Club, there’s no possible way he could have predicted the course staying open for a century. In only a few years time, that very thing will have happened. Yes, Pine Lakes has made some tweaks over the years – some bigger than others – but the layout itself is relatively similar giving the sort of time we’re talking about here. Pine Lakes serving as the home to the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame only bolsters its standing. The fact that there aren’t many long-time visitors who haven’t played this course isn’t a coincidence. (Pine Lakes Country Club top photo)
DUNES GOLF & BEACH CLUB
The Golf Capital of the World again got to call itself home to a professional golf tournament with the announcement and execution of the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic – won by then-24 year old Chris Gotterup. Dunes, though, didn’t need that PGA event to show just how much it means to the Grand Strand golf scene. Designed in sections by famed architect Robert Trent Jones, Dunes has meticulous grounds, a tough design and a demand that will never be matched by its suppliable tee times. That slightly but not yet completely out of touch mystique is only rivaled by the impression it leaves with those who play it.
MYRTLE BEACH NATIONAL KING’S NORTH
From the 1973 unveiling to the 1996 re-design to the recent renovations, Arnold Palmer’s crown jewel in Myrtle Beach is often inaccurately typecast by those who haven’t played it as “The Gambler” and 17 other holes. That couldn’t be further from the truth. From start to finish, King’s North is a carefully and well thought-out piece of golfing heaven. Players can take as many risks as they feel comfortable with, and scores can fall anywhere from the spectacular to the not so much. It’s a must-play for many who make their way to the Strand. (King’s North pictured right)
CALEDONIA FISH AND GOLF CLUB
Saying that an architectural rookie designed Caledonia isn’t really accurate. Prior to Caledonia opening in 1994, Mike Strantz had been the humble soldier for other projects attached to more established names. But given what Caledonia has given us and how uniquely beautiful it is, we get why some like to jump straight to his first solo project. This is a visual masterpiece that utilizes deep bunkers, tree cover, vast waste areas, marshes and a few well-incorporated ponds to make every inch of the property pop. It’s of little surprise that within five years of Caledonia opening that seven other area projects were green-lit. Rising tides, indeed.
PAWLEYS PLANTATION GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Thirty years after Jack Nicklaus designed Pawleys Plantation and the course opened for business, the track’s oft-mentioned architect returned. It was 2018, and the Myrtle Beach area was still reeling somewhat from recent storms and floods. In walked Nicklaus to plenty of media attention. He didn’t leave without conveying some ideas on how to make his old-yet-temporary stomping grounds even better. In 2023, the course underwent a massive renovation project that would complete the portions of the master plan that hadn’t already been completed. What is now prevalent is all the best parts of what Pawleys Plantation has to offer. (Pawleys Plantation Golf Club pictured right)
TPC MYRTLE BEACH
The TPC brand took on another location when the course opened on February 2, 1999 to absolutely rave reviews. By that point, the Myrtle Beach site was under contract to host the PGA Senior Tour Championships (now PGA Champions Tour). It hasn’t disappointed since. The challenging design is frequently used as the final round for competitive group trips, as the variables to the course and the difficulty surrounding them doesn’t allow for many freebies. Tom Fazio’s design was meant to make players earn it. Some 20-plus years later, visitors come here to test their skills and appreciate a version of the game seen fit for the pros.
(Photos for this feature from our Instagram Account @MyrtleBeachGolfTrips)
