In no particular order, here are the most scenic stretches along the Myrtle Beach golf scene:
— While these are in no particular order, we will start with one of the most famous trios in the Southeast, “Alligator Alley” at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club. Holes 11 through 13 begin with a par 4 that first brings the swash from the nearby Atlantic Ocean into play and concludes with “Waterloo,” the famed par 5 13th hole. Waterloo, a 90-degree dogleg right, has been ranked among the nation’s top 100 holes, and the par 3 12th (pictured above), which requires a carry over the tidal swash, isn’t to be forgotten.
— Play at Resort Course at Grande Dunes is highlighted by holes 13 through 15 (pictured right). The 14th – a par 3 that features an elevated tee box and a green that abuts the Intracoastal Waterway – is the course’s signature hole, but No. 15 is a par 4 along the Waterway as well. The overlooked hole is the 13th, a par 5 that requires you to carry water twice. It’s another beautiful challenge.
— The closing stretch at Glen Dornoch, which features the Intracoastal on all three holes, is as pretty as it is challenging. The par 4 16th often requires a harrowing approach from a downhill lie, the 17th is a great par 3 (love the railroad ties that flank the bunker to the right of the green), and No. 18 is a quirky par 4 with the Intracoastal looming every step of the way. Not everyone loves this stretch but it’s absolutely unforgettable.
— You had to know Pawleys Plantation would make the list and I love the three closing holes. The 16th is a daunting dogleg left par 4 that brings the tidal marsh back into play and it’s followed by the par 3 17th (pictured right), which requires a long carry over tidal waters. The 18th, a two-shotter that concludes on a green residing in the shadow of the clubhouse, is an idyllic finish.
— If Pawleys Plantation isn’t the Myrtle Beach area’s prettiest golf course, Tidewater is. With 9 holes that play along either Cherry Grove Inlet or the Intracoastal, Tidewater has an embarrassment of riches but my favorite stretch involves holes 12 through 14. Cherry Grove Inlet features prominently into the par 3 12th and No. 13, a par 5 that offers a distant view of the Atlantic Ocean. Don’t overlook No. 14, a long par 4 that features a large pond and a gargantuan green.
This list is hardly comprehensive but there are few three-hole stretches that can match the beauty of these five courses.