The 8 Best Myrtle Beach Golf Courses Picked by A Top Player

The golf scene at Myrtle Beach is one of the best in America. Situated in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach is home to some of the best, most unique, and most challenging golf courses in the United States.

There are so many Myrtle Beach golf courses in the area that it can get overwhelming trying to choose which to play. This post will cover my picks of the best Myrtle Beach golf courses to play. From light courses that are inexpensive and fun to enjoy with friends to challenging tracks that will challenge even the best players, there’s sure to be something on this list for you!

What’s Myrtle Beach All About?

Myrtle Beach has long been a go-to vacation spot for generations of Americans. More than half of the country can drive to its 60 miles of beaches and other world-renowned attractions. Considered one of America’s golfing meccas, Myrtle Beach has more than 90 golf courses and 50 mini-golf courses, so you can play a round no matter your age and skill level.

There are also some unexpected things to do, like visiting Brookgreen Gardens. Founded in 1931, it’s a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places featuring an American sculpture collection and a Lowcountry Zoo.

Broadway At the Beach is considered South Carolina’s most visited attraction packed with entertainment, shopping, restaurants, and attractions. Don’t pass up its oversized gondola Ferris wheel 200 feet tall, and WonderWorks filled with 100 hands-on exhibits perfect for those beach-break days.

“One of my favorite family golf vacations was a road trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with my dad. We played some unique courses, and the weather in Myrtle Beach was incredible,” said Jeff Fang, a top player and Founder of Financial Pupil.

What to Know Before Playing Myrtle Beach Golf Courses

Before diving into the best Myrtle Beach golf courses, it’s important to note a few things to save yourself time and money.

If you’re traveling to town to play Myrtle Beach golf courses you should take a serious look at a golf package, especially if you’re not too specific about where you want to play. Rolling up to Myrtle Beach golf courses without a plan and then paying the standard green fees is a surefire way to pay more than double what you need for golf.

Secondly, visit Myrtle Beach outside of peak family travel season to save some serious money. Myrtle Beach is a top vacation spot and prices for golf, vacation rentals, and hotels go up with the travel demand. While Spring and Fall may not be prime time for family beach vacations, it’s a fantastic time to play Myrtle Beach Golf Courses. 

Finally, if you’re not a fan of slow golf, consider playing at private courses affiliated with hotels. These often offer stay-and-play packages, and you could save good money with their bundle packages.  Alternatively, you can try to ask to play in courses that don’t double tee.

The 10 Best Myrtle Beach Golf Courses

Here are some of the best golf courses in Myrtle Beach to enjoy while visiting. Each of them is designed with the landscape in mind, yet technically challenging and serving up stunning views. 

1. Eagle Nest Golf Club

Eagle Nest Golf Club is what you would expect from a top-tier South Carolina resort golf course with gently rolling terrain, tall pines lining up the fairways, and cypress trees growing out of the ponds.

Publicly opened in 1971, Eagle Nested has hosted hundreds of thousands of golfers since then and is home to a friendly staff, a well-stocked pro shop, and a full-service snack bar for your enjoyment.

Eagle Nest starts easy but saves its best holes for last. Golfers will enjoy a peaceful round of golf before encountering what many deem to be the most challenging three finishing holes in South Carolina. Be mentally prepared for the finale if you’re to visit Eagle Nest!

2. Myrtle Beach National

Offering up three spectacular courses, Myrtle Beach National has something for everyone to enjoy. The Kings North course features some of the most beautiful and picturesque holes you’ll ever encounter.

With tons of water present on the golf course, you’ll find yourself surprised by how often you need to play accurate shots on this course. One of the feature holes to watch out for is the final hole #18, with over forty bunkers to escort you to the finish line.

South Creek at Myrtle Beach National is the shortest of the three courses but requires tons of accuracy off the tee. Also, it is no walk in the park by any means. Arnold Palmer specifically designed this golf course to get you thinking on every shot and reward imaginative play.

Finally, rated 4.5 stars on Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” guide in 2010, the West Course is located in the middle of a Carolina pines forest and gives golfers an intense connection to nature. West Course offers golfers an authentic natural golf experience with no on-site housing.

3. Myrtlewood Golf Club

In the very heart of Myrtle Beach, Myrtlewood Golf Club has long been one of the area’s favorite golf facilities. Its recent renovation has elevated that status even further.

Set along the beautiful intercostal waterway, Myrtlewood cleverly uses the water to its advantage to create a truly modern golf experience. With a traditional design with gently sloping fairways, tons of hazards, and lots of bunkers, Myrtlewood’s Palmetto course consistently rates as one of the top repeat-play courses in the area.

If you’re ever in the area, visit this beautiful property. You won’t regret it!

4. Barefoot – Love Golf Course

For those that don’t know, Davis Love III is a Carolina native who has won over 20 events on the PGA Tour. In his latest design at Barefoot, he embraces the Lowcountry character and creates a golf course unlike any other in the surrounding area.

The Love course has open fairways and generous landing areas to provide a delightful round of golf. However, just because it’s an excellent course doesn’t mean that it isn’t visually striking.

Incorporating the ruins of an old plantation home at the Love course at Barefoot, you’ll find some holes that remind you of the famous Pinehurst #2, which has hosted more golf championships than any other golf course.

The Love course is par 72 and plays at over 7000 yards long. Providing a challenge for the good player, yet playability for the average player, the Love course is a great place to visit with friends to have a good time.

5. Pine Lakes Country Club

Founded in 1927, Pine Lakes is one of those classic Myrtle Beach golf courses. Nestled right in the heart of South Carolina, Pine Lakes symbolizes the tradition and history of South Carolina golf. Robert White initially designed Pine Lakes. Robert was also the first president of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA).

After a lengthy restoration, Pine Lakes has finally surpassed its initial glory and offers golfers a round of golf that they’re unlikely ever to forget. When playing Pine Lakes, the first words that will come to your mind are “graceful” and “elegant,” and that’s also likely how you’ll forever remember the course.

6. Tidewater Golf Club

Located right in between the Intracoastal Waterway and Cherry Grove Inlet, Tidewater Golf Club is a course that delivers unparalleled beauty and enjoyment for all those that play it. So it’s no surprise that it has been ranked as a top 100 public golf course in America.

With nine holes that play right alongside the water, Tidewater is a course that will have you thinking about it long after you’ve finished your round. Sitting high on a peninsula overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Tidewater was designed to host either a national championship or a Ryder Cup-like event.

With its classic design, Tidewater is a fantastic golf course for traditional golfers who take time to think about their next shots and practice course management effectively.

While Tidewater is beautiful, it’s not the prettiness that makes it unique. Tidewater is known around the community for having some of the best staff and customer service in the area, making the golfing experience a delightful one.

7. TPC Myrtle Beach

Designed by ruthless course architect Tom Fazio, TPC Myrtle Beach is right in the environmentally protected Lowcountry marshland. Here you’ll find tons of red oaks and towering pines that will make you feel like you’ve stepped foot on a golf course designed for a giant. Also, expect to see lots of wildlife, including potential turkey, fox, deer, and alligators that will wander around the course.

TPC Myrtle Beach has earned many awards throughout its lifetime, and for a good reason. There are tons of elevation changes that will keep you thinking. The course has putting greens that slope so much you need to read everything twice. The golf course also has tour-level bunkers that will trip up even the most seasoned players.

If you decide to visit TPC Myrtle Beach, expect to use every golf club in your bag and have your game challenged to the fullest.

8. Thistle Golf Club

Featuring 27 beautiful holes, Thistle Golf Club has the same name as an iconic golf course that used to exist in the home of golf: Scotland.

Sadly, the original golf course is no more. But the current Thistle Golf Club located in South Carolina is based on the one in Scotland and offers players a unique golfing experience that they’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the state. For starters, the clubhouse is uniquely Scottish and was designed to mimic that of a golf club that had grown over the years starting in 1800.

Here you’ll be able to experience the finest of country golf with an idyllic nature preserve, tons of wild flowers, wetlands, and scarce wildlife.

Which of These Myrtle Beach Golf Courses Will You Play?

Myrtle Beach is undoubtedly one of the best destinations to experience some fantastic golf while enjoying a long list of other vacation activities.

This post has covered some of the very best that Myrtle Beach offers in golf courses. Between the rolling hills, clever use of water, and towering trees, each course is unique in its own right and can provide for an enjoyable experience all by itself.

Package them together, and you get a South Carolina golfing experience that’s truly unlike any other.

This article was produced by Planner at Heart.