How to Plan Your Next Golf Vacation in Myrtle Beach

 By Ross Barnes

As one of the premier golf destinations in US, Myrtle Beach is no stranger to world class links. Designed by some of the leading names including Palmer, Greg Norman, and Nicklaus, the golf courses along Grand Strand have earned recognition from leading magazines and professionals.

But does it mean courses in Myrtle Beach are too challenging for amateur golfing enthusiasts or beginners? Happily, the answer is far from it. The fact is, an overwhelming majority of vacationers in Myrtle Beach are either beginners or amateur golfing enthusiasts. And as a result, a lot of golf courses along the Grand Strand are designed specifically for amateurs and novices.

Choosing golf packages in Myrtle Beach

While most of the golf courses in Myrtle beach have their own websites where you can book individual rounds on a la carte basis, it is always much more convenient and affordable to have them arranged through their partner hotels, resorts and other lodging sites. Many of these golf courses provide their own on-site lodging facilities which can further enhance your golf vacation experience. If you are travelling in a group, or you plan to do a lot of golfing, such deals would result in substantial savings.

Golfing destinations for amateurs in Myrtle Beach

1. Whispering Pines Golf Course: Located on S Kings Highway, Whispering Pines Golf Course is a short drive away from the city airport. This 18 hole course offers a range of facilities to amateur golfers who want to sharpen their game for stiffer challenges ahead. No matter what your skill level, you can enjoy this course and avail of several classes with experts, or have your own private lessons. The golf course, with some truly dramatic settings, also has a golf school for people who want in depth tutoring.

2. Island Green Country Club: This pristine golf course, located on Sunnehanna Drive, is surrounded by water bodies with its farthest end shaped in the form of an island. The course itself is gentle and well suited to individuals of little to moderate experience. For people who want a little assistance with their game, the course provides help with a teaching pro. You can also hone your game in the separate chipping area, driving range and putting green.

3. Heron Point Golf Club: Located on Blue Heron Boulevard, the Heron Point Golf Club presents a picturesque setting with beautiful pine forests and excellent bird watching opportunities. The action on the greens is just as engaging, as the course challenges beginners with its moderately difficult layout. In terms of facilities, the course is geared towards providing beginners and amateurs all the possible assistance to sharpen and take their game to the next level. Group and private lessons, training modules, and video analysis are just some of the facilities made available to players.

Golf courses for advanced players in Myrtle beach

1. Tiger’s Eye at Ocean Ridge Plantation: Opened in year 2000, Tiger’s Eye has consistently been rated as one of the finest jewels of Myrtle Beach. This 18 hole golf course with 144 slopes, combines stunning scenery and challenging fairways. While it is hard not to get lost in the stunning setting of this course, the challenging holes on this course challenge the very best and require you put your thinking cap on and plan ahead.

2. Thistle Golf Club: Like Tiger’s Eye, Thistle Golf Club is also a Tim Cate design, offering his signature wide fairways with bermuda greens. The course has earned itself a 4 star on Golf Digest’s ‘places to play’ and it is not hard to figure out why. Combining 27 challenging holes, the course is split into three 9-hole set. Besides it’s challenging fairways, the golf course is a favorite on account of its beautiful setting and immaculate clubhouse.

3: Caledonia Golf and Fish Club: This Mike Stranz designed 18 hole golf course is spread across salt marshes and the dense forest in Pawley’s island. But golfers who are taken aback by its drop dead gorgeous setting would soon discover its challenging holes that require skill, finesse, and a lot of thinking. The natural beauty and challenging holes at this 70 par course has earned it a 4.5 star ranking on Golf Digest’s places to play list.

4: Dunes Golf and Beach Club: Designed by Robert Jones, the Dunes Golf and Beach Club comes with a lot of history. Opened in 1949, the Dunes is the second oldest course in Myrtle Beach and provides some of the the most challenging play to experienced golfers, especially at its famous hole number 13, nicknamed Waterloo. The pedigree of this course can be gauged from the fact that it has hosted several PGA Tour Championships, and Women’s US Open among several other prestigious events.