Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is the volume play. 80 courses, 60 miles of coastline, the most golf-packages-per-night of any US destination, and the boldface name for a four-guy buddies' trip on a budget. The Grand Strand stretches from Pawleys Island in the south to North Myrtle Beach proper, with golf condos, mid-range hotels, and beachfront resorts packed shoulder-to-shoulder along Highway 17. Most groups arrive with a pre-built 4-night, 4-round 'play-and-stay' package that costs less than a single round at Pebble Beach.

The course caliber is exactly what you'd expect for the price. Three or four genuinely good top-100 contenders (Caledonia, True Blue, Tidewater, the Dunes) plus 70+ reliably-mid-handicap-friendly tracks. The smartest play is to pick a package that includes the 4-5 best tracks in the Strand and skip the resort-built shopping-mall courses. Caledonia and True Blue are 40 minutes south at Pawleys Island and worth the drive — they're routinely the two highest-rated courses on the Strand.

What separates Myrtle from Hilton Head or Pinehurst is the package economics. A 4-night condo + 4 rounds + carts + greens runs $700-1,100 per person depending on the season. That's the entire trip cost before food. Off-peak (January-February, mid-summer) the same trip drops below $500 per person. For a low-handicap group doing 36 holes a day, you can play 8 rounds in 4 days for under $200 per round all-in.

Best courses

• Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

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  Mike Strantz design (1994), the routinely top-rated Strand course. 40 minutes south at Pawleys Island. Live oak corridors, marsh edges, $185 green fee — the headline round of any Myrtle trip.

• True Blue Plantation

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  Caledonia's Mike Strantz sister course, across the road. Wider fairways, larger greens, less prim and proper than Caledonia. $185 green fee, often booked as a 36-hole same-day double with Caledonia.

• Tidewater Golf Club

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  The standout in North Myrtle Beach. Holes 3, 4, 12, 13 on the marsh — the most photogenic stretch on the Strand. $165 green fee, easy walking, locals' favorite of the budget-friendly tracks.

• The Dunes Golf & Beach Club

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  Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1948), the Strand's most-photographed course. Member-friendly access through the hotel partnership. $195 green fee, walkable, the ocean view on the par-5 13th is the trip's signature.

• Barefoot Resort (Love or Dye)

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  Two designer tracks at the same property — Davis Love III and Pete Dye. Both $145 green fee, similar conditioning, completely different styles. Pairs as a same-day 36 for $250 total.

• Grande Dunes Resort Course

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  The Strand's most polished resort layout. $215 green fee in peak, easy walking, conditioning rivals the private courses. Stay at the Hilton Grand Dunes to access.

Sub-areas to know

When to go

Best monthsMarch-May, September-November

Strand humidity peaks June-August (90°F+, daily thunderstorms — and the height of the beach-vacation crowds). Spring and fall are the sweet spots: 70-80°F highs, low humidity, the lowest green fees of the year right at the shoulders.

Sample itinerary

4-day Myrtle Beach package

1. Day 01
   Arrive MYR, settle in a condo

   Myrtle Beach International is 15-25 minutes from most condos. Check in at a Cherry Grove / North Myrtle condo or a Grande Dunes resort room. Twilight round at Barefoot (Love).

2. Day 02
   Tidewater + Barefoot (Dye)

   Tidewater morning (marsh views), Barefoot Dye afternoon. Easy 15-minute drives between the two. Dinner at the Carolina Roadhouse.

3. Day 03
   Caledonia + True Blue (Pawleys day)

   Drive 40 minutes south to Pawleys Island. Caledonia 8am, lunch in between, True Blue 1pm. The trip's best golf day.

4. Day 04
   The Dunes Club, then home

   The Dunes morning — RTJ classic with the ocean view 13th. MYR for the afternoon flight.

What it costs

$1,100–$2,400 per person for 4 days

The lowest-priced major golf destination in the US. Stay-and-play packages run $250-475 per person per night including condo + carts + rounds. Off-peak (Jan-Feb): $180-280. Off-resort condos start at $100/night for a 2-bedroom. Caddies don't exist here. Carts always included. Most groups land $1,400-1,900 per person for 4 days, 6-8 rounds.

Want a real number for your group? The planner produces a per-person estimate based on your dates, party size, and course choices.

Getting there

• MYR · Myrtle Beach International15-25 min driveThe default by a wide margin. Direct from every East Coast hub plus Chicago, Dallas, Toronto. The cheapest US airport-to-first-tee experience.
• CHS · Charleston2h driveWorth considering only if you combine Myrtle with a Kiawah stop. Slightly wider flight inventory than MYR.

Rent a car — the Strand is 60 miles end-to-end and you'll drive 20-30 minutes between courses. Uber works in town but doesn't scale to a full trip of golf logistics. Most condos include free parking.

Practical

FAQ