Golf Tutorials

Can You Golf in Myrtle Beach?

By Spencer Lanoue
July 24, 2025

Can you golf in Myrtle Beach? That’s like asking if the ocean is salty. The real question isn’t if you can golf there, but how to plan the perfect golf trip in a place rightfully called the Golf Capital of the World. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know: the best times of year to play, how to choose from the overwhelming number of courses, and a coach's game plan to make your trip a huge success.

Myrtle Beach: Why It’s "The Golf Capital of the World"

The title isn't just savvy marketing, it's a statement of fact. Squeezed into a 60-mile stretch of Carolina coastline known as the Grand Strand are nearly 90 golf courses. The sheer volume and variety are stunning. You can find courses designed by legends like Robert Trent Jones, Mike Strantz, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Greg Norman. One day you can be battling the wind on a links-style track with ocean views, and the next you can be navigating towering pines on a secluded parkland classic.

What makes Myrtle Beach a true golf destination is that it caters to absolutely everyone. Whether you’re planning a budget-friendly weekend with your friends, a bucket-list trip playing top 100 courses, or a family vacation with a couple of relaxed rounds mixed in, this place has you covered. The entire area is built with the golfer in mind, from specialized travel agencies that craft stay-and-play packages to an abundance of great restaurants and bars to celebrate your birdies (or forget your doubles).

When Is the Best Time to Golf in Myrtle Beach?

Choosing the right time to visit can make or break your trip, influencing everything from price and crowds to course conditions. Every season offers a different experience.

Spring (March - May)

The Vibe: This is prime time. Think of it as the Masters season for the average golfer.

  • Pros: The weather is just about perfect - warm, sunny days with low humidity. After overseeding in the winter, the courses are in immaculate, lush green condition.
  • Cons: Everybody knows this is the best time, so it's the busiest and most expensive season. Tee sheets fill up weeks, sometimes months, in advance.
  • Coach's Tip: If you're planning a spring trip, book everything - lodging, tee times, and even dinner reservations - as early as possible. Don't expect to just show up and get a prime tee time.

Summer (June - August)

The Vibe: Hot deals for hot weather.

  • Pros: With many tourists focused on the beach, the courses are less crowded and you can find incredible deals on both tee times and lodging.
  • Cons: It gets seriously hot and humid. Afternoon thunderstorms are a frequent occurrence, which can sometimes derail a round.
  • Coach's Tip: Be an early bird. Teeing off before 8 a.m. is the best way to beat the oppressive heat and finish before the daily storm clouds roll in. Also, pack bug spray - the gnats can be feisty.

Fall (September - November)

The Vibe: The other peak season, and a favorite for many seasoned visitors.

  • Pros: The weather is once again fantastic, often with less humidity than the spring. The courses are still in great shape from the summer growing season before they transition for winter. The light in the late afternoon makes for some epic golf course photography.
  • Cons: It's still quite popular, so prices can be high, though sometimes slightly less than spring. Early fall (September) is still a part of hurricane season, so trip insurance is a good idea.
  • Coach's Tip: Don't overlook late October and November. The air is crisp, the crowds start to thin a bit, and a round of golf followed by an oyster roast is a top-tier experience.

Winter (December - February)

The Vibe: The savvy golfer's getaway.

  • Pros: This is by far the most affordable time to play. The courses are wide open, and you can play some incredible tracks for a fraction of their peak-season price. You'll play your rounds quickly and have your pick of tee times.
  • Cons: The weather can be a gamble. It can be a beautiful and sunny 60 degrees or a chilly and windy 40 degrees. Many courses will have dormant, brown-ish Bermuda grass fairways, though the greens are typically overseeded and remain in good shape.
  • Coach's Tip: Flexibility is your friend. Pack layers - a windbreaker, a beanie, and maybe even a pair of winter golf gloves. A 10:30 AM tee time is often the sweet spot, giving the ground a chance to warm up a bit.

Picking the Perfect Course for Your Game

With so many options, the biggest challenge is deciding where to play. Don't just pick based on name recognition. The key to a great trip is matching the courses to your group's skill level, budget, and desired experience. Here's a way to think about it.

For the Bucket-Lister: The Heavy Hitters

These are the nationally ranked, jaw-dropping courses that you’ll be talking about for years. They come with a higher price tag but deliver an unforgettable experience.

  • Caledonia Golf & Fish Club: A former rice plantation teeming with ancient live oaks and stunning wetlands. Mike Strantz crafted a masterpiece here that is as much a work of art as it is a golf course. The final approach shot over water to the green in front of the clubhouse is legendary.
  • The Dunes Golf & Beach Club: The granddaddy of Myrtle Beach golf. This Robert Trent Jones, Sr. classic has hosted Senior Tour Championships and USGA events. It's a true championship test, famous for its dramatic par-5 13th, "Waterloo," which hooks aggressively around a lake.
  • True Blue Golf Club: Another Mike Strantz design and the sister course to Caledonia, True Blue is bigger, bolder, and more rugged. Massive bunkers, sprawling fairways, and huge, undulating greens make for a visually intimidating but incredibly fun round of golf.
  • Tidewater Golf Club: Often lauded for having some of the most beautiful holes on the Grand Strand. Tidewater hugs the Intracoastal Waterway and Cherry Grove Inlet, offering breathtaking views and demanding precise shotmaking.

For the Budget-Conscious Golfer: Awesome Value Plays

You don't need to spend a fortune to have a great time. These courses offer excellent layouts and conditions without breaking the bank.

  • Myrtlewood Golf Club (Palmetto & PineHills courses): Centrally located and incredibly convenient, Myrtlewood offers two classic parkland courses that are always in good shape. The Palmetto aourse finishes along the Intracoastal Waterway and is a local favorite.
  • Man O’ War / The Witch (Mystical Golf): These courses offer unique experiences. Man O' War is built around a huge lake with water in play on virtually every hole, including back-to-back island greens. The Witch meanders through a secluded swamp with nearly a mile of bridges. You can often find great 3-round packages here that include their other course, The Wizard.
  • TPC Myrtle Beach: Want to feel like a pro for a day? TPC hosted a Senior Tour Championship for years and was awarded 5 stars by Golf Digest. It’s a tough but fair test that you can often play for a reasonable price, especially outside of peak seasons.

Beginner-Friendly Fairways

If you're a new golfer or playing with high-handicappers, choosing the right course is essential. You want a place that's forgiving, less stressful, and sets you up for fun, not frustration.

  • Myrtle Beach National (West Course): Unlike its more demanding brother "King's North," the West Course is designed to be forgiving and fun. It has wide, welcoming fairways and minimal forced carries over water, allowing you to relax and just enjoy the round.
  • Whispering Pines: Located right next to the airport, this is a perfect course for your arrival or departure day. It’s a fun, straightforward layout that emphasizes solid shots over penalizing design. It went through a major renovation to improve drainage and conditions, making it an excellent all-around choice.

Your Myrtle Beach Golf Trip: A Coach's Game Plan

Alright, you know when you're going and you have a list of potential courses. Now it’s time to finalize the plan. As a coach, I see golfers make the same few mistakes on trips. Follow these steps to ensure smooth sailing.

1. Book in Advance (Seriously)

The biggest mistake is waiting until the last minute, especially in the spring and fall. The most desirable courses and tee times (roughly 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) will be gone. Lock in your tee times at least a month or two ahead of time if you can. For a big group, book even earlier.

2. Consider a Golf Package

Packaging your golf rounds with your lodging through local experts like MyrtleBeachGolfTrips.com or others can save you a surprising amount of money and a ton of hassle. They have access to deals and course availability that can be tough to find on your own. You tell them what you want, and they build an itinerary for you.

3. Pack for the Conditions

Go beyond your clubs and a few polos. Always pack rain gear, even if the forecast looks clear. A light windbreaker is a must-have for coastal courses. Sunscreen is non-negotiable, any time of year. And a pro tip: if you’re playing on consecutive days, bring two pairs of golf shoes so you can rotate them and let one pair dry out completely.

4. Have a Course Management Strategy

You’re not a Tour pro, so don’t try to play these courses like one. Before you pull a driver on that 380-yard dogleg, ask yourself if a hybrid or iron off the tee would leave you in a better position for your second shot. The goal of a vacation golf round is to have fun and post a respectable score. Avoid the hero shots that often lead to a triple-bogey and put a damper on the day.

Final Thoughts

Myrtle Beach is more than just a place you can play golf, it’s a destination completely devoted to the game. It delivers an unmatched variety of courses that cater to every possible budget and skill level, proving its worth as the game’s capital year after year.

When you're playing a course for the first time on a trip, that lack of local knowledge can be intimidating. This is where we designed Caddie AI to be your personal caddie on any course you play. Instead of guessing at the right line off the tee on an unfamiliar hole, you can get a simple, smart strategy right on your phone. If you find yourself in a tricky lie - behind a tree or in stubborn coastal grass - you can even snap a photo of your ball's situation, and our app will give you straightforward advice from millions of data points to help you make the smart play, not the risky one.

Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. His mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.

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