The Grand Strand is a large stretch of beaches and coastal towns in charming South Carolina. Within the 60 mile span of the Grand Strand there are over 250 golf courses. Myrtle Beach is located directly in the center and functions as the heart of the Strand. Myrtle Beach is home to some of the best golf courses on the East Coast. There are so many spectacular courses here that choosing which to play can be an overwhelming decision. Here are our top 3 courses that we think deserve special attention and have earned not only our commendation, but have been acclaimed by many lead golfing authorities.
Caledonia
Voted as the one of the best courses on the Grand Strand, Caledonia was first opened in 1994 and was the first design by the late Mike Strantz. In the 1800’s, South Carolina was home to many plantations. Caledonia is situated on top of an old plantation and thus the grounds are extremely fertile. The course is dotted with live oaks and is perfectly landscaped, featuring dozens of flowers beds, tall pines, and several creeks that line the fairways and calmly flow under old stone bridges.
Caledonia is not just all about beautiful aesthetics, there are many challenges and hazards that make this course a puzzling yet playable challenge. The 84 white sand bunkers are deep and strategically placed, the greens are quick and undulating while the fairways are wide, but filled with danger. These challenges make Caledonia a course that players must become acquainted with before they came dream of mastering it.
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club
As a host to many professional golf championships, The Dunes Golf Club demands respect from all who play it. Opened in 1948, The Dunes was designed by legendary golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and has been ranked by both GOLF Magazine and Golf Digest as one the “Top 100 Golf Courses in America”. The Dunes was host to the PGA Professional National Championship this past June where Michael Block won with a score of 286 (-2).
Regarded as one of the most challenging courses on the Grand Strand, The Dunes features push-up greens that are well-guarded by fierce bunkers. The most iconic hole, Waterloo, the 13th hole, which is a 640 yard par-5, swings to the right around Lake Singleton which forces players to take three consecutive precise shots if they hope to make birdie. Waterloo was featured in the “Top 100 Golf Holes in America”.
The Love Course
To make the claim that you are going to love playing the Love Course at Barefoot Resort Golf is at best an understatement. In the heart of North Myrtle Beach, the Love Course’s location couldn’t be more ideal. The course is also maintained to perfection, even on good courses you expect to see some spots that need attention, but not on the Love Course. The fairways are often lined with hardwood forests that are filled with pine and oak trees which create a pleasant visual and golfing experience.
Love Course will challenge skilled players, yet it provides playability and enjoyment for average players as well. On the fourth hole, there are two bunkers that guard the green, however, there is an unusual bank shot option that has been created by the presence of ivy-covered brick wall from the colonial era which brings a sense of the history to the course.
The golf carts at the Barefoot Resort come equipped with GPS that will assist in shot selection and ball placement. The device explicitly shows your location, distance to the green, and any hazards.
Ship Your Clubs
Ship Sticks makes it easy for you to send your golf clubs to any of the resorts that Myrtle Beach Golf at MBN.com offers. Trust your precious clubs to the company that lives for golf. Ship Sticks will pick-up your golf clubs and deliver them right to the clubhouse. As a Ship Sticks user, you can avoid the headaches and stress of traveling with golf clubs by shipping your clubs to Myrtle Beach the way the pro’s do!