03/17/2021
Tidewater is beautifully nestled between the Intracoastal Waterway and Cherry Grove, just north of Myrtle Beach. With undulating greens, plush fairways and serene views of the ocean, marshes and waterway, this course instantly became a favorite among golfers after opening in 1990.
Ken Tomlinson, a native South Carolinian, created the Tidewater course with the goal of using the already-intricate landscape to inspire his design. He studied other famous courses of the time, hoping to create a course worthy of a national championship tour.
Nicknamed the “Fantastic Four”, the four courses that makeup Barefoot Resort were designed by an all-star constellation of architects. You can “bump and run” on the Norman Course, play in championship-caliber on the Fazio Course, see both beauty and treachery on the Dye Course or enjoy the turtleback greens of the Love Course. No matter what course you choose, they all boast unique designs that are sure to challenge even the best golfer. !
This Founders Collection course features a signature design by “The Golden Bear” himself, Jack Nicklaus. Long Bay Golf Club is located just outside of North Myrtle Beach in Longs off of Hwy 9. Nicklaus’ design preserved many of the natural elements of the area, including dogwoods, pines and maples, alongside streams and ponds that weave through the course.
Players will find a variety of bunker styles, thick grass on the fairways, multiple elevation differences throughout the course and green surfaces that putt true. Golf Digest’s “Places to Play” gave Long Bay Golf 4.5 Stars.
Located north of the Myrtle Beach airport, Grande Dunes Golf Course is situated on a high bluff along the Intracoastal waterway and is one of the longest courses in the country. The National Golf Course Owners Association of America has even named it the “National Golf Course of the Year.”
The Grande Dunes Course is known for its expansive Bermuda grass fairways and modestly contoured greens. In addition to its spectacular links, the course also features a Mediterranean-styled clubhouse with great food and magnificent views.
King’s North, one of three courses at Myrtle Beach National, is a local favorite. Arnold Palmer redesigned the course in 1996, which boasts a variety of awards by Golf Digest and Golf for Women. The highlight of this iconic course is the par-5 6th hole nicknamed “The Gambler” with its challenging island fairways. Myrtle Beach National is part of the Founders Collection and is located off of Hwy 501, just inland from Myrtle Beach.
Despite the name, TPC is actually located south of Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet. Tournament Players Club of Myrtle Beach originally opened in 1999 and hosted the Senior PGA Tour Championship in 2000. Home of the Dustin Johnson Golf School, TPC is a championship setup with a Tom Fazio layout featuring tree-lined holes, more than 60 bunkers and secluded fairways.
TPC Myrtle Beach is a par-72 course with PGA Tour-caliber elements. Despite the difficulty of the course, all skill levels will find the 18 holes enjoyable with five sets of tees. Watch out for hole 17, the most challenging of the course! This par-3 has a long downhill over water to a peninsula-shaped green promising a high risk-reward factor.
This course was built on a former rice plantation and exudes all the southern, Lowcountry charm you could desire. Century-old live oaks filled with Spanish moss greet you at the entrance of this golf course and follow you throughout its lush fairways.
The large greens are guarded by ponds, streams and imposing bunkers that hide the surrounding neighborhood. Caledonia has been ranked one of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” by Golf Digest and 29th on the “Top 100 You Can Play” by Golf Magazine. This 6,526-yard par-70 course will not disappoint!
True Blue Golf Club opened in 1998 and boasts a Mike Strantz signature design. Strantz took care to maintain the natural beauty of this former indigo and rice plantation when creating Caledonia’s sister course. True Blue claims an 18-hole par-72 course with an 18-acre practice facility.
Home of the Steve Dresser Golf Academy, True Blue is playable for all ages with six sets of tee boxes. The course features wide fairways, spacious greens, yawning waste bunkers, significant elevation changes and an abundance of natural beauty.
Nestled beautifully around Lowcountry marshes and wetlands, Willbrook Plantation’s 18 holes flaunt a Dan Maples design. Flanked by two historical plantations, the course is peppered with live oaks draped in Spanish moss.
The course kicks off with one of the toughest openers around and is one of the most popular courses for women in South Carolina. Opening its doors in 1988, this Pawleys Island golf course features water on 15 of its 18 holes.
Part of the Legends Golf Resort family, Heritage Club is located along the Waccamaw River on the southern end of Pawleys Island. The natural beauty of the area shines through with giant magnolias, live oaks, freshwater lakes and marshes that weave in and out of the greens. A Dan Maples design, Heritage was constructed among two plantations and borders abandoned rice fields showcasing the area’s Lowcountry charm.
The course is a par-71 that immediately greets golfers with a challenge at the second hole, a long and narrow par-5 guarded by trees, traps and water. The golf club also features a grass driving range, a large putting practice with chipping green and a welcoming clubhouse. Golfers will love the stunning scenery surrounding the demanding layout of this course.