International Club of Myrtle Beach

The first thing you might notice at the International Club, located in Murrell's Inlet just south of Myrtle Beach, is the size of the greens. They're big. Very big.

The USGA reports that the average size of greens on U.S. golf courses is about 6,600 square feet. The smallest green at International, according to club officials, is about 7,000. Your average golfer likes this fact.

"Most mid to high handicappers have a sense of comfort when they reach the green, because we can all sink a 60-feet putt every once in a while," head pro Rick Taylor told TravelGolf.com in a review.
"Your average golfer is scared to death looking at a small green from 180 yards away, and they'd rather have a long putt than a short chip."

Opened in 2000, International was one of the first courses to go to TifEagle Bermuda grass on its greens. TifEagle can be cut shorter than older Bermuda strains and rolls almost as true as bentgrass.

Golfers also like the comparatively low green fees at the course, designed by prolific Southeast architect Willard Byrd. It's 6,790 yards, but some long, tight par-4s on the back nine and two par-23s over 200 yards add some muscle.

The course is part of a 700-acre development project. "We have eight holes with protected wetlands, so those holes will never have homes on them," Taylor said.