Myrtle Beach Golf Destination Guide

Myrtle Beach International Airport serves the Grand Strand, but many flights are weekly or connecting flights from nearby cities like Atlanta or Charlotte. It welcomes private and commuter flights as well. If you can't get a flight into Myrtle Beach, your best bet is Charleston International Airport. It receives daily flights from US Airways, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United Airlines. Once you touch down, it's about an hour and a half's drive north to Myrtle Beach.

If you're driving to Myrtle Beach, you'll take Highway 501 off of I-95 or I-20. Interstate 20 runs east/west from Atlanta and other southern cities. Interstate 95 runs north and south along the entire East Coast from Miami to Washington D.C. and Philadelphia. If you're near the Carolina Coast and would prefer a scenic drive to Myrtle Beach, try Highway 17. It runs along the famously beautiful Carolina Coast through Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach Golf FAQ

1. What makes Myrtle Beach such a popular golf destination?

First of all is size. Myrtle Beach isn't just a few hundred yards of sand, it is a 60-mile stretch of coastline from Georgetown, S.C., to Caswell Beach N.C. It also has more than just typical beach courses. The variety of Myrtle Beach's golf choices is astounding. Throughout the Grand Strand, different surroundings have allowed different style courses. Also, prices range from break-the-bank to downright cheap. While many places claim the same, Myrtle Beach truly has something for everyone and every golfer.

2. Since Myrtle Beach is so big, are there sub areas within the Strand?

There are. GolfCarolina.com divides the Strand into four regions. The South Strand, 501 Corridor, Central Strand and the North Strand. The South Strand is made up of Georgetown, Pawleys island, Litchfield and Murrells Inlet. Known for its surroundings more than any other part of the Beach, The South Strand is very scenic. Many of this areas best tracts were built on rice plantations and are marshy, shotmakers courses.

The inland part of Myrtle Beach is known as the 501 corridor. It is made up of East Conway and the western portion of The Strand. The 501 Corridor is packed with fast-food restaurants, strip malls and golf outlets.

The Central Strand is made up of the heart of Myrtle Beach, as well as small beach towns like Surfside. The atmosphere is like that of a beach town, with plenty of beach bars and restaurants and lots of condos. The North Strand is made up of Brunswick County beaches and the inland cities of Shallotte and Clabash.

3. What are some of the best courses in each area of Myrtle Beach?

In the South Strand, the Caladonia Golf and Fish Club boasts some amazing landscaping, while TPC of Myrtle Beach is among the state's strongest courses. The 501 Corridor is home to some of the Strand's most unique courses. The courses at Wild Wing Resort range from funky to scenic, while International World Tour is Myrtle Beach's only replica course. Central Strand is the Strand's oldest and still most popular area. Among its courses are Myrtle beach staples, The Dunes Beach and Golf Club and The Surf Club. The Northern Strand takes advantage being less populated. Try Arnold Palmer's River's Edge or Tim Cate's Tiger's Eye for a more rural and pastoral round.

4. What's the area's best course?

For a combination of great golf, history and service, you can't beat The Dunes Beach and Golf Club. Considered the area's premier country club, The Dunes has been around since 1948. This Robert Trent Jones course is consistently rated among the best courses in the country. Stretching to 7,165 yards with a slope of 141, The Dunes will challenge any golfer.

5. What else is there to do in Myrtle Beach?

If you're bringing the kids, try a day at Family Kingdom Amusement Park. It's an old-fashioned amusement park with more than 30 rides including an all-wooden roller coaster, Log Flume, Go-Kart tracks, historic carousel and the largest ferris wheel in South Carolina.