Top 10 Must-Play Golf Courses in Myrtle Beach
When it comes to golf destinations, few places rival the beauty and diversity of Myrtle Beach. With more than 60 courses spread along the South Carolina coastline, golfers of all skill levels have no shortage of options. Whether you are a seasoned player chasing bucket-list rounds or a casual golfer looking to enjoy a memorable trip, Myrtle Beach offers a lineup of courses that keeps people coming back year after year.
Why Myrtle Beach Golf Stands Out Start Here
Myrtle Beach is one of the rare golf destinations where volume and quality show up together. The area gives visitors everything from classic clubs with deep roots to modern resort layouts, marshfront masterpieces, links-inspired designs, and high-profile championship tests.
That variety is what makes trip planning here so much fun. You can build a schedule around scenery, prestige, difficulty, architectural pedigree, or simply the kind of rounds your group will enjoy most. If you are trying to narrow down the list, these 10 courses belong firmly in the must-play conversation.
Top 10 Must-Play Golf Courses in Myrtle Beach Bucket List
Each of these courses stands out for a different reason. Some are historic, some are scenic, some are demanding, and some simply capture the spirit of Myrtle Beach golf better than almost anywhere else.
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club Historic Icon
Known as the granddaddy of Myrtle Beach golf and one of the area’s most storied clubs.
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club carries a level of prestige few courses on the Grand Strand can match. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, this course has been testing golfers for generations with a classic layout, strong history, and a reputation that still holds weight today.
It is the kind of round that feels important from the opening tee shot, which is exactly why so many visitors make it a priority.
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club Lowcountry Gem
A Mike Strantz design wrapped in live oaks, marshland, and unmistakable charm.
Caledonia has long been one of the most beloved golf experiences in the area because it blends natural beauty with smart, memorable design. It feels intimate, scenic, and distinctly Lowcountry from start to finish.
For many golfers, this is the course that best captures the artistic side of Myrtle Beach golf.
True Blue Golf Club Big & Bold
Another Mike Strantz standout with wider corridors and a more dramatic scale.
Located near Caledonia, True Blue offers a completely different experience while delivering the same kind of memorable architecture. It is expansive, bold, and packed with movement, giving golfers a round that feels both playable and visually striking.
If your group loves variety, pairing True Blue with Caledonia is one of the strongest one-two punches in the Myrtle Beach area.
TPC Myrtle Beach Championship Feel
A polished test built to challenge players who want a more tournament-style round.
TPC Myrtle Beach is the kind of course that appeals to golfers looking for pristine conditions and a more demanding layout. It has the reputation and feel of a championship venue, which makes it a strong fit for players who want one round on the trip to feel especially serious.
This is often the course that better players circle first.
Barefoot Resort & Golf – Love Course Resort Favorite
A Davis Love III design that balances challenge, playability, and strong visuals.
The Love Course is a favorite because it gives golfers a fair but interesting test while still delivering the kind of resort experience many groups want on vacation. The wide fairways and movement around the greens make it enjoyable without feeling soft.
It is one of the easiest courses on this list to recommend for mixed-skill groups.
Grande Dunes Resort Course Scenic Statement
A dramatic round with elevated views overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.
Grande Dunes delivers one of the more visually distinct rounds in the market thanks to its setting above the waterway. It feels big, polished, and upscale, which helps it stand out from more traditional coastal layouts.
For golfers who want scenery and a strong course in the same package, Grande Dunes is always part of the conversation.
Tidewater Golf Club View Machine
Known for its scenic marsh views and a layout that rewards accuracy.
Tidewater is one of the courses golfers remember most vividly because the setting is so strong. The Cherry Grove marsh scenery gives the round a constant visual punch, and the layout itself asks for smart execution rather than careless swings.
If your group values scenery just as much as score, Tidewater deserves a very hard look.
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club Nicklaus Flavor
A strategic round shaped by marshes, creeks, and classic Lowcountry atmosphere.
Pawleys Plantation combines a scenic setting with a thoughtful design that rewards golfers who pick their spots carefully. The course has long appealed to players who enjoy strategy as much as scenery.
It is one of the more distinctive rounds on the south end of the Strand.
Legends Golf Resort – Heathland Course Links Flavor
A Tom Doak design inspired by traditional Scottish links golf.
Heathland offers a different feel than many other courses in Myrtle Beach, using wide fairways, strong bunkering, and a more links-style presentation to create a memorable change of pace.
For golfers who want variety across multiple rounds, it is an easy course to slot into the itinerary.
Thistle Golf Club Classic Feel
A Scottish and Irish-inspired experience with a polished resort presentation.
Thistle brings together old-world inspiration and modern conditioning in a way that makes it appealing to a broad range of players. The course feels classic in spirit while still fitting neatly into the Myrtle Beach golf trip formula.
It is one of those rounds that often exceeds expectations once golfers see it in person.
If your group wants history, start with The Dunes. If you want artistry and Lowcountry character, lean Caledonia and True Blue. If you want a championship-style challenge, look at TPC Myrtle Beach or Grande Dunes. If scenery matters most, Tidewater belongs near the top.
Four Fan Favorites That Always Come Up Crowd Picks
Some courses seem to show up in every serious Myrtle Beach golf conversation, and for good reason. These names keep surfacing because they combine reputation, experience, and trip value in a way golfers instantly recognize.
Grande Dunes Waterway Views
Big visuals, upscale feel, and one of the most memorable settings in town.
Grande Dunes has the kind of course presence that makes a golf trip feel elevated. It looks special and plays like a legitimate feature round.
Dunes Club Prestige
The historic standard-bearer for Myrtle Beach golf.
There is a reason golfers still talk about getting on The Dunes. It carries the kind of cachet that only a few courses in the destination can claim.
Tidewater Scenery
A visual standout that leaves an impression even on golfers who have seen a lot.
Tidewater always lands on favorite-course lists because it gives golfers one of the most distinctive marshfront rounds on the Strand.
Caledonia Atmosphere
One of the most admired complete experiences in Myrtle Beach golf.
Caledonia’s setting, scale, and style keep it on short lists for golfers who want a round that feels beautiful, memorable, and unmistakably Myrtle Beach.
Why This Destination Delivers The Takeaway
Myrtle Beach remains a golfer’s paradise because it offers so many ways to build a trip. You can tee it up beside marshes, under live oaks, above the waterway, or on layouts inspired by traditional links golf. That kind of variety is rare, and it is what makes the destination so compelling for both first-timers and repeat visitors.
Whether you are booking a single special round or assembling a multi-day getaway, these 10 courses give you a strong place to start. They show off the range, personality, and depth that make Myrtle Beach one of America’s most enduring golf destinations.
Pack your clubs, line up your tee times, and build a trip around the courses that best match your group. Myrtle Beach has more than enough golf to fill the calendar, but these 10 rounds are among the easiest to call must-plays.
📋 Top 10 Myrtle Beach Courses Cheat Sheet
Ready to Build Your Myrtle Beach Golf Trip?
Let our Golfmasters help you line up the right courses, lodging, and tee times for a Myrtle Beach getaway built around the way your group likes to play.
Because the best Myrtle Beach golf trip starts with choosing the rounds your group will remember most.
