South Carolina’s Best Public Courses? Myrtle Beach Is All Over the List
Golfweek’s 2026 list of South Carolina’s best public-access courses makes one thing clear: Myrtle Beach golf is not just deep, it is stacked. From Pawleys Island to North Myrtle Beach, the Grand Strand gives traveling golfers a serious collection of ranked public courses that can be built into one unforgettable golf trip.
The full South Carolina list includes courses from Kiawah Island, Hilton Head Island, Pawleys Island, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Murrells Inlet. For this guide, we’re focusing only on the Myrtle Beach-area courses that travelers can plan around when building a Grand Strand golf package.
Which Myrtle Beach Courses Made South Carolina’s Best Public-Access List? Quick Answer
Myrtle Beach-area courses highlighted among South Carolina’s best public-access layouts include Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, True Blue Golf Club, TPC Myrtle Beach, Tidewater Golf Club, Grande Dunes Resort Club, Legends Moorland, Heritage Club, Barefoot Resort Dye, Prestwick Country Club, and Legends Heathland.
The Myrtle Beach area has several of South Carolina’s top public-access golf courses, including Caledonia, The Dunes, True Blue, TPC Myrtle Beach, Tidewater, Grande Dunes, Legends Moorland, Heritage Club, Barefoot Dye, Prestwick, and Legends Heathland.
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club Pawleys Island
Lowcountry Art With Teeth Mike Strantz
Par 70 · Mike Strantz design · Opened 1994 · 6,526 championship yards.
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club is one of the most atmospheric public rounds in the Southeast. The live oak entrance, plantation setting, strategic hazards, and famous finishing hole give it a sense of place that golfers remember long after the trip.
For Myrtle Beach visitors, Caledonia is a South Strand anchor course. It fits groups that want beauty, shot value, and a round that feels different from standard resort golf.
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club Myrtle Beach
The Grand Strand’s Flagship Course PGA TOUR Host
Par 72 · Robert Trent Jones design · Opened 1949 · 7,165 championship yards.
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club is the classic Myrtle Beach standard. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, it blends history, championship challenge, and one of the area’s most recognizable holes in the par-5 13th, known as “Waterloo.”
If your group wants the prestige round, The Dunes belongs near the top of the itinerary.
True Blue Golf Club Pawleys Island
Big, Bold Strantz Design Modern Classic
Par 72 · Mike Strantz design · Opened 1998 · 7,126 championship yards.
True Blue is Caledonia’s bolder sibling. Also designed by Mike Strantz, it uses wide corridors, dramatic waste areas, large greens, and Lowcountry scenery to create a memorable Pawleys Island experience.
For groups playing the South Strand, pairing True Blue with Caledonia creates one of the best two-course combinations in Myrtle Beach golf.
TPC Myrtle Beach Murrells Inlet
Tour-Caliber Test Tom Fazio
Par 72 · Tom Fazio design · Opened 1999 · 6,950 championship yards.
TPC Myrtle Beach gives visiting golfers a true championship feel. The Tom Fazio layout hosted the 2000 Senior Tour Championship and remains one of the strongest tournament-style public rounds on the Grand Strand.
This is a great choice for groups that want premium conditioning, strong shot values, and a course that feels built for serious golf.
Tidewater Golf Club North Myrtle Beach
Coastal Views With Championship Bite Scenic Favorite
Par 72 · Ken Tomlinson design · Opened 1990 · 7,044 championship yards.
Tidewater Golf Club brings the marsh, waterway, and coastal scenery into play in a way few Myrtle Beach courses can match. It is scenic, but it is not soft.
Elevated views, demanding angles, and memorable holes make Tidewater one of the signature public-access experiences on the North Strand.
Grande Dunes Resort Club Myrtle Beach
Big Resort Golf Along the Waterway Resort Favorite
Par 72 · Roger Rulewich design · Opened 2001 · 7,578 championship yards.
Grande Dunes Resort Club delivers one of Myrtle Beach’s most polished resort rounds. The course features seven holes along the Intracoastal Waterway, generous visuals, big greens, and enough scale to make the day feel grand.
It is especially strong for groups that want a premium round that still offers playability from the right set of tees.
Legends Moorland Myrtle Beach
Bold, Visual, and Very Dye P.B. Dye
Par 72 · P.B. Dye design · Opened 1990 · 6,737 championship yards.
Legends Moorland brings dramatic mounding, deep bunkering, water, waste areas, and big visual pressure. It is one of the most personality-filled public courses in the Myrtle Beach area.
Groups that enjoy bold design and memorable holes should keep Moorland in the mix.
Heritage Club Pawleys Island
Lowcountry Charm and Strong Golf Pawleys Favorite
Par 71 · Dan Maples design · Opened 1986 · 6,960 championship yards.
Heritage Club delivers a classic Pawleys Island feel with moss-draped oaks, water, marsh, and plantation-style scenery. It gives golfers a quieter, more graceful South Strand round without losing challenge.
It is a smart fit for groups that want Lowcountry atmosphere and a strong course experience in the same package.
Barefoot Resort Dye North Myrtle Beach
Pete Dye Strategy at Barefoot Dye Design
Par 72 · Pete Dye design · Opened 2000 · 7,343 championship yards.
Barefoot Dye is filled with the design cues golfers expect from Pete Dye: native grasses, visual intimidation, elevation, strategic bunkering, and shots that ask you to commit.
It is the anchor course at Barefoot Resort for groups that want a challenging, premium-feeling North Myrtle Beach round.
Prestwick Country Club Myrtle Beach
A Strategic Dye Family Test Pete & P.B. Dye
Par 72 · Pete and P.B. Dye design · Opened 1989 · 7,086 championship yards.
Prestwick Country Club gives Myrtle Beach golfers a thoughtful test loaded with Dye family touches. Creeks, lakes, bulkheads, mounds, and demanding green complexes keep players engaged from start to finish.
It is a strong choice for golfers who want strategy, challenge, and a course that rewards smart decisions.
Legends Heathland Myrtle Beach
A Links-Inspired Change of Pace Tom Doak
Par 72 · Tom Doak design · Opened 1990 · 6,853 championship yards.
Legends Heathland offers a different flavor from many Myrtle Beach layouts. Inspired by links golf, the Tom Doak design uses open movement, angles, and strategic ground contours to create a round that feels distinct within the Legends lineup.
It pairs especially well with Moorland because the two courses feel completely different while sharing the same resort base.
How to Build a Trip Around These Courses Trip Strategy
The best way to use this list is not to force every ranked course into one trip. Build around your group’s style, lodging location, budget, and appetite for difficulty.
- For a premium course chase: Start with The Dunes, Caledonia, TPC Myrtle Beach, Tidewater, and Grande Dunes.
- For a Pawleys Island trip: Build around Caledonia, True Blue, and Heritage Club.
- For a North Strand trip: Pair Tidewater and Barefoot Dye with other North Myrtle Beach favorites.
- For a design-lover trip: Mix Strantz, Dye, Doak, Fazio, Jones, and Rulewich designs.
- For variety: Play The Dunes, True Blue, Grande Dunes, Moorland, and Heritage Club.
📋 Myrtle Beach Public-Access Course Cheat Sheet
Myrtle Beach gives golfers a rare mix of nationally recognized public-access courses in one destination. Whether your group wants prestige, scenery, challenge, value, or variety, this list can help shape a better golf trip.
Play South Carolina’s Best Public-Access Courses in Myrtle Beach
Tell our Golfmasters your dates, group size, budget, lodging style, and course wishlist. We’ll help build a Myrtle Beach golf package around the ranked courses that fit your trip.
Because when South Carolina’s best public golf is this close together, the hardest part is choosing the first tee time.