Peanut butter and jelly. Ham and eggs. Fairways and greens. All of these things benefit from being parts of pairs. So too do Myrtle Beach area golf courses and excellent Myrtle Beach hotels and resorts.
The Myrtle Beach Grand Strand is bigger than most people who have never been here think. That is why it is critical to do plenty of homework when planning a golf vacation. Countless hapless travelers make the mistake of arranging rounds some 80 minutes away from where they happen to be staying. Given the sheer volume of excellent golf courses up and down the Grand Strand, there is no need to travel more than 15 to 20 minutes from your lodgings to play half a dozen or more excellent courses.
Here are a few resort/golf course group pairings that would all make for an excellent Myrtle Beach area golf trip that minimizes driving.
Trip #1
Stay At: Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort
Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort is the premier place to stay along the southern end of the Grand Strand. With accommodations ranging from beachside suites to fairway-side villas and stand-alone rental houses, any size group can find excellent lodgings in one of the quieter corners of the region. Pools, a fitness center and the Atlantic Ocean are but three of a number of amenities on offer.
Play At: Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, True Blue Plantation, Heritage Club, Tradition Golf Club, Litchfield Country Club, River Club, Willbrook Plantation Golf Club
Pick from any of the eight courses listed above and an enjoyable golf trip is all but guaranteed. Pawleys Plantation is one of two Jack Nicklaus Signature Courses on the Grand Strand, Caledonia and True Blue were both designed by visionary artist/architect Mike Strantz and all of them are members of the prestigious Waccamaw Golf Trail. Pawleys is heaven for marsh junkies, while Caledonia serves oak lovers well and True Blue has a Pine Valley-style aesthetic of sand and pines.
Dine At: Quigley’s Pint and Plate, BisQit, Pastaria 811, Habañero’s, Pawleys Island Tavern, Frank’s, Bistro 217, Chive Blossom Café, Caffé Piccolo
Four more casual restaurants, followed by four upscale ones. All of them are within 10 minutes of Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort and all of them are great rewards for a hard-fought match out on the course
Trip #2
Stay At: The Breakers Resort
One of the best-known central Myrtle Beach resorts, The Breakers is the first choice for dozens of groups of golfers who vacation along the Grand Strand. An oceanfront resort, it offers many amenities perfect for helping you unwind before or after your appointed rounds.
Play At: Myrtlewood Golf Club – PineHills Course, Myrtlewood Golf Club – Palmetto Course, Pine Lakes Country Club, Grande Dunes Resort Club, Legends Resort – Heathland Course, Legends Resort – Moorland Course, Legends Resort – Parkland Course
A wide range of types of courses lies within minutes of The Breakers and its gorgeous oceanfront locale. A short drive to the Legends Resort seems like a trip across the pond, with the three courses there drawing inspiration heavily from the great venues of the British Isles. Pine Lakes is the Grand Strand’s oldest course and Grande Dunes Resort Club is a modern marvel that will co-host the PGA Professional National Championship in 2014.
Dine At: Angelo’s Steak & Pasta, Maggi D’s, E-Noodles, Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse, Carolina Roadhouse, Aspen Grille, Bandito’s, Sea Captain’s House
This is a tiny sliver of the enormous list of restaurants close to The Breakers. Rioz’s churrascaria format is perfect for meat lovers, while Maggi D’s serves arguably the best Italian food on the beach (and definitely the best cannoli).
Trip #3
Stay At: North Beach Plantation
North Beach Plantation offers some of the more luxurious accommodations in the Myrtle Beach area, yet manages to deliver reasonable rates for guests. From its scenic oceanfront location to its wide range of accommodations styles and amenities, it is a premier resort.
Play At: Barefoot Resort – Dye Club, Barefoot Resort, Barefoot Resort – Fazio Course, Barefoot Resort – Love Course, Barefoot Resort – Norman Course, Dunes Golf & Beach Club, Arcadian Shores Golf Club, Tidewater Plantation, River Hills Country Club
Barefoot Resort’s four courses are among the best on the Grand Strand, and the Dunes Golf & Beach Club, co-hosting the PGA Professional National Championship in 2014, is nearby as well.
Dine At: 21 North Main, Greg Norman’s Australian Grille, Flying Fish Public Market & Grill, The Fat Greeks, Joe’s Crab Shack, Wild Wing Café, House of Blues
21 North Main is North Beach Plantation’s upscale, highly-rated on-site restaurant and is perfect for a first- or last-night-of-the-trip dinner. Greek food fanatics will be pleasantly surprised by The Fat Greeks, while more casual fare awaits at the likes of Wild Wing Café and Flying Fish. Live music complements the food scene at House of Blues as well.
These resort/golf/dining pairings will combine for maximum vacation enjoyment while minimizing travel (and traffic) time. Concentrating on one specific part of the enormous Grand Strand area will serve to enhance your experience.
(posted 12/16/13)