There's never a bad time to play golf in Myrtle Beach, and there are plenty of great courses to choose from. But ask many seasoned Grand Strand golf visitors and they will tell you that fall is their favorite time of year to tee it up in Myrtle Beach. Between the cooler temperatures and fall foliage, the atmosphere is just right for a Myrtle Beach golf getaway. Here's our list of the top five courses to play in the fall golf season:
The Four Barefoot Golf Resort Courses: Consider this North Myrtle Beach complex a four-course feast for your foursome. Featuring layouts designed by legendary players Greg Norman and Davis Love III, as well as renowned golf architects Pete Dye and Tom Fazio, Barefoot is like a buffet for golfers with high standards. Built along the Intracoastal Waterway amid dense woodlands, the fall colors and crisp autumn weather create the perfect setting for a relaxing round of golf. All four layouts are top-notch, and Barefoot is offering a chance to play them all for the price of three under a special package. But if you can only play one, landing a tee time on the Dye Course or a nice autumn day is to Dye for.
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club: This Lowcountry layout is consistently rated as one of the best on the Grand Strand, and in the entire Southeast. But if you haven't played through the tidal creeks and towering trees of this former rice plantation in the fall, you are missing out on a true South Carolina experience. Architect Mike Stranz broke the mold when he transformed this pristine property into a golf shrine, and the autumn atmosphere brings out the best in Caledonia. The fishing is awesome in the fall too, if you feel like trading your clubs for a pole. For the ultimate Grand Strand golf experience, check out Myrtle Beach Golf's Grand Slam package, which allows you to play Caledonia, sister course True Blue Plantation and any two Barefoot courses for about $500 – a great deal for any season.
The Dunes Golf & Beach Club: One of the toughest tee times in town is worth a try for the chance to play Myrtle Beach's best layout. This semi-private Dunes Club's Southern charm and scenery get even more beautiful in the fall, and the often stiff ocean breeze that blows in during the spring and summer slacks off a bit in the autumn. That comes in especially handy when trying to clear the Dunes Club's most famous hole – the 535-yard par-5 13th – which requires a long carry over Lake Singleton. If the distance of the double dogleg right doesn't get you then the wind will, but a gentler breeze increases your odds of a dry crossing. Regardless of the result, the scenic view of the tree-lined lake and landscape make fall the perfect time to play the Dunes.
Tidewater Plantation: This Rees Jones layout is one of the North Strand’s most popular and scenic courses, in part for its unique location near the entrance of the Intracoastal Waterway at Cherry Grove Inlet. Half of the 18 holes are situated along salt marshes and swampy waste areas that serve as excellent scenery but challenging natural hazards. A tee time at Tidewater will make any fall golf package complete.