Golf Zoo Top Central Myrtle Beach Courses

Resort Course at Grande Dunes

5 Great Courses in the Heart of Myrtle Beach

The area popularly referred to as The Grand Strand is a 60-mile stretch of Carolina's coast that runs from Georgetown, S.C., across the state line into Brunswick County, N.C., with Myrtle Beach as the centerpiece.

There is a never-ending stream of courses to play on both ends of the Strand, but golfers shouldn’t overlook the heart of America’s most popular golf destination - Myrtle Beach proper. The hub of so many golf trips remains the home to some of the best courses in the Southeast and here is a look at five of our favorites:

-- Myrtle Beach’s second-oldest golf course, The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, is No. 1 in the hearts of many players. The Robert Trent Jones Sr. design is a consensus top 100 layout and has hosted events ranging from the U.S. Women’s Open to the Senior PGA Tour Championship. If you are a fan of classic golf course architecture and superior conditions, The Dunes Club should be atop your list.

-- The Resort Course at Grande Dunes has also been ranked among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses and it’s the most modern of designs, featuring some of the area’s largest fairways and greens. Throw in five holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway, highlighted by the breathtaking par-3 14th, and this design is on any short list of the area’s best.

-- Arnold Palmer designed four courses along the Grand Strand, and King’s North at Myrtle Beach National is his most popular work. The layout is playable and the design unique, highlighted by “The Gambler,” the par-5 sixth hole that features an alternate, island fairway. This is a course you want to play.

-- There is a case to be made that Prestwick is Myrtle Beach’s most underrated course. The P.B. Dye design is challenging from the jump so bring your “A” game, but it’s a round you won’t forget. The back nine, in particular, is strong, highlighted by a three-hole finish that is as daunting as any in the area. The par-4 18th plays along a lake and into a green that resides in the shadow of the clubhouse, an idyllic finish.

-- Arrowhead Country Club is the only 27-hole facility in Myrtle Beach and you will want to play the Cypress, Waterway and Lakes nines. The course is most known for the holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway on the Cypress and Waterway nines, but Arrowhead’s greatest strength is the quality of its conditions throughout the year. The Raymond Floyd design overseeds from wall to wall during the winter months, so it’s green 365 days a year.

The choices are endless in Myrtle Beach, but if you want to stay and play in the heart of the action, it’s hard to beat these five courses.