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.

Top Courses in the North Myrtle Beach Area

When talk turns to where Myrtle Beach’s best golf courses are clustered, Pawleys Island is at the top of nearly everyone’s list. But should it be? The answer isn’t as easy as many would like you to believe, because there is a strong case to be made for the North Myrtle Beach area.

If you’re still not sure, check out this short list of North Myrtle Beach’s best courses, all located within miles of each other:

Tidewater Golf Club, with eight holes playing along Cherry Grove or the Intracoastal Waterway, is the area’s prettiest layout. No course on the beach has four holes that rival Nos. 3, 4, 12 and 13 for scenery, and the layout is outstanding throughout. This is one of Myrtle Beach’s top 5 courses.

The Love Course at Barefoot Resort is ranked among Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses You Can Play, highlighted by holes four through six, which play around the faux ruins of an old plantation home. The layout presents a varied challenge and is equal parts challenging and fun.

The Dye Course at Barefoot is the long-time host of the Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am, and you will enjoy it as much as the celebrities who pour into the area every year. Pete Dye designs are notoriously difficult, and his work at The Dye Club isn’t a pushover, but the layout is more playable than the architect’s reputation might suggest.

(As an aside, the Fazio and Norman courses at Barefoot could just as easily be on this list, but we wanted to give you a broader look at the quality the area offers.)

Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links has long been a favorite of Myrtle Beach golfers, and the installation of new greens this summer will only enhance the course’s reputation. The Clyde Johnston design has five holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway and its three finishing holes are among the area’s most memorable. The par-3 17th, which is bordered by the marshy waters of the Waterway, is one of our favorites.

There are great courses up and down the Grand Strand, and the North Myrtle Beach area is home to more than its fair share.

Play Your Dream Course with Masters Packages

Everyone wants to follow in the footsteps of the greats. For many people that means

playing the same golf courses that the professionals have played. Golf is one of the few sports

that gives people the opportunities to walk and play on the same ground as their heroes. Very

few professional sports offer that one of a kind experience. But how are you going to obtain your

personal Masters experience? By purchasing one of the Master’s packages available from

golfzoo.com of course! Save some money and still play a legendary course that was previously

played by legendary players. Now, that’s a win/ win situation!

Many golf courses are beautiful. Many golf courses embrace the natural ebbs and flows

of the landscape they are carved into. They use decorative flora to give you picturesque and

serene scenery as you play your round. But, there are certain courses that stick with the players

because they are the perfect combination of challenge and relaxation. The Masters packages

offer you the unique opportunity to play a course that is perfectly groomed while maintaining the

natural beauty of the world around it. Each hole has stunning mature trees that tower over you

and give you a break from the hot sun. Every hole is also complimented with different and

beautiful flowering trees and bushes, which is how they got their names.

The course was designed by Bobby Jones, one of the founders of the Masters event,

and Allister Mackenzie, who has golf course designs on four continents. The curious thing about

Bobby Jones is that he was never an actual professional golfer. He mainly played golf part time

and made his living as a lawyer. Jones retired from golf at the age of twenty-eight and helped

design the Masters course just a few years after that. He did come out of retirement to play for

exhibition during the Masters from 1934 to 1948, which was the year he had to stop playing golf

for health reasons. Allister Mackenzie also had a very interesting background. He was originally

trained as a surgeon and likened golf course design to designing military camouflage.

Mackenzie was known to challenge the conservative aspect of golf by adopting and

implementing more modern techniques to his course design while remaining sensitive to the

natural undulations of the land. In his book he says "the chief object of every golf course

architect worth his salt is to imitate the beauties of nature [and presumably also the hazards] so

closely as to make his work indistinguishable from nature itself.” These two men, working

harmoniously, created one of the most phenomenal courses in the world. Your time to play this

course is now and you can do it with the Masters packages.

It’s time you walked the same greens as the greats. It’s time you teed off from the same

place as some of the most memorable players in golf history. It’s time that you take your dream

game to the next level by playing one of the best courses ever designed. And you can do it with

Masters packages.

Have a Healthy Getaway with Group Golf Packages

Has it been awhile since you’ve hung out with your high school pals? Do you and the

ladies need a weekend away from the hectic family life? Maybe you’re looking to book a

relaxing weekend trip for the office as a team building exercise. Whatever the reason may be

that you need to get away from the stresses of every day life you can count on golfzoo.com to

accommodate you and your friends needs with group golf packages. They can even help you

come up with a custom package so that you know your needs will be met.

Did you know that golfing is not only a ton of fun but also beneficial to your health? So

while you and your friends are having an excellent time enjoying sunny skies and sarcasm

you’re actually doing yourself some good! You are reducing your stress levels, which we all

know tend to run very high in today’s modern society. Reducing your stress levels has many

health benefits, including weight loss, better sleep, healthier hearts, and better relationships.

Studies have shown that playing golf may help stave off dementia because the unique

challenges it gives the player. Golfing requires coordination, strategy, and concentration, all of

which stimulate the brain. By learning and speaking in the terms of the game you are essentially

learning a new language. Each sport has it’s own terminology and to remember those terms and

use them properly means that you have a thorough understanding of those words, and therefore

you have a good grasp on another language. That means getting one of the group golf

packages can actually help you!

Your companions that are also purchasing some group golf packages will enjoy those

same personal benefits of golf, but you will all also get some group benefits. Golfing, especially

with good friends, is a great way to socialize in a group. Studies have found that the more social

you are in person, particularly when you’re older, the more stimulated you are and because of

that you prevent a lot of potential problems. One of the most common problems in older adults

is depression and a feeling of loneliness. Golf encourages you to talk, laugh, swear, and get

creative with your friendly, yet crass, rebuttals. The more social interactions you have, the more

benefits to your brain. You and your friends will also get some exercise in even if you don’t

realize it between the beers. On average, a golfer will walk up to six miles and burn about

fourteen hundred calories. Obviously, this works best if you don’t rent a cart.

Golfing gets you out of the house and into some fresh air. It provides you physical and

mental stimulation in more ways than one. Golf allows you to have fun while reaping a lot of

amazing health benefits. Have some of the experts at golfzoo.com help you come up with the

ultimate healthy getaway for you and your friends with their fantastic group golf packages! There

is a perfect trip waiting for you!

The Benefits of Getting Golf Trip Packages

Planning a golf trip can be expensive.  Hotel and accommodation costs are just the tip of the iceberg.  There are tee times to reserve, green fees, caddy tips, and souvenirs to buy. But many golf resorts have made travel more convenient and easier on the budget by offering all-in-one golf packages, which can include transportation to and from the airport and the golf courses, and free meals, if you’re lucky.

Getting all-inclusive golf packages have numerous benefits, and here are a few of them;

• No more having to book separately.  These types of packages mean you won’t have to go through the hassle of booking car rentals, hotel accommodations and tee times separately.  You can have all that in just a few clicks, or a quick call to your travel agent.  Once your travel package is booked, all you need o worry about is what to pack for your trip. 

• Big discounts.  A huge perk of golf vacation packages are the discounts you get on green fees, cart fees, and even car rentals.  Through packages, you can stay at 5-star golf resorts and play in some of the country’s most upscale golf courses at a fraction of the usual costs. 

• Packages are customizable.  One of the most common misconceptions people have about golf holiday packages is the details are set-in-stone.  Years ago, that might have been the norm.  But these days, golf holiday packages can be personalized according to your budget and preferred golf course or hotel.  Just give your travel agent a call, or check the website for a "Request a Quote” form page. 

• Inclement weather and other satisfaction guarantee clauses.  If an unexpected rain made you cancel out your scheduled tee time, it's possible to get a refund or other perks as part of the satisfaction guarantee clauses that come with the specific package.

But do note that not all vacation packages come with this clause.  So it’s best to read the fineprint, or ask ahead to know if the vacation package you’re getting comes with this stipulation.   

Golf trip packages offer you more than just savings.  By getting an all-inclusive golf holiday deal, you are thereby sparing yourself the hassle of having too book flights, finding available hotel accommodations, and hoping to get available tee times on your preferred schedule. 

Check out what current Hot Deals we have for Vacation Package Specials and be on the lookout for those that are "all inclusive"!