Featured Myrtle Beach Golf Course Stories

For even the most seasoned golf course architect, restoring a historically significant layout is a formidable challenge, commensurate to the task a musician undertakes when recording a classic song. The finished product has to strike a delicate balance somewhere between paying homage to the original work and forging a distinct path in order to resonate with a more current audience, as well as preserve the integrity and character established many years ago.

The new Pine Lakes Country Club does just that, reminding long-time Myrtle Beach regulars just how brilliant Robert White’s initial course concept was and moving the “Granddaddy” into a new era so that it can remain relevant in the supercompetitive Myrtle Beach golf scene.

Consisting of beautiful beaches, scenic world-class golf courses, charming Lowcountry resorts and a genteel atmosphere that enables visitors to unwind and relax, the southern tip of the Grand Strand is an appealing alternative to golfers and families looking for a more laid back Myrtle Beach golf vacation.

The southern region of the “Golf Capital of the World” is highlighted by Pawleys Island and Litchfield Beach. Golfers will find a variety of award-winning designs including the area’s first course, historic Litchfield Country Club, Willbrook Plantation, River Club, Founders Club, Pawleys Plantation and Heritage Club. All of these courses belong to the collection of award-winning layouts that make up the Waccamaw Golf Trail.

Get the latest on all of the high-profile courses along the Waccamaw Golf Trail by browsing online at www.waccamawgolftrail.com.

No one will argue the fact that the Myrtle Beach area’s number one summer attraction is the beach. It’s regarded as the top family beach in America. Shopping and dining are popular pastimes and the family amusement parks and water parks rank pretty highly as well. But don’t  overlook the growing popularity of summer golf. Last summer, between June and August, nearly a million rounds of golf were recorded on Myrtle Beach area courses.

It used to be that summer golf was an activity where dad slipped away in the early morning and got back around lunch time before he was missed. While that is still a popular strategy for many, there is a noticeable increase in the number of dads, moms and kids who are heading to the courses as a family. No place makes it easier to do so than Myrtle Beach.

A little more than a month after The Love Course at Barefoot Resort & Golf closed because of damage to bridges linking different sections of the course, the highly-acclaimed layout will re-open to the public on June 1.

Initially, Barefoot Resort allowed public play on a modified 18-hole layout consisting of 14 holes on the Love Course and four on the Fazio Course. However, the decision was made to shut down both layouts until each could be returned to the quality and condition golfers have grown accustomed to.

One of the nation's leading surveyors of American travelers, Zagat, has ranked Pawleys Plantation among the top golf courses in the United States, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in its recently released guide, America's Top Golf Courses 6th Edition. Zagat surveyed more than 6,054 avid golfers for the ratings and reviews in the guide.

Those surveyed rated Pawleys Plantation as "very good to excellent" in all categories including the course, facilities, service, and value. Describing the course as "one of Jack Nicklaus' best designs," the guide reports that the course "is an example of true Southern golf all the way down to the plantation-style clubhouse."