Featured Myrtle Beach Golf Course Stories

The King Reigns Supreme at the 1996 Opening of King’s North

Arnold Palmer recently celebrated his 80th birthday, and photos and tales of his career graced the covers and pages of every golf magazine in America. Like so many people and places, Myrtle Beach, S.C. has been blessed to have hosted several Palmer sightings, including several appearances at Senior Tour Championship and a special guest appearance at the 50th Annual Golf Writers Dinner in 2003. Among his greatest gifts to Myrtle Beach are the three Arnold Palmer signature courses at Myrtle Beach National, located on Highway 501 between Myrtle Beach and Conway.

In the 1970’s Palmer and design partner Francis Duane were contracted to carve three 18-hole courses from a Carolina pine forest. They were simply regarded as the North, South and West Courses. Similar in many ways, yet different enough that everyone had their favorite, these three courses thrilled thousands of golfers each spring and fall, and literally launched the boom of golf course development along the Grand Strand.

What was once referred to as one of the most underrated golf resorts in the Southeast is now proudly basking under the warmth of the low autumn sun after the readers of one of the nation's premier golf publications ranked it as "One of the Best."

Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club was recently recognized among the upper echelon of golf facilities in the U.S. by the readers of Golf World in the magazine's second annual Readers Choice Awards. 

The day-to-day management duties of Clyde Johnston's Wachesaw Plantation East have been assumed by the Myrtle Beach National Company, a move that give's the Grand Strand's largest course ownership and management group a total of 11 courses under its umbrella.

As a result of the agreement, Myrtle Beach National, which owns nine of the 11 courses it manages, will assume oversight of outside operations, pro shop, food and beverage, maintenance and marketing of Wachesaw East. 

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.

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.