Why Go?
The better question is, "Why not?" Myrtle Beach is home to roughly 100 courses, many of them very good and most at bargain prices. As Golf Digest contributor David Owen writes, "Tee times and bar stools are inexhaustible, good used golf balls are easier to find than fresh vegetables, and everything is divisible by four."
Need to Know
"The Grand Strand," as the Myrtle Beach region calls itself, is more than an hour's drive from stem to stern. Plan your trip accordingly. The best itineraries stick to either the central-and-north or central-and-south parts of town. Otherwise you'll find yourself spending way too much time behind the wheel.
Build a Trip Around
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club is the must-play if you're visiting the southern part of Myrtle. The big draw in central Myrtle is the semi-private Dunes Golf & Beach Club. In the north, it's Ocean Ridge Plantation, whose four courses are actually just over the border into North Carolina.
Dollars and Sense
Most of the best courses have green fees of $100 to $200, but nobody pays the published "rack rate" in Myrtle Beach. There's always some sort of special deal. The smart play is to buy tee times as part of a package deal with your lodging.
High Season
You can play year-round in Myrtle, though it can dip into the 30s from December through February. April and October are the best months, with little rainfall and average high temperatures of 75 and 76, respectively.
—Peter Finch
