Best golf courses near Sunset Beach, NC

Just over the border in North Carolina, this Myrtle Beach area layout offers 27 holes. The three nines offer great variety, with some holes narrow with water and others wide open with massive bunkers and imposing mounds. At times, the course can have a Scottish links-style feel, with the significant contouring and patches of native grasses. Other times, like at the par-3 island green, it more closely resembles an American resort, with plenty of water in play.

Oyster Bay, just over the border in North Carolina, has a tranquil setting situated on the Intracoastal Waterway, a couple miles from the Atlantic Ocean. Many holes on this Myrtle Beach-area layout are tree-lined doglegs, though some open to the surrounding marshland, especially on the back nine. The signature par-3 17th features a small island green where a precise iron shot is required to avoid the water.

The highest-ranked of the four courses at Barefoot Resort, the Dye course features classic Dye bunker complexes with risk/reward opportunities for low-handicappers with playable options from forward tees for higher handicappers.

A member of Golf Digest's 100 Greatest Public ranking from 2003 to 2007, the Love course is one of the best in Myrtle Beach and yet ranked as the third-best at golf-rich Barefoot Resort (just a few tenths of a point behind the Fazio course, according to our panelists). This is Love Golf Design's only work in Myrtle Beach, and it makes good use of the land with a good variety of holes—long, short and doglegs in each direction.

When Ken Tomlinson set out to build this Grand Strand course, he looked to world-famous designs, such as Merion and Pine Valley. The architect wanted to ensure that his venue would harmonize seamlessly with its natural surroundings. Tidewater does just that: sitting atop a peninsula, the golf course is nestled between the tidal marsh and forest lands in North Myrtle Beach.

Fazio's entry at Barefoot Resort will challenge the best players—with the routing constantly changing direction to account for the seemingly ever-present wind—but is playable for the resort player. The par-5 fourth hole stands out—lined with bunkers and a sentinel pine up by the green. The 18th hole is a great finish, playing up to the clubhouse with a huge porch, perfect for watching players come in.

Located just over the South Carolina border, the courses at Ocean Ridge Plantation are worth considering for any North Myrtle Beach-centric trip. The Leopard's Chase course was ranked 15th in Golf Digest's best 60 courses you can play in Myrtle Beach, and the facility's Tiger's Eye course was ranked 19th. (All four courses at Ocean Ridge Plantation made our top 60.)

Golf Digest has given many accolades to this Arnold Palmer design over the years: It made America's 100 Greatest Public courses list in 2005 and 2007, and in 2010, Golf Digest named Rivers Edge as a top-10 course on its Best of the Myrtle Beach area (Rivers Edge is located about 20 minutes over the border in North Carolina).

Situated on the Intracoastal Waterway, Glen Dornoch has terrific views and captivating design variety. Designed by Clyde Johnston as a tribute to Donald Ross, the greens can be small and daunting, penalizing shots missed in the wrong area. The course demands thoughtful strategy, with overhanging trees and patches of native grasses coming into play. The finish is especially strong, with the scenic par-3 17th playing over marshland and the par-4 18th playing alongside the Intracoastal to a massive double-green shared with the ninth.

The Norman course at Barefoot Resort is highlighted by the seven holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway. As is typical of many Greg Norman designs, the fairways run off into sandy waste areas, which present a unique challenge. The greens have subtle movement and often give the player the option of hitting a low, bump-and-run shot.