You don't have to be a PGA Tour pro to enjoy golf at one of America's premier golf destinations.
In fact, with more than 100 championship courses located on the 60-mile stretch of Carolina coastline known as the Grand Strand, many Myrtle Beach area layouts were designed with beginners in mind. And with a wide array of natural settings on the Strand - from the oceanfront and Lowcountry wetlands to the dense old-growth and maritime forests - novice golfers can enjoy the scenery as much as the game.
Driver's ed — Photo courtesy of Classic Swing Golf School
Depending on your level of experience, you may want to start your Myrtle Beach golf trip with some private lessons. Most clubs have pros who offer one-on-one instruction to help you sharpen your swing before you hit the links. Classic Swing Golf School at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach features a golf academy for more advanced instruction, and many pro shops have high-tech swing analyzers to show you your weaknesses.
If you want to upgrade your equipment along with your game, the PGA Tour Superstore features all things related to golf under one roof. Buy some new clubs, get your old ones regripped, slip on some new golf shoes and pick up a nice souvenir to remember your Myrtle Beach golf experience. Novices can also rent clubs and try before they buy, taking them for a test drive on Grand Strand courses.
Now, you're ready to hit the links, and there are many excellent courses to choose from, regardless of which end of the Strand you are visiting. For those in Myrtle Beach proper, Myrtlewood Golf Club borders the Intracoastal Waterway and offers 36 scenic holes that are both challenging and fair. You can also work on your short game at a pair of par-3 courses with driving ranges - Cane Patch and Midway.
Putt-putting on the Grand Strand — Photo courtesy of Mayday Minigolf
The north end of the Strand also has some real gems for beginners, such as Glen Dornach Golf Links and Long Bay Golf Club in Little River, and Arcadian Shores and Waterway Hills in North Myrtle Beach. The South Strand features some acclaimed courses that are worth the walk (even if your golf game isn't), such as Wachesaw Golf Plantation in Murrells Inlet and The Heritage in Pawleys Island.
Of course, everyone's favorite golf hole in Myrtle Beach is the 19th, and there are plenty of places to replay your round over dinner and a few drinks with friends. Golf-themed restaurants and pubs, like The Tilted Kilt at Broadway at the Beach, Greg Norman's Australian Grill at Barefoot Landing and Sam Snead's in Carolina Forest offer the perfect environments to eat, drink and talk golf. And what better way to cap the evening than with a round or two of miniature golf?
For beginners with a competitive streak, Myrtle Beach is home to the world's largest amateur golf tournament every summer. The World-Am, which allows novices to compete with scratch golfers by incorporating handicaps, has as many as 5,000 participants playing on 60 different courses on the Strand.
