North Myrtle Beach Golf Courses: The Complete Guide to Every Course on the North Strand

There’s a moment on the back nine at Tidewater Golf Club — somewhere around the 12th hole, where the Cherry Grove marsh opens up and the Atlantic catches the late-morning light and the whole Grand Strand seems to exhale — when a golfer understands exactly why people keep coming back to North Myrtle Beach. It isn’t just the golf, though the golf is extraordinary. It’s the way the courses here feel woven into the landscape. Salt air drifting across bent-grass greens. Tidal marshes running right up to the fairway edge. Ancient live oaks draped with Spanish moss. The Intracoastal Waterway shimmering through the pines like a ribbon of hammered silver. North Myrtle Beach doesn’t just host golf — it frames it.

This stretch of the South Carolina coast has earned its reputation as one of the greatest golf destinations in the United States. The broader Grand Strand is home to more than 90 courses spread across roughly 70 miles of coastline, and a significant number of the finest ones are concentrated right here on the north end — in North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Longs, and the adjacent communities of Calabash, Sunset Beach, and Ocean Isle Beach just across the North Carolina line. World-renowned architects left their fingerprints all over this place: Pete Dye, Greg Norman, Tom Fazio, Davis Love III, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Rees Jones, Ken Tomlinson, Tim Cate, Dan Maples, Clyde Johnston. The list reads like a who’s who of American golf design history.

This guide covers every course in the North Myrtle Beach orbit — the premium crown jewels, the mid-range layouts that surprise you, the budget-friendly tracks that locals swear by, and the North Carolina border courses that belong in any serious Grand Strand itinerary. All of the courses listed here are verified open and actively booking tee times. A handful of longtime favorites — Farmstead Golf Links, Possum Trot, and Heather Glen — have permanently closed in recent years, and they are not included here out of respect for your planning. What remains is remarkable.

Why North Myrtle Beach Belongs on Every Golfer’s Map

The Golf Capital of the World. That title belongs to Myrtle Beach, and the north end is a large reason why. Experienced golfers know that the courses clustered around North Myrtle Beach represent some of the most sophisticated and scenic layouts in the Southeast. The concentration of nationally ranked public-access courses within a 30-minute drive of each other is, quite simply, remarkable. You can spend a full week here without repeating a round and still leave courses on the list for next time.

The climate cooperates. North Myrtle Beach enjoys mild winters where golf is playable year-round, softened by Atlantic sea breezes that keep summer rounds from becoming endurance tests. Spring and fall are legendary — courses fill up fast from March through May and again from September through November, when conditions on the greens approach perfection and the light over the marsh at 7 a.m. makes you wonder why you ever played anywhere else.

After the round, you’re minutes from Cherry Grove Beach, from excellent seafood restaurants, from the live music and nightlife of the Ocean Drive district. North Myrtle Beach is a place where a golf trip becomes a full vacation. And vacation properties from Thomas Beach Vacations make it easy — spacious homes and condos close to the fairways, comfortable enough that your foursome doesn’t want to leave. Now let’s talk courses.

The Crown Jewels: Premium & Nationally Ranked Courses

These are the courses that put North Myrtle Beach on the national golf map — layouts that have earned rankings in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and Golfweek, and that players travel specifically to check off their lists.

Tidewater Golf Club

The crown jewel of the North Strand. Ask experienced Grand Strand golfers which course belongs on any serious bucket list, and Tidewater is nearly always the first name out of their mouths. Designed by Ken Tomlinson and opened in 1990, Tidewater occupies an extraordinary peninsula tucked between Cherry Grove Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway, with Atlantic Ocean views from the 13th green that stop golfers dead in their tracks. It is the only course in history simultaneously named Best New Public Course in America by both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest, and it continues to rank among Golfweek’s Top 200 Resort Courses (2025) and Golf Digest’s Best Courses in South Carolina (2024). The par-72 layout stretches 7,078 yards from the tips with a slope of 144 — a genuine championship test — but five tee options make it accessible for all skill levels. Nine holes play along Cherry Grove marsh or the Waterway. The signature 12th, a 145-yard par-3 carrying saltwater marsh to a bunker-flanked green, is one of the most photographed holes in the Carolinas. A complete bunker renovation was finished in 2025. After the round, Joey’s Clubhouse Grille is a proper stop. | 4901 Little River Neck Road, North Myrtle Beach, SC

Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links

A few miles north of North Myrtle Beach in Little River, Glen Dornoch earns a place on nearly every serious golfer’s must-play list. Designed by Clyde Johnston as a tribute to Donald Ross and the Scottish links tradition of Royal Dornoch, this course carves through 270 acres of ancient live oaks, coastal marshland, and terrain unlike almost anything else on the Strand. The rarity is the elevation — natural rises of up to 35 feet create drama that flat Grand Strand layouts simply can’t replicate. The 6,890-yard layout (slope 145, rating 73.2) concludes with three of the most celebrated finishing holes in Myrtle Beach golf: hole 16, a brutal dogleg-left par-4 over marsh; hole 17, a long par-3 carry over water with almost no margin; and hole 18, running along the Intracoastal Waterway to a narrow green with boaters watching from the water. The Pub at Glen Dornoch overlooks the waterway and is exactly the kind of 19th hole this kind of finish deserves. | 4840 Hwy 17 S, Little River, SC

Long Bay Golf Club

Just months after winning the 1986 Masters, Jack Nicklaus toured the land west of North Myrtle Beach in Longs, SC and told local reporters he liked what he saw. The result is one of the most distinctive courses in the Carolinas. Long Bay departs sharply from the typical Nicklaus formula — instead of tree-lined fairways, it relies on massive waste bunkers, expansive mounding, and a layout that demands creative shot-making and patience over raw power. The par-72 layout stretches 7,021 yards from the tips with a slope of 137. Golf Digest awarded it 4.5 stars in “Places to Play,” and three back nine holes — 10, 13, and 18 — have been consistently ranked among the Grand Strand’s top individual holes. The island green on hole 13 is the signature moment. It’s a course that reveals itself more deeply with each visit, which is why so many golfers return to it year after year. A golden statue of Nicklaus greets you in the parking lot. | 350 Foxtail Drive, Longs, SC

Rivers Edge Golf Club

About 30 minutes north of North Myrtle Beach in Shallotte, NC, Rivers Edge is an Arnold Palmer Signature Design that has appeared on Golf Digest’s America’s Top 100 Greatest Public Courses — a distinction that makes the short drive more than worthwhile. Palmer built the course around the dramatic bluffs and tidal creeks of the Shallotte River, and six holes play from heights overlooking two miles of grassy marshland. Hole 9, known as “Arnie’s Revenge,” is the signature moment — a risk-reward thriller along the river that golfers debate long after the round ends. Seven holes total play along or near the water. The elevation changes here are genuinely uncommon for coastal golf: from high bluffs to low marsh carries, the course shifts your perspective hole by hole. Reviews through early 2026 consistently praise both the conditions and the staff. | 2000 Arnold Palmer Drive, Shallotte, NC

Barefoot Resort & Golf — Four Legends, One Address

In 2000, Barefoot Resort & Golf made golf history by opening four championship courses simultaneously — something that had never been done in the United States before. The architects recruited were a Mount Rushmore of golf design: Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Tom Fazio, and Pete Dye. Located along the Intracoastal Waterway in the heart of North Myrtle Beach, Barefoot remains one of the most celebrated multi-course destinations on the East Coast. Each course has its own distinct personality and challenge profile.

Barefoot Dye Course (Semi-Private)

The most demanding of Barefoot’s four courses. Classic Pete Dye hallmarks are everywhere: railroad ties, aggressive waste bunkers, strategic water hazards, and greens that punish the wrong side of the hole. Ranked 30th in South Carolina by Golf Digest, it has hosted competitive events and is considered by many to be among the finest layouts on the entire Strand. Operates semi-private — call ahead for availability.

Barefoot Norman Course

The most dramatic of the three public Barefoot layouts. Seven holes run directly along the Intracoastal Waterway, with fairways that run right up to natural waste areas in classic Norman fashion. Open green complexes and emphasis on short-game precision make this one accessible and visually spectacular in equal measure.

Barefoot Fazio Course

Tom Fazio’s signature touch is unmistakable here — intricate bunkering, flowing fairways, and marsh views that reward patience and strategic thinking. Often favored by low-handicappers for its exacting demands, the Fazio Course is a consistent favorite among golfers who return to Barefoot multiple times in the same trip.

Barefoot Love Course

Davis Love III’s nod to traditional Carolina low-country design, the Love Course is the most accessible of Barefoot’s public layouts. Open, rolling fairways and replica plantation ruins — among the most photographed features in all of North Myrtle Beach golf — give it a warmth and character that stays with you after the round. | 4980 Barefoot Resort Bridge Road, North Myrtle Beach, SC

The Sweet Spot: Mid-Range Courses Worth Every Dollar

The mid-range tier is where a lot of the most memorable Grand Strand golf happens. These courses offer championship design, excellent conditioning, and experiences that rival anything in the premium category — at price points that let you play more rounds and come back next year.

Arcadian Shores Golf Club

Rees Jones’ first solo design project, opened in 1974 and still earning national recognition 50 years later. Located between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach adjacent to Kingston Plantation, Arcadian Shores plays 6,857 yards from the championship tees (slope 137, rating 73.2). Live oaks, natural lakes, and strategic bunkers define the layout. Two holes have been named to the local media’s “Grand Strand Dream 18” — the par-3 2nd and the par-4 13th, the course’s toughest hole, which demands a precise tee shot followed by an approach over water to a sloping, bunker-guarded green. A major renovation in recent years brought TifEagle Bermuda greens, improved irrigation, and repaved cart paths throughout. Part of the Myrtle Beach Golf Trail. | 701 Hilton Rd, Myrtle Beach, SC

River Hills Golf & Country Club

Designed by Tom Jackson and tucked into a wooded, residential community in Little River, River Hills is one of the quieter, more intimate rounds on the North Strand. The tree-lined fairways lead to well-protected greens that reward accurate iron play over brute force. A community-club atmosphere and consistently strong conditioning make it a favorite among returning visitors who prefer a more contemplative round. Part of the Founders Collection of courses. | 3670 Cedar Creek Run, Little River, SC

Aberdeen Country Club

A short drive west of North Myrtle Beach in Longs along Highway 9, Aberdeen is a 27-hole facility with three distinct nines — Highlands, Meadows, and Woodlands — modeled after the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Scotland, the world’s sixth-oldest course. Designer Tom Jackson built it in 1989 along the Waccamaw River among towering hardwoods and wetland preserves teeming with ospreys, eagles, and alligators. Golf Digest gave it four stars in “Places to Play” and the rare dual recognition for both value and service in the Carolinas. Each nine has its own feel: Highlands rolls with links-style hills, Meadows is precision-oriented, and Woodlands is the most demanding of the three. Kids play free every day with a paid adult. Part of the Founders Collection. | 701 Buck Trail, Longs, SC

Crow Creek Golf Club

Consistently ranked as one of the most requested courses on the North Strand, Crow Creek is a Rick Robbins design from 2000 located in Calabash, NC, just across the state line. The course is a standout for its bent grass greens — one of a shrinking number of North Strand layouts that still maintains bent putting surfaces, which are known for exceptional speed and smoothness. The private-club atmosphere, meticulous conditioning, first-rate practice facility, and welcoming staff make Crow Creek feel like a private club at public prices. A favorite for groups who want a step up in experience without the premium resort price tag. | 240 Hickman Road NW, Calabash, NC

Sandpiper Bay Golf Club

A Dan Maples design in Sunset Beach, NC, Sandpiper Bay has built a loyal following among golfers who appreciate a links-influenced layout in a welcoming, unpretentious setting. Open stretches mix with wooded corridors, and the course has a reputation for being one where everyone seems to play a little better than expected. Consistently praised for strong conditions and value pricing. Part of the Brunswick Plantation package network of popular North Strand layouts. | 1900 Sandpiper Bay Drive SW, Sunset Beach, NC

Thistle Golf Club

Designed by Tim Cate in Sunset Beach, NC, Thistle operates 27 holes across three nines and has hosted major amateur events — most recently serving as the site of the playoff round for the 2025 Play Golf Myrtle Beach World Amateur Championship. The course is known for exceptional conditioning and a high-end experience. Some nines undergo periodic renovation to stay current, so calling ahead to confirm which combination of 18 holes is in play is worth the two-minute conversation. | 3840 Highway 1013, Sunset Beach, NC

Sea Trail Golf Resort

Three distinct 18-hole courses within a single resort community in Sunset Beach — designed by Willard Byrd, Rees Jones, and Dan Maples, respectively. The variety is the appeal: a golfer can play very different experiences on consecutive days without leaving the property. The Rees Jones Course and Dan Maples Course both have devoted followings among regular Grand Strand visitors. The Byrd Course is a budget-friendly option with solid conditions. The Maples Course has recently undergone renovation. | 211 Clubhouse Road SW, Sunset Beach, NC

Oyster Bay Golf Links

Dan Maples’ debut solo design, opened in 1983 and named Golf Digest’s Resort Course of the Year that same year. Located just across the state line in Sunset Beach, NC, but squarely in the orbit of the North Strand. The par-70 layout plays just under 6,700 yards and uses saltwater marshes, freshwater lakes, the Calabash River, and 63 cavernous bunkers to create rounds that stay in the memory long after you’ve left the Strand. Two island greens define the back nine — the signature 17th, where an oyster shell-walled tee box launches a shot to a green built on a mountain of shells, is one of the most photographed holes in the Carolinas. Resident alligators on the Calabash River provide a uniquely coastal form of ambiance. Part of the Legends Golf Resort family; stay-and-play packages include breakfast, lunch, and two drinks. | 614 Lakeshore Drive, Sunset Beach, NC

Budget-Friendly Courses That Punch Above Their Weight

The smartest golf trip itineraries mix premium rounds with strong value layouts. These courses deliver honest, well-maintained golf at prices that let you play more frequently — and still walk off the 18th with a genuine smile.

Beachwood Golf Club

Over a million rounds have been played at Beachwood since Gene Hamm opened this course in 1968, and every one of them has been welcomed by a staff that actually seems glad you showed up. Located on Highway 17 South in the heart of North Myrtle Beach — literally between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway — Beachwood has been voted The Most Player-Friendly Golf Course in Myrtle Beach by local golfers. The par-72 layout plays to 6,691 yards from the tips; water threatens on six holes; bunkers are placed strategically but fairly. Recently renovated, with the best driving range in North Myrtle Beach — all-grass hitting area, two large practice greens, chipping area, and a practice bunker. Partners with Azalea Sands and Eagle Nest for the North Myrtle Beach Golf Pass. | 1520 Hwy 17 S, North Myrtle Beach, SC

Azalea Sands Golf Club

Opened in 1972 and designed by Gene Hamm, Azalea Sands holds one distinction that almost no other Grand Strand course can claim: not a single home or condo is visible from any fairway. Just you, the layout, and whatever wind comes off the coast. Located on Highway 17 in the heart of North Myrtle Beach, Azalea Sands is under new management and has been freshly renovated. The design will make you use every club in the bag — deceptively open in places, it rewards course management over power. Fast greens, good pace of play, welcoming to all ages. Part of the North Myrtle Beach Golf Pass with Beachwood and Eagle Nest. | 2100 Hwy 17 S, North Myrtle Beach, SC

Eagle Nest Golf Club

Just north of North Myrtle Beach in Little River, Eagle Nest is best known for one of the most memorable finishing holes on the Grand Strand: an 18th hole par-5 stretching to 626 yards from the tips that puts every club in your bag and every decision you’ve made that day to the test. Gene Hamm designed this course with an honest fairness that makes it enjoyable for all skill levels while never becoming a pushover. A budget-friendly layout that plays better than its price suggests. Part of the North Myrtle Beach Golf Pass. | 1 Eagle Nest Drive, Little River, SC

Crown Park Golf Club

One of the North Strand’s best-kept secrets, Crown Park sits just minutes from North Myrtle Beach off Highway 9 in Longs. The Robbie Byers-designed layout winds through a Carolina pine forest with no housing on any fairway — a genuine rarity. TifEagle putting surfaces are known for being smooth and fast. The par-72 course plays 6,477 yards from the back tees with a slope of 128 and rating of 71.3 — not overly punishing, which makes it ideal for a first round of the trip or a departure day layout. An expansive grass driving range, putting green, and chipping area are on site. Part of the Myrtle Beach Golf Trail. | 2225 Hwy 9 W, Longs, SC

Diamondback Golf Club

A Russell Breeden design tucked off Highway 9 in Longs, Diamondback is the quiet overachiever of the North Strand — a course that surprises golfers who write it off as an out-of-the-way budget option. The 6,928-yard layout carves through towering pines and natural wetlands with multiple forced carries that reward smart club selection. Signature hole 16 is a 209-yard par-3 with lowcountry marsh spreading from left to right. The staff here consistently gets glowing reviews. A perfect add for arrival or departure day when you want quality without fuss. | 615 Log Cabin Road, Longs, SC

Meadowlands Golf Club

Named the 2019 Myrtle Beach Golf Course of the Year, Meadowlands is a Willard Byrd design from 1997 located in Calabash, NC, less than 10 minutes from the North Carolina border. It was built on land owned by the same family that operated the now-closed Farmstead Golf Links next door, and Meadowlands continues operating under the family’s stewardship. TifEagle greens, a layout that is welcoming to golfers of all skill levels — particularly women — and consistent value pricing make this a dependable choice. | 1000 Meadowlands Trail NW, Calabash, NC

Brunswick Plantation & Golf Resort

A 27-hole resort in Calabash, NC with three nine-hole courses — Azalea, Dogwood, and Magnolia — each offering a different feel and challenge. Voted one of the top 50 courses in the United States, the Willard Byrd and Clyde Johnston-designed layout features Champion Bermuda greens guaranteed to be in top condition year-round. The resort serves as a hub for North Strand golf packages, with easy access to Crow Creek, Meadowlands, Sandpiper Bay, and many other courses within 20 minutes. The 14,000-square-foot plantation-style clubhouse with Jasmine’s restaurant is a proper stop after the round. | 512 Whitefield Way SW, Calabash, NC

Just Across the Line: More NC Courses in the North Strand Orbit

The North Carolina state line north of North Myrtle Beach runs through golf country, and several outstanding courses in Brunswick County are so closely tied to the North Strand experience that no complete guide to North Myrtle Beach golf can leave them out. These are legitimate day trips from any North Myrtle Beach vacation rental — most are 20 to 35 minutes away.

The Pearl Golf Links — East & West

Two 18-hole Dan Maples designs side by side in Sunset Beach, NC, The Pearl East and West offer 36 holes of championship coastal golf on a shared property. Both courses are well-maintained and regularly praised for conditioning. East is considered the more challenging of the two; West is more player-friendly and accessible. Together they give a group the flexibility of two very different rounds in one stop. Part of the Myrtle Beach Golf Trail. | 1500 Pearl Blvd SW, Sunset Beach, NC

Surf Golf and Beach Club

One of the oldest courses in the Southeast, Surf Golf and Beach Club was established in 1959 and renovated in 1992. Its seaside layout features water and sand hazards on most holes, and the Atlantic winds that funnel through challenge even experienced players to think their way around rather than overpower the design. A semi-private course with a genuine history in the North Myrtle Beach golf community. | 1701 Springland Lane, North Myrtle Beach, SC

Carolina National Golf Club

The only Fred Couples Signature Course in the Brunswick County and Myrtle Beach region, Carolina National winds through 27 holes of wetlands, marshes, and river views that make it one of the most scenic tracks accessible from North Myrtle Beach. Located about 35 minutes north, it’s well worth the drive for golfers who want a Couples design without the typical price tag of celebrity-architect courses. Consistently praised as one of the area’s most underrated layouts. | 1643 Goley Hewett Road SE, Bolivia, NC

The Big Cats at Ocean Ridge Plantation

About 20 miles north of North Myrtle Beach near Ocean Isle Beach, NC, Ocean Ridge Plantation is home to four Tim Cate-designed layouts known collectively as the Big Cats — each named for a different big-cat species. All four are championship-caliber courses set within a private community on the Brunswick County coast, and all accept public tee times. They represent some of the most distinctive golf in the entire region.

Tiger’s Eye Golf Links

The highest-rated of the four Big Cats, Tiger’s Eye is a high-end layout that plays 7,014 yards from the championship tees with dramatic elevation changes uncommon for the Brunswick coast. Multiple holes carry over wetlands and marshes, and the course’s tight fairways and demanding greens reward precision over distance. Consistently appears on top-10 Grand Strand lists. | 351 Ocean Ridge Pkwy SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC

Leopard’s Chase Golf Course

The newest of the Big Cats, Leopard’s Chase is a high-end links-influenced layout with wide, windswept fairways and bold bunkering. The visual drama is immediate — the course feels more open and exposed than its siblings, with a genuine links character that suits golfers who want to shape shots against coastal wind. | 351 Ocean Ridge Pkwy SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC

Lion’s Paw Golf Links

The most player-friendly of the Big Cats, Lion’s Paw is designed by Willard Byrd with a layout that remains challenging but accessible for a wider range of handicaps. Its generous fairways and less penal rough make it a good first-round choice for groups that want an Ocean Ridge experience without the full difficulty of Tiger’s Eye. | Ocean Ridge Pkwy SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC

Panther’s Run Golf Links

A TifEagle-surface Tim Cate design that sits between the accessibility of Lion’s Paw and the demanding nature of Tiger’s Eye. Panther’s Run has earned a devoted following for its playability and scenic coastal terrain. The course drains well and tends to hold up better than average after rain, making it a practical choice when the forecast is uncertain. | Ocean Ridge Pkwy SW, Ocean Isle Beach, NC

Tips for Planning Your North Myrtle Beach Golf Trip

Book Tee Times Early — Especially in Spring and Fall

Prime weekend tee times at Tidewater, Barefoot Resort, and Glen Dornoch fill weeks in advance during March, April, and May. If your trip is planned, your tee times should be booked at the same time. Most courses open their booking window 30 to 90 days out. Don’t assume you can call the week you arrive and get what you want.

Mix Premium and Value Rounds

The smartest itineraries pair one or two premium rounds — Tidewater, Barefoot Dye, Glen Dornoch, Long Bay — with two or three value layouts like Crown Park, Beachwood, Diamondback, or Meadowlands. You play more rounds, spend roughly the same money, and the variety between course styles makes each round feel fresher than the last.

Early Morning in Summer, Anytime in Spring or Fall

Summer golf in North Myrtle Beach is perfectly doable — grab the first available tee time, finish your round by midday, spend the afternoon at the beach. Spring and fall are when North Myrtle Beach golf peaks: mild temperatures, lower humidity, and conditions on the greens that you’ll be talking about when you get home.

Check for Aeration Before You Book

Most North Myrtle Beach courses aerate greens in summer and overseed in late October. Aeration schedules are published months in advance — check them before finalizing your itinerary if you’re traveling between May and November. A two-minute call to the pro shop can save you from showing up to sand-filled greens when you were expecting peak putting surfaces.

Stay Close to the Courses You’re Playing

Traffic on Highway 17 during peak season is real. Staying in a vacation rental close to the courses you’ve booked makes the difference between a relaxed trip and a stressful commute. North Myrtle Beach properties in Cherry Grove, Crescent Beach, Ocean Drive, and Barefoot Resort put you within minutes of Tidewater, Barefoot Resort, Beachwood, Azalea Sands, and Eagle Nest. Planning accommodation alongside your tee times is the move.

Frequently Asked Questions