Planning Your North Myrtle Beach Golf Trip
North Myrtle Beach sits on the Grand Strand, one of the top golf regions in the country. There are more than 100 courses in the area. You can play big-name layouts like Barefoot Resort and Tidewater, or a local course like Azalea Sands. Tee times are a short drive away.
Why Is This a Golf Capital?
The Grand Strand packs more than 90 courses into a relatively small coastal stretch, which is why golfers plan whole trips around it. From Ocean Drive you are minutes from championship layouts and classic local clubs alike, with designs by Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Tom Fazio, and Pete Dye all close by. Spring and fall bring the best conditions. Here are the standout courses and how to plan a round around beach days.
Barefoot Resort’s Fantastic Four
Barefoot Resort and Golf, just across the waterway near Barefoot Landing, is the marquee stop. It offers four championship courses, often called the Fantastic Four, each by a different legend: Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Tom Fazio, and Pete Dye. The Dye Course is a Top 100 You Can Play layout, the Love Course features the recreated ruins of a Southern plantation, and the Norman Course runs seven holes along the Intracoastal Waterway. Playing all four is a popular trip in itself.
Tidewater, Surf Club, and Azalea Sands
Beyond Barefoot, the north end has gems. Tidewater Golf Club, set between the Intracoastal Waterway and Cherry Grove Inlet, is often called the Pebble Beach of the East and ranks among the state’s top courses. Surf Golf and Beach Club, established in 1959, is a classic seaside layout that plays in the Atlantic breeze, and Azalea Sands, opened in 1972, offers a friendly, open design with no homes lining the fairways. Beachwood Golf Club is a reliable value pick.
Booking Tee Times and Golf Packages
For spring trips, book early. Prime weekend tee times at Tidewater and Barefoot fill weeks ahead in March, April, and May, and courses open booking windows roughly 30 to 90 days out. A smart itinerary pairs one or two premium rounds with a couple of value layouts, which keeps variety high and cost reasonable. Many courses sell stay-and-play packages, though staying direct at the condo lets you mix golf with beach time on your own schedule.
A Golf-and-Beach Trip from the Condo
The appeal of basing at Mar Vista Grande is that golfers and non-golfers both win. Tee off early, finish by midday, and you are back oceanfront for the afternoon while the rest of the group enjoys the beach, the pools, and the lazy river. Highway 17 traffic is real in peak season, so staying close to your booked courses saves time. The best time to visit guide helps you target the prime golf months, the things to do guide covers the non-golf side, and the getting here guide helps with arrival. The blue haven oceanfront condo page shows where you will stay.
Golf Trip: Common Questions
How many golf courses are near North Myrtle Beach?
The Grand Strand has more than 90 courses, with many of the best, including Barefoot Resort and Tidewater, just minutes from the Ocean Drive section.
Which courses are closest to the condo?
Barefoot Resort and Golf and Tidewater Golf Club are nearby across the waterway, along with Surf Golf and Beach Club, Azalea Sands, and Beachwood.
How far ahead should I book tee times?
For spring, book early. Premium weekend times at Tidewater and Barefoot fill weeks out, and many courses open booking 30 to 90 days ahead.
When is the best season for golf?
Spring and fall offer the best conditions, with mild temperatures and lower humidity. Summer works if you grab early tee times and beach the afternoon.
Are golf packages worth it?
Stay-and-play packages can save money for golf-focused groups. Booking the condo direct instead lets mixed groups blend rounds with beach and pool days.
What about non-golfers in the group?
Basing oceanfront means non-golfers have the beach, pools, and lazy river while others play. Many tee off early and rejoin the family by midday.