Golfweek Ranks Eight Myrtle Beach Golf Courses Among Top 15 in South Carolina

South Carolina is one of America’s most golf rich states, and much of its bounty can be found in the Myrtle Beach area.

Golfweek magazine just released its 2013 ranking of the Best Courses: State by State, and Myrtle Beach golf courses claimed eight of the top 15 spots in the Palmetto State.

Golfweek ranked Caledonia as the third best course in the state, followed by the Dunes Club (No. 5), True Blue (No. 6), Tidewater (No. 7), TPC Myrtle Beach (No. 9), Love Course at Barefoot (No. 12), Fazio Course at Barefoot (No 14), and Grande Dunes Resort Course (No. 15).

Each of the eight courses have been ranked among America’s Top 100 public courses by either Golf Digest or Golf Magazine in recent years.

Caledonia and True Blue are sister courses, both designed by the late, great Mike Strantz. The South Strand layouts, located less than a mile apart, offer two distinct experiences. Caledonia weaves through the grounds of an old rice plantation, taking advantage of the Lowcountry’s abundant beauty, while True Blue is a modern design, featuring wide fairways, large greens and Strantz’s trademark visuals.  

Dunes Club, the primary host of the 2014 PGA Professional National Championship, is the area’s most decorated course.  The Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design is a consensus top 100 layout and has hosted PGA, Senior PGA and LPGA Tour events.

Tidewater is arguably the Grand Strand’s most scenic layout. With holes that play along Cherry Grove Inlet and the Intracoastal Waterway, in addition to offering views of the Atlantic Ocean, Tidewater is a stunning design.

The Love and Fazio courses anchor Barefoot Resort, one of golf’s premier four-course resorts. Davis Love III crafted his first high profile design at Barefoot and the results were spectacular, particularly the fourth through sixth holes which play around the faux ruins of an old plantation home.

The Fazio Course, as visually pleasing at it is challenging, is one of two Myrtle Beach layouts designed by Tom Fazio on the Golfweek list, joining TPC Myrtle Beach. TPC, which was recently ranked as one of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses by Golf Digest, has hosted the Senior Tour Championship as well.

Grande Dunes’ Resort Course, also a host of the PGA National Championship in 2014, has been one of the area’s most popular courses since its 2001 opening. With seven holes that play along the Intracoastal Waterway, it’s an unforgettable layout.

Leopard’s Chase at Ocean Ridge Plantation was ranked the fifth best course in North Carolina. The Tim Cate design is the fourth and most popular Big Cat at Ocean Ridge Plantation.