Hot List: 6 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Golf Courses on the Intracoastal Waterway
The construction of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway was authorized by Congress in 1919, and the 1,900-mile waterway spanning the East Coast has done much good, providing safe passage to commercial and civilian boats in times of trouble.
An unintended benefit of the Waterway was the backdrop it provided golf course architects. The Intracoastal runs the length of the Myrtle Beach golf scene and some of the game’s biggest names utilized the Army Corps of Engineers’ handiwork, creating some of the area’s most stunning visuals.
Numerous courses play along tributaries that empty into the Waterway, but there are only six Myrtle Beach golf courses that play along the Intracoastal, here is a quick look at each.
Arrowhead Country Club
Arrowhead is home to 27 holes, the aptly named Waterway Nine being of interest in this case. The Intracoastal comes into view on the fourth hole, and the 387-yard, par 4 fifth plays along the water. It’s the signature hole at Arrowhead with good reason.
Glen Dornoch Waterway Links
As much as any Myrtle Beach golf course, is defined by its proximity to the Intracoastal. The clubhouse offers a stunning view, and the closing holes on each nine are some of the area’s prettiest. In particular, 16, 17 and 18 are challenging and memory inducing in their beauty.
Grande Dunes Golf Club
Grande Dunes is ranked among America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses and having five holes that play along the Intracoastal is certainly part of the reason. The Waterway figures into holes 8, 9, 10, 14 and 15 and it’s visible on 11 and 16. Grande Dunes offers some of the area’s most striking Intracoastal views, and the 14th is among the area’s most popular par 3s.
Barefoot - Norman Course
Appropriately, Greg Norman, The Shark, built the teeth of his only Myrtle Beach golf course around water. Seven of the nine holes on the backside of the Norman Course offer views of the Intracoastal and six play along the water. The one you absolutely won’t forget is the par 3 10th, which plays to the water’s edge.
Myrtlewood - Palmetto Course
The Myrtlewood clubhouse offers an immediate view of the Intracoastal, providing a hint of what is to come. The 18th hole on the second of Myrtlewood’s two courses, the Palmetto, snuggles up to the Intracoastal. All 468 yards play along the water. It’s a great finish at one of Myrtle Beach’s Golden Oldies. The view from the par 3 17th is equally appealing.
Tidewater Golf Club
One of the most decorated Myrtle Beach golf courses and one of Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, Tidewater is home to several bodies of water, including the Intracoastal. Four holes at Tidewater play along the Waterway, including eight and nine, which send players into the clubhouse with a smile on their face.
If you can’t get enough of the Intracoastal, the area is home to another course that doesn’t play directly the water, but provides ample scenery. The third hole on the Fox Nine at River Oaks overlooks the Waterway and the drive to the 4th tee runs parallel to the water.
