Golfweek has unveiled its always anticipated list of “Best 2024: Top public-access golf courses in every state” and Myrtle Beach dominated the ranking of South Carolina’s best layouts.
After compiling the evaluations of a nationwide network of raters, Golfweek ranked 13 Myrtle Beach-area courses among the golf-rich Palmetto State’s top 20 public designs. Golfweek’s panel continually evaluated courses and rated them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also filed a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings were averaged to produce all Golfweek’s Best course rankings.
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club was ranked No. 3 in the state and was followed by No. 4 Dunes Golf & Beach Club, No. 5 True Blue Golf Club, No. 8 TPC Myrtle Beach, No. 9 Tidewater Golf Club, No. 10 Moorland Course at Legends Resort, No. 11 King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, No. 13 Heathland Course at Legends Resort, T14 Dye Course at Barefoot Resort, T14 Grande Dunes Resort Club, T16 Heritage Club, T16 Prestwick Country Club and No. 20 Love Course at Barefoot Resort.
On the other side of the state line, Golfweek ranked Thistle Golf Club as the ninth-best public course in North Carolina.
There was little surprise in seeing Caledonia leading Myrtle Beach’s contingent of courses. The Mike Strantz design is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its opening this year and has long been ranked among America’s top 100 public layouts.
The Dunes Club, another consensus top 100 course, recently hosted the PGA TOUR’s Myrtle Beach Classic and received rave reviews from players, while True Blue, Caledonia’s sister course, is ranked among America’s top 100 resort courses.
TPC Myrtle Beach, the host of “The Q at Myrtle Beach,” offers a stern but fair test, exceeding the lofty expectations players have for TPC branded courses. Tidewater, recently purchased by Kemper Sports, features nine holes that play along either the Intracoastal Waterway or Cherry Grove Inlet, and it’s one of the state’s most scenic layouts.
The Moorland and Heathland courses at Legends have long been among the area’s most popular, anchoring the acclaimed 54-hole property. Heathland, one of Tom Doak’s early layouts, wows players with its links-inspired design. A P.B. Dye course, Moorland is highlighted by the drivable, par-4 16th hole, known as “Hell’s Half-Acre.”
King’s North, which just began a two-stage, two-year renovation project that will propel the Arnold Palmer design to even greater heights, is one of Myrtle Beach’s most recognized layouts. Grande Dunes is home to five holes that play along the Intracoastal, making the Roger Rulewich design one of the region’s most memorable.
Heritage Club, a Dan Maples design, plays through a stunning piece of Lowcountry land, showcasing live oak trees that are a perfect backdrop for an unforgettable round of golf. Prestwick, another P.B. Dye layout, is one of the area’s hidden gems.
The Love and Dye courses help anchor Barefoot Resort, which has been named the North American Golf Resort of the Year. The long-time host of the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am, the Dye Course is everything golfers expect from legendary architect Pete Dye: it’s challenging, scenic and unforgettable. A round at the Love Course is highlighted by holes four through six playing around the faux ruins of an old plantation home.
Home to 27 holes, Thistle Golf Club, which started a multi-stage renovation project this spring, is a Scottish links-inspired design that has delighted golfers on the Tar Heel side of the state line for years.
The Myrtle Beach area is home to nearly 90 courses and attracts players from across the globe to enjoy the game’s greatest combination of golf and value.
For more information or to book a tee time, visit PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com.
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