With over 100 golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area, there’s a track to fit every budget. Here are four favorites when golfing Myrtle Beach:

The Witch

From 500 acres of swamp between Conway and Myrtle Beach, golf course designer Dan Maples carved out a track that respects the area’s unique topography. The first of many wooden bridges leads golfers through an untouched swamp filled with cypress trees and haunting Spanish moss. Water figures prominently in the front nine. A sleepy 6-foot gator watches the green on the second hole of The Witch. If you miss the fairway, best play another ball.

Barefoot Resort Norman Course

The Norman course, second longest of the Barefoot quartet of Dye, Fazio and Love designs, features generous waste areas reminiscent of a desert track and seven holes along the Intra-coastal waterway. The holes that wind through a housing complex aren’t as challenging. GPS equipped carts are standard for all golfers. Barefoot Resort & Golf is the host of this year’s Big Break competition on The Golf Channel.

Heather Glen

Not actually in Myrtle Beach, but in Little River S.C., Heather Glen is easy to miss. If you see the state tourism booth, turn around, you’ve driven too far.  When it opened in 1987, Golf Digest named this well-maintained track  “No. 1 New Public Course”. You’ll an enjoy a relaxing round among the tall Carolina pines.

Caledonia Golf and Fish Club

The long driveway lined with majestic oak trees leads you up to the Caledonia clubhouse. One thinks of all things southern, like sweet iced tea on a wraparound veranda, which this clubhouse has – situated perfectly to judge approach shots into the 18^th green.

If you lay up to the correct distance, your approach over water into the green should pose no problem, even with an audience. Located about an hour’s drive south of Myrtle Beach on Pawley’s Island, the beautifully maintained Caledonia ranks in the “Top 100 You Can Play” by Golf Magazine and Golf Digest.

Getting around

Visitors might feel their vacation has already started after landing at the newly renovated, spacious, easy to use Myrtle Beach airport. No shuttle is required to pick up your rental car either, – just follow the trail of golfers with their clubs across the street.

Highway 17 is the main north – south artery in Myrtle Beach, but locals use 31 as a quicker alternative. If you can, avoid the congested 509.

Where to stay

The Hilton North Myrtle Beach features two beautiful pools right on the beach. Friendly, helpful staff, a spacious business center with seven computers and a self- park option are big likes.

Located in Cherry Grove at Cherry Grove Pier, you can walk right out the back door of The Prince Resort into the Atlantic Ocean. The 3500 Ocean Grill has the best grits we have ever tasted. Low season rates from 69.00 but splurge for an ocean front room with balcony.

Where to Eat

From grits and Carolina eggs at breakfast to fried green tomatoes, hush puppies, BBQ and seafood for dinner, South Carolina favorites quickly became our favorites.

If you like casual and funky, you’ll love Bimini’s, where the outdoor patio is a tent in a strip mall parking lot, and the broiled fish served in a metal pail. We shared a platter of crab, shrimp, mussels, clams and corn, all excellent. And if you’re there on the right night, you might see an artist creating beautiful flowers for patrons from palm fronds.

Just across the state line in North Carolina is Ella’s, long favored by locals for seafood served up Calabash style – that is lightly floured and fried. We particularly liked their crab bisque and lighter and tastier hush puppies. Try their amazing sea salt scrub instead of soap in the bathroom, you’ll want to bring some home.

For the best in BBQ, try the BBQ House on Highway 17. With the larger southern portions, you can easily split an order and still be full. But don’t expect to get a beer on Sunday night – South Carolina law prohibits the sale of alcohol on Sundays.

Travel Planner

• Myrtle Beach Golf Association
• Myrtle Beach Golf
• Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort   10000 Beach Club Drive, Myrtle Beach, S. C.
• The Prince Resort 3500 N. Ocean Blvd. North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina