Tag: Mike Strantz

Top 35 Public Courses-South Carolina 2023/2024

True Blue Golf Club, Pawleys Island SC

When it’s time to start formulating a plan for the Spring golf trip, South Carolina should come immediately to mind. In addition to great resorts like Kiawah Island, Sea Pines and Barefoot, SC boasts more than 30 non-resort public courses that received a GolfDay rating of 90 or higher (premium)—and over 100 that are rated above 80 (very good).

And of course, Myrtle Beach is the centerpiece to this golfing wonderland. Golf Trails can make it a lot easier to choose courses that are not too far apart, and MB has a couple of teriffic Trails to look at—the Myrtle Beach Golf Trail and the Hammock Coast Golf Trail.

If you looking for golf packages and deals, take a look at Myrtle Beach Golf and Myrtle Beach Golf Trips.

Keep in mind there are plenty of nice hotels and fantastic restaurants to choose from throughout South Carolina (and particularly in the Myrtle Beach area), so you can also reference GolfDay to build your own trip.

Course Architecture

Tom Jackson is #1 for laying out premier public courses in South Carolina with original designs at 5 of the Top 35, including Mount Vintage in North Augusta (No. 7) and River Hills in Little River (No. 8).

Clyde Johnston  is close behind with original design at Springfield Golf Club (No. 25) in Fort Mill, Glen Dornoch, Little River (No. 26) and Old South in Bluffton (No. 27) as well as updates to the Donald Ross design at Lancaster Golf Club (No. 9).

Rees Jones, always among the prominent names when listing great golf courses, contributed 2 original designs among the Top 35 (Oyster Reef, No. 10) and Arcadian Shores, No. 14) as well updates to the great Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design at The Dunes (No. 1).  

Mike Strantz: Caledonia Golf & Fish Club

Mike Strantz left us 2 wonderful layouts in Pawleys Island before his tragic passing at only fifty years of age—Caledonia (No. 2) and True Blue (No. 4). In 2000 Mike was named one of the “Top 10 Greatest Architects of All Time” by Golfweek Magazine.

Pete Dye added his brush to the Myrtle Beach golf panorama at Prestwick Country Club (No. 3, with P. B. Dye) and Jack Nicklaus recently completed updates to his terrific layout at Pawleys Plantation.

The GolfDay Rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews.

Select Top 35 South Carolina Public Courses for a map view of locations (click a flag for course name and details).   

Want to see all of the public courses in South Carolina listed by GolfDay rating? Click S.C. Public Courses.

The Dunes Golf & Beach Club
  1. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club/Myrtle Beach
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Rees Jones/Roger Rulewich
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.3/149
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • Junior Golf
    • GolfDay Rating: 99.6
    • Location
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
  1. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club/Pawleys Island
  2. Hammock Coast Golf Trail/Ponderosa Inc.
Prestwick Country Club
  1. Prestwick Country Club/Myrtle Beach
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail/East Coast Golf Management
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Pete Dye/P. B. Dye
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.3/150
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Photos
    • Golf Packages
    • GolfDay Rating: 98.5
    • Location
True Blue Golf Club
  1. True Blue Golf Club/Pawleys Island
  2. Hammock Coast Golf Trail/Ponderosa Inc.
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
  1. Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club/Pawleys Island
  2. Hammock Coast Golf Trail/Founders Group International
Wild Wing Golf Course
  1. Wild Wing Golf Course/Conway
  2. Founders Group International
    • Holes: 27 Eighteen Hole Course (Avocet) and Nine Hole Course (Hummingbird)
    • Course Architects: Willard Byrd/Jeffrey Brauer/Larry Nelson  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.5/137
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens.
    • Course Description
    • Junior Golf
    • GolfDay Rating: 97.2
    • Location
Mount Vintage Golf Club
  1. Mount Vintage Golf Club/North Augusta
    • Holes: 27 (3-Nine Hole Courses: Independent/Vintage/Chester)  
    • Course Architect: Tom Jackson  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Independent: 37.9/150
    • Vintage:             37.7/154
    • Chester:            37.4/145
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Descriptions
    • Photos
    • GolfDay Rating: 96.9
    • Location
River Hills Golf & Country Club
  1. River Hills Golf & Country Club/Little River
  2. Founders Group International
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architect: Tom Jackson  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.2/147
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • Photos
    • GolfDay Rating: 95.9
    • Location
Lancaster Golf Club
  1. Lancaster Golf Club/Lancaster
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Russell Breeden/Clyde Johnston  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 71.7/137
    • Practice Facilities: Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • Video Tour
    • GolfDay Rating: 95.5
    • Location
Oyster Reef Golf Club
  1. Oyster Reef Golf Club/Hilton Head Island
  2. Heritage Golf Group
TPC Myrtle Beach
  1. TPC Myrtle Beach/Murrells Inlet
  2. Hammock Coast Golf Trail/Founders Group International
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architect: Tom Fazio  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.3/154
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and Dustin Johnson Golf School.
    • Course Description
    • Golf School
    • GolfDay Rating: 95.4
    • Location
Wedgefield Country Club
  1. Wedgefield Country Club/Georgetown
  2. Hammock Coast Golf Trail
Fort Mill Golf Club
  1. Fort Mill Golf Club/Fort Mill
Arcadian Shores Golf Club
  1. Arcadian Shores Golf Club/Myrtle Beach
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail/East Coast Golf Management
Pine Ridge Country Club
  1. Pine Ridge Country Club/Edgefield
Edgewater Golf Club
  1. Edgewater Golf Club/Lancaster
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Bruce Brodsky  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.6/150
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Wedge Range with Targets and Bunkers, Putting and Chipping Greens.
    • Course Description
    • Photos
    • GolfDay Rating: 93.4
    • Location
Palmetto Hall Golf & Country Club
  1. Palmetto Hall Golf & Country Club/Hilton Head Island
  2. Heritage Golf Group
    • Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Cupp/Hills)
    • Course Architects: Bob Cupp/Arthur Hills  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Cupp:              74.6/141
    • Hills:                74.3/147
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Descriptions
    • Golf Packages
    • GolfDay Rating: 93.3
    • Location
Founders Club at Pawley Island
  1. Founders Club at Pawley Island/Pawley Island
  2. Hammock Coast Golf Trail/Founders Group International
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Gene Hamm/Thomas Walker  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.5/148
    • Practice Facilities: Warm Up Bays with Net, Expansive Putting and Chipping Green with Bunkers.
    • Course Description
    • Specials
    • GolfDay Rating: 93.2
    • Location
Tidewater Golf Club
  1. Tidewater Golf Club/North Myrtle Beach
  2. KemperSports
Tradition Golf Club
  1. Tradition Golf Club/Pawleys Island
  2. Hammock Coast Golf Trail/Founders Group International
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architect: Ron Garl  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.5/147
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
    • Photos
    • Video Tour
    • GolfDay Rating: 92.8
    • Location
The Golf Club at Hilton Head Lakes
  1. The Golf Club at Hilton Head Lakes/Hardeeville
    • Holes: 24 (Eighteen Hole Course and 6 Hole Par 3)
    • Course Architects: Tom Fazio  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.7/140
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
    • Course Description
    • Golf Academy
    • GolfDay Rating: 92.7
    • Location
Waterford Golf Club
  1. Waterford Golf Club/Rock Hill
  2. Pinnacle Golf Properties
Cheraw State Park
  1. Cheraw State Park/Cheraw
  2. South Carolina Parks
Heritage Club
  1. Heritage Club/Pawleys Island
  2. Legends Golf/Arnold Palmer Golf
Springfield Golf Club
  1. Springfield Golf Club/Fort Mill
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Clyde Johnston  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.3/144
    • Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Target Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • Video Tour
    • GolfDay Rating: 91.8
    • Location
Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links
  1. Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links/Little River
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail/The Glens Golf Group/East Coast Golf Management
Old South Golf Links
  1. Old South Golf Links/Bluffton
Hilton Head National Golf Club
  1. Hilton Head National Golf Club/Bluffton
  2. Scratch Golf Properties
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Gary Player/Bobby Weed  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.1/131
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Target Greens and Putting Greens (2).
    • Photos
    • RV Park
    • GolfDay Rating: 91.4
    • Location
Man O’ War Golf Club
  1. Man O’ War Golf Club/Myrtle Beach
  2. Mystical Golf/DG Golf Management
Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club
  1. Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club/Hilton Head Island
  2. Heritage Golf Group
    • Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses: Barony/Robber’s Row)
    • Course Architects: George Cobb/Willard Byrd/John LaFoy/Pete Dye  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Barony:                         71.8/135
    • Robber’s Row:            72.7/134         
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Descriptions
    • Golf Packages
    • GolfDay Rating: 91.1
    • Location
World Tour Golf Links
  1. World Tour Golf Links/Myrtle Beach
  2. Founders Group International
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Mel Graham/Craig Schreiner  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 71.8/132
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • Photos
    • GolfDay Rating: 90.7
    • Location
Crowfield Golf Club
  1. Crowfield Golf Club/Goose Creek
  2. City of Goose Creek
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Tom Jackson/Bob Spence  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.9/147
    • Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Green.
    • Course Description
    • GolfDay Rating: 90.5
    • Location
Long Bay Club
  1. Long Bay Club/Longs
  2. Founders Group International
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus/Craig Schreiner  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.4/146
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Photos
    • Video Tour
    • GolfDay Rating: 90.5
    • Location
Pine Lakes Country Club
  1. Pine Lakes Country Club/Myrtle Beach
  2. Founders Group International
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Robert White/Craig Schreiner/Rick Robbins  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.5/135
    • Practice Facilities: Putting and Chipping Greens (Myrtlewood Driving Range is available for Warm-up–2 miles away).
    • Photos
    • GolfDay Rating: 90.4
    • Location
River Club
  1. River Club/Pawleys Island
  2. Hammock Coast Golf Trail/Founders Group International
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Tom Jackson  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.5/139
    • Practice Facilities: Warm Up Bays with Net, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Photos
    • GolfDay Rating: 90.4
    • Location
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Top 40 Public Courses-North Carolina

Rock Barn Golf & Spa, Conover NC

With Pinehurst, Pine Needles and Talamore, North Carolina golf resorts are among the finest in the country—but the Carolinas are the heartland of American golf, and there are a ton of fantastic public courses throughout N.C. that are not part of a resort property.

If you’re looking for great golf without breaking the bank at a high-end resort, take a look at the Top 40 courses below–keeping in mind there are plenty of nice hotels and restaurants to choose from throughout North Carolina.

While each of the Top 40 has a GolfDay Rating above 90, North Carolina offers 91 independent public courses with a rating of 85 or higher (premium) and 141 with a rating of 80 or more (well above average).

Dan Maples leads the list for premier public course design in North Carolina with original work or updating at 6 of the Top 40 public courses, including The Pearl Golf links in Calabash (No. 11), Keith Hills at Cambell University (with father Ellis—No. 23) and Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines (No. 28).

Rees Jones is close behind with design at 4 of the leading public courses in N.C., including original work at Bryan Park (Champions) in Browns Summit (No. 13) and The Currituck Club in Carolla (No. 18). Rees also updated the wonderful Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design at Duke University (No. 4)

Mike Strantz: Tot Hill Farms

Although Mike Strantz passed away tragically at only fifty years of age, he left us with some of the greatest courses in the world, including two among the N.C. Top 40–Tobacco Road in Sanford (No.2), and Tot Hill Farm in Asheboro (No. 14). In 2000 Mike was named one of the “Top 10 Greatest Architects of All Time” by Golfweek Magazine.

The King made his presence felt in N.C with Palmer designs at Occano in Merry Hill (No. 9), Oak Valley (No. 22), and Lonnie Poole at N.C. State University (No. 24). 

The GolfDay rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews.

Select Top 40 North Carolina Public Courses for a map view of locations (click a flag for course name and details).   

Still thinking a resort is the best bet? Check Top N.C. Resorts for a listing by GolfDay Rating.  

Forest Oaks Country Club
  1. Forest Oaks Country Club/Greensboro
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Ellis Maples/Clyde Johnston/Fuzzy Zoeller/Davis Love III
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.0/142
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Expansive Putting Green, Chipping Green with Bunker and Indoor Golf Simulator.
    • Golf Academy
    • Indoor Golf
    • GolfDay Rating: 99.7
    • Location
Tobacco Road Golf Club
  1. Tobacco Road Golf Club/Sanford
  2. Troon Golf
Tanglewood Park
  1. Tanglewood Park/Clemmons
  2. Forsyth County/Brown Management
    • Holes: 54 (Two Eighteen-Hole Regulation Courses and Eighteen-Hole Par 3)
    • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich/Allan MacCurrach/Robert Trent Jones, Jr./Richard Mandell
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Championship:  74.5/139
    • Reynolds:           73.2/136     
    • Practice Facilities: Lighted Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Photos
    • Junior Golf
    • GolfDay Rating: 97.8
    • Location
Duke University Golf Club
  1. Duke University Golf Club/Durham
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Rees Jones
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.2/145
    • Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker (Unlimited Callaway Balls included with Greens Fee).
    • Course Description
    • Junior Golf
    • GolfDay Rating: 96.7
    • Location
Monroe Country Club
  1. Monroe Country Club/Monroe
  2. City of Monroe
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Tom Jackson/Richard Mandell/Tyler Rae
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.6/133
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Photos
    • GolfDay Rating: 96.0
    • Location
Rock Barn Golf and Spa
  1. Rock Barn Golf and Spa/Conover
    • Holes: 36 (Two Eighteen-Hole Regulation Courses)
    • Course Architects: Tom Jackson/Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Jones:              75.2/146
    • Jackson:          71.9/135
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Expansive Putting Green and Chipping Green with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • Accommodations
    • GolfDay Rating: 95.6
    • Location
Mill Creek Golf Club
  1. Mill Creek Golf Club/Mebane
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Rick Robbins/Brian Lussier/Gary Koch
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.2/142
    • Practice Facilities: Two Tier Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
    • Photos
    • Junior Golf
    • GolfDay Rating: 94.7
    • Location
Riverwood Golf Club
  1. Riverwood Golf Club/ Clayton
  2. Fred Smith Company
    • Holes: 27 (Three Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
    • Course Architects: David Postlethwait
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Deer Run:       37.6/138
    • Riverview:      36.2/133
    • Meadowlands: 36.8/135
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Photos
    • Golf Academy
    • GolfDay Rating: 94.6
    • Location
Occano
  1. Occano/Merry Hill
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Arnold Palmer
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.2/143
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • GolfDay Rating: 94.5
    • Location
Eagle Ridge Golf Club
  1. Eagle Ridge Golf Club/Raleigh
  2. Fred Smith Company
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Tom Kite/Bob Cupp  
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.2/138
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • Photos
    • GolfDay Rating: 94.4
    • Location
The Pearl Golf Links
  1. The Pearl Golf Links/Calabash
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
    • Holes: 27 (Three Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
    • Course Architects: Dan Maples
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • East:    36.2/133
    • West:   37.0/141
    • North:  35.9/127
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Green.
    • Course Description
    • Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
    • GolfDay Rating: 94.3
    • Location
Southern Pines Golf Club
  1. Southern Pines Golf Club/Southern Pines
Bryan Park Golf Club
  1. Bryan Park Golf Club/Browns Summit
  2. City of Greensboro/Pinnacle Golf Management
Tot Hill Farm Golf Club
  1. Tot Hill Farm Golf Club/Asheboro
Thistle Golf Club
  1. Thistle Golf Club/Sunset Beach
    • Holes: 27 (Three Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
    • Course Architect: Tim Cate
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Cameron:        37.0/142
    • MacKay:         37.4/140
    • Stewart:           36.6/140         
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • GolfDay Rating: 93.9
    • Location
Mooresville Golf Club
  1. Mooresville Golf Club/Mooresville
  2. Town of Mooresville
Skybrook Golf Club
  1. Skybrook Golf Club/Huntersville
  2. Pinnacle Golf Properties
The Currituck Club
  1. The Currituck Club/Corolla
  2. Invited Club Management
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Rees Jones
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.3/143
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.5
  • Location
Brunswick Plantation
  1. Brunswick Plantation/Calabash
  2. Heritage Golf Group
  • Holes: 27 (3 Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Willard Byrd/Clyde Johnston
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Magnolia:       36.4/133
  • Dogwood:       36.8/137
  • Azalea:           36.7/131
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Accommodations
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.3
  • Location
Salem Glen Country Club
  1. Salem Glen Country Club/Clemmons
The Preserve at Jordan Lake Golf Club
  1. The Preserve At Jordan Lake Golf Club/Chapel Hill
  2. GreatLife Golf
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Davis Love III/Paul Cowley
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.0/145
    • Practice Facilities: Two-Tiered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • GolfDay Rating: 93.0
    • Location
Oak Valley Golf Club
  1. Oak Valley Golf Club/Advance
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Arnold Palmer/Ed Seay
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.5/139
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2).
  • Video Tour
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.0
  • Location
Keith Hills Golf Club
  1. Keith Hills Golf Club/Lillington
  2. Cambell University
    • Holes: 27 (3 Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
    • Course Architects: Ellis Maples/Dan Maples
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Black:             36.1/136
    • Orange:           36.3/132
    • White:             34.5/128
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • Golf Academy/Junior Golf
    • GolfDay Rating: 92.9
    • Location
Lonnie Poole Golf Course
  1. Lonnie Poole Golf Course/Raleigh
  2. N.C. State University
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Arnold Palmer/Eric Larson/Brandon Johnson
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.7/142
    • Practice Facilities: Driving Range (Grass: Friday-Sunday/Mats: Monday-Thursday) and Putting Green. Short Game Facility with Bunker–Members and Golf Team Only.
    • Course Description
    • GolfDay Rating: 92.8
    • Location
Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club
  1. Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club/Denver
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Ed Schweitzer
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.8/149
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Fairway Bunker, Putting and Chipping Greens.
    • Video Tour
    • GolfDay Rating: 92.7
    • Location
Finley Golf Club
  1. Finley Golf Club/Chapel Hill
  2. University of North Carolina
      • Holes: 18
      • Course Architects: George Cobb/Tom Fazio/Tom Marzolf/Davis Love III
      • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.6/141
      • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets (Grass Open Friday-Sunday, Mats Monday-Thursday) and Putting Green.
      • Men’s Golf
      • Women’s Golf
      • GolfDay Rating: 92.5
      • Location
Stoney Creek
  1. Stoney Creek/Whitsett
  2. Pinnacle Golf Properties
Longleaf Golf & Family Club
  1. Longleaf Golf & Family Club/Southern Pines
  • Holes: 24 (Eighteen-Hole Regulation Course and Six-Hole Par 3)
  • Course Architects: Dan Maples/Bill Bergin
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.4/132
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Expansive Putting Green, Chipping Green with Bunker. Golf Academy with TrackMan Technology.
  • Photos
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.4
  • Location
Cross Creek Country Club

29. Cross Creek Country Club/Mount Airy

    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Joe Lee/Rocky Roquemore/Kris Spence
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.3/136
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • Golf School
    • GolfDay Rating: 92.3
    • Location
The Emerald Golf Club
  1. The Emerald Golf Club/New Bern
Sandpiper Bay Golf & Country Club
  1. Sandpiper Bay Golf & Country Club/Sunset Beach
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
    • Holes: 27 (3 Nine-Hole Regulation Courses)
    • Course Architects: Dan Maples
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Sand:   34.8/131
    • Piper:  36.1/131
    • Bay:    36.4/142
    • Practice Facilities: Three Level Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens.
    • Photos
    • Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
    • GolfDay Rating: 92.0
    • Location
Rocky River Golf Club
  1. Rocky River Golf Club/Concord
  • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Dan Maples  
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.1/142
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Green.
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.8
  • Location
Legacy Golf Links
  1. Legacy Golf Links/Aberdeen
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Jack Nicklaus II
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.0/137
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Photos
    • GolfDay Rating: 91.8
    • Location
Pilot Knob Park Golf Course
  1. Pilot Knob Park Golf Course/Pilot Mountain
River Ridge Golf Club
  1. River Ridge Golf Club/Raleigh
Sound Golf Links
  1. Sound Golf Links/Hertford
  2. Albemarle Plantation
Carolina Trace Country Club
  1. Carolina Trace Country Club/Sanford
  2. Escalante Golf
    • Holes: 36 (Two Eighteen-Hole Regulation Courses)
    • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich/David Whelchel
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Lake:               76.0/143
    • Creek:             73.7/136
    • Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens.
    • Course Description/Lake
    • Course Description/Creek
    • GolfDay Rating: 91.3
    • Location
The Cardinal
  1. The Cardinal/Greensboro
  2. McConnell Golf
    • Holes: 18
    • Course Architects: Pete Dye/Rick Robbins
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.1/142
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Description
    • GolfDay Rating: 91.2
    • Location
Jefferson Landing
  1. Jefferson Landing/Jefferson
  2. Vannoy Properties
Lockwood Folly Country Club
  1. Lockwood Folly Country Club/Holden Beach
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
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Top Golf Resorts and Public Courses: Myrtle Beach

Barefoot Resort

It’s time to start planning your spring golf trip, and Myrtle Beach is the #1 destination in the U.S. offering more than eighty courses, great food, terrific nightlife, and gorgeous beaches for when you need some down time. It’s still a bit cool through February, but temps climb through the 60’s in March, the 70’s in April, and it’s total perfection in May with temperatures in the low to mid 80’s.

Many of the great modern architects are on display among the wide variety of courses in the Myrtle Beach area, including Tom Fazio (Barefoot Resort and TPC Myrtle Beach), Pete Dye (Barefoot and Prestwick), Rees Jones (The Dunes Golf & Beach Club and Arcadian Shores), Tom Doak (Legends Resort) and Jack Nicklaus (Pawleys Plantation).

Roger Rulewich, who collaborated with Robert Trent Jones, Sr. to sculpt the wonderful courses along the RTJ Golf Trail in Alabama, shared his architectural mastery at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club as well as Grande Dunes Resort Club.

And then there are the two masterpieces left to us by Mike Strantz at Caledonia and True Blue.

If you are looking for deals and packages, check out Myrtle Beach Golf and Myrtle Beach Golf Trips.

The GolfDay rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews. The resort rating also includes a factor for the variety of courses located at the property as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.

If you have yet to mark Myrtle Beach from your bucket list, now is the time. And even if you’ve made the trip many times before, MB never disappoints—so start getting a plan in motion.

Resorts

Barefoot Resort, North myrtle Beach SC
  1. Barefoot Resort & Golf/North Myrtle Beach, SC
    • Holes: 72 (4 Eighteen Hole Courses)
    • Course Architects: Greg Norman/Tad Burnett/Davis Love III/Tom Fazio/Pete Dye
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Norman:         74.2 Rating/141 Slope
    • Love:                74.9 Rating/141 Slope
    • Fazio:               73.4 Rating/144 Slope
    • Dye:                  76.0 Rating/143 Slope
    • Practice Facilities: Lighted and Covered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker. Dyer and Greg Norman Golf Academies.
    • Course Descriptions
    • Golf Academy
    • Accommodations
    • Golf Packages
    • Rankings: Golfweek Top 200 Resorts, Golf Digest SC Top 35, Golfweek SC Top 15-Public, GolfDay Top 100 Resorts
    • GolfDay Rating: 100.0
    • Location
Legends Resort, Myrtle Beach SC
  1. Legends Resort/Myrtle Beach, SC
    • Holes: 54 (3 Eighteen Hole Courses)
    • Course Architects: Tom Doak/P.B. Dye
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Parkland:        74.3 Rating/144 Slope
    • Moorland:       73.6 Rating/143 Slope
    • Heathland:     73.3 Rating/143 Slope
    • Practice Facilities: Lighted Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Golf Academy
    • Accommodations
    • Golf Packages
    • Rankings: Golfweek Top 200 Resorts, Golfweek SC Top 15-Public, GolfDay Top 100 Resorts
    • GolfDay Rating: 92.8
    • Location
Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach SC
  1. Grande Dunes Resort Club/Myrtle Beach, SC
  2. Marina Inn
Myrtle Beach National, Myrtle Beach SC
  1. Myrtle Beach National Golf Club/Myrtle Beach, SC
    • Holes: 54 (3 Eighteen Hole Courses)
    • Course Architects: Francis Duane/Arnold Palmer/Victoria Martz
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Kings North:                73.9 Rating/137 Slope
    • South Creek:               70.9 Rating/128 Slope
    • West:                              72.6 Rating/125 Slope
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Course Descriptions
    • Photos
    • Video Tour
    • Rankings: Golfweek Top 200 Resorts, Golfweek SC Top 15-Public,
    • GolfDay Rating: 91.1
    • Location
Wachesaw Plantation East, Myrtle Beach SC
  1. Wachesaw Plantation East/Myrtle Beach, SC
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail/Waccamaw Golf Trail
Sea Trail Golf Club, Sunset Beach NC
  1. Sea Trail Golf Club/Sunset Beach, NC
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
    • Holes: 54 (3 Eighteen Hole Courses)
    • Course Architects: Francis Duane/Arnold Palmer/Victoria Martz
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Jones:             73.2 Rating/138 Slope
    • Maples:           72.0 Rating/138 Slope
    • Byrd:                72.6 Rating/129 Slope
    • Course Descriptions
    • Accommodations
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • GolfDay Rating: 88.9
    • Location

Public Courses

The Dunes, Myrtle Beach SC
  1. The Dunes Golf & Beach Club/Myrtle Beach, SC
Caledonia, Pawleys Island SC
  1. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club/Pawleys Island, SC
  2. Waccama Golf Trail
True Blue, Pawleys Island SC
  1. True Blue Plantation/Pawleys Island, SC
  2. Waccamaw Golf Trail
Thistle Golf Club, Sunset Beach NC
  1. Thistle Golf Club/Sunset Beach, NC
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail    
Wild Wing, Conway SC
  1. Wild Wing Plantation/Conway, SC
    • Holes: 27 (Eighteen Hole Regulation Course and Nine Hole Executive Course)
    • Course Architects: William Byrd/Jeffrey Brauer/Larry Nelson
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.8/135
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens.
    • Photos
    • Golf Packages
    • Rankings: GolfDay Top 100 Public
    • GolfDay Rating: 95.1
    • Location
Pawleys Plantation, Pawleys island SC
  1. Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club/Pawleys Island, SC
  2. Waccamaw Golf Trail
Myrtlewood, Myrtle Beach SC
  1. Myrtlewood Golf Club/Myrtle Beach, SC
    • Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Courses)
    • Course Architects: Edmund Ault/Tom Clark/Arthur Hills
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Palmetto:    73.6 Rating/137 Slope
    • Pinehills:     72.1 Rating/134 Slope
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
    • Photos
    • Accommodations
    • Rankings: GolfDay Top 100 Public
    • GolfDay Rating: 94.9
    • Location
Arcadian Shores, Myrtle Beach SC
  1. Arcadian Shores Golf Club/Myrtle Beach, SC
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
Prestwick Country Club, Myrtle beach SC
  1. Prestwick Country Club/Myrtle Beach, SC
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
The Pearl, Calabash NC
  1. The Pearl Golf Links/Calabash, NC
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
Carolina National, Bolivia NC
  1. Carolina National Golf Club/Bolivia, NC
    • Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Courses)
    • Course Architects: Gene Bates/Fred Couples/Kipp Schulties
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Egret:          37.6 Rating/145 Slope
    • Heron:        37.6 Rating/147 Slope
    • North          37.0 Rating/144 Slope
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets and Bunker, Putting and Chipping Green.
    • Course Descriptions
    • Photos
    • Rankings: GolfDay Top 500 Public
    • GolfDay Rating: 93.7
    • Location
World Tour Golf Links, Myrtle Beach SC
  1. World Tour Golf Links/Myrtle Beach, SC
Heritage Club, Pawleys Island SC
  1. Heritage Club/Pawleys Island, SC
  2. Waccamaw Golf Trail
Sandpiper Bay Golf & Country Club, Sunset Beach NC
  1. Sandpiper Bay Golf & Country Club/Sunset Beach, NC
  2. Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
    • Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Courses)
    • Course Architect: Dan Maples
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
    • Sand:     35.1 Rating/128 Slope
    • Piper:    36.1 Rating/125 Slope
    • Bay:       36.5 Rating/141 Slope           
    • Practice Facilities: Three Level Grass Driving Range with Target, Putting and Chipping Greens.
    • Photos
    • Myrtle Beach Golf Trail
    • Rankings: GolfDay Top 500 Public
    • GolfDay Rating: 91.3
    • Location
TPC Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach SC
  1. TPC Myrtle Beach/Myrtle Beach, SC
  2. Waccamaw Golf Trail
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