When planning for the golf trip in the eastern region, South Carolina should be one of the top choices. The state is loaded with several fantastic golf courses.
Besides great resorts like Sea Pines, Kiawah Island, and Barefoot, there are several non-resort courses with high rankings.
Myrtle Beach alone accounts for more than 100 golf courses. And the good thing is that most of them have public access.
Actually, Myrtle Beach is the centerpiece of this golf destination. It is ideal for golfers who prefer golf trails.
This way, it is easier to choose courses that are next to each other.
To emphasize the quality of golf courses in South Carolina, the International Association of Golf Travel Operators ranked the Palmetto State among the top five destinations globally.
That is why the Atlantic Coast dominates the best golf ranking lists than other regions. History abounds, too. Some of the best public golf courses in South Carolina have hosted major PGA championships as well as the Ryder Cup.
With the above in mind, you will likely have your best golf time while in South Carolina. The only issue is to figure out where to play.
That is why we have compiled a list of the best public golf courses in South Carolina to help you make better decisions. So, let’s look at each of them.
List of the Best Public Golf Courses in South Carolina
- Kiawah Island Golf Resort: The Ocean Course
- Harbour Town Golf Links
- Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
- Tidewater Golf Club
- Barefoot Resort & Golf: Dye Course
- TPC Myrtle Beach
- Grande Dunes Resort Course
- The Sea Pines Resort: Atlantic Dunes
- True Blue Golf Club
- Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
- Kiawah Island Golf Resort: Osprey Point
- The Heritage Club
- The Dunes Golf and Beach Club
- May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff
- Prestwick Country Club
- Kiawah Island Golf Resort: Cougar Point
- Barefoot Resort & Golf: Fazio Course
- Kiawah Island Golf Resort: Turtle Point
- Barefoot Resort & Golf: Love Course
- Wild Dunes Resort: Links
- Legends Golf Resort
- Wild Wing Golf Course
- Mount Vintage Golf Club
- River Hills Golf & Country Club
- The Sea Pines Resort: Heron Point
- The Melrose Club Golf Course
- Glen Dornoch Golf Links
- Myrtle Beach National Golf Club (Kings North)
- Lancaster Golf Club
- Oyster Reef Golf Club
The Best Public Golf Courses in South Carolina
1. Kiawah Island Golf Resort: The Ocean Course
- Location: Kiawah Island
- Length: 7,876 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Pete and Alice Dye
- Year Established: 1991
- Championship(s): the 2012 PGA Championship; the 2021 PGA Championship; the 1991 Ryder Cup; the 113th PGA Championship in 2031
Located the farthest east of the Kiawah Island, the Ocean Course features the most seaside holes.
This windswept coastal course plays along a narrow and sandy section of the island, offering lots of panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
2. Harbour Town Golf Links
- Location: Hilton Head Island
- Length: 7,099 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus
- Year Established: 1969
- Championship(s): the PGA Tour’s annual RBC Heritage from 1969
Home of the RBC Heritage, this course displays a lot of finesse and prestige.
It ranks as one of the best public golf courses in South Carolina because it trills players of all abilities.
3. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
- Location: Pawleys Island
- Length: 6,526 yards
- Par: 71
- Designer(s): Mike Strantz
- Year Established: 1994
- Championship(s): the 2024 Barstool Classic; the 2024 World Amateur; the Golfweek Fall Challenge in 2024
His premier golf course on the southern Grand Strand is one of the most respected golf courses in Myrtle Beach.
In fact, Brian McCallen in his You Can Play book referred to it as the most delightful test of golf in Myrtle Beach.
4. Tidewater Golf Club
- Location: North Myrtle Beach
- Length: 7,044 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Ken Tomlinson
- Year Established: 1990
- Championship(s): Folds of Honor Tournament (annually); the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic; Habitat for Humanity of Horry County Tournament in 2021; the Bridgewater Veterans Memorial Tournament in 2024
Tidewater Golf Club is a pristine 18-hole championship course that blends natural beauty and unparalleled golfing experience.
5. Barefoot Resort & Golf: Dye Course
- Location: North Myrtle Beach
- Length: 7,343 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Pete Dye
- Year Established: 2000
- Championship(s): World Am Championship in 2017; the PGA of America Championships in 2014
Barefoot Resort & Golf: Dye Course is both beautiful and challenging.
That was the main aim of the original designer Pete Dye.
6. TPC Myrtle Beach
- Location: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
- Length: 6,950 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): 1999
- Year Established: Tom Fazio
- Championship(s): the Senior PGA Tour Championship (2000); the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship in 2016; the PGA Tour’s Monday Qualifier in 2019
Playing in TPC Myrtle Beach will allow you to test yourself against the great golfers who have made a mark on this challenging course.
7. Grande Dunes Resort Course
- Location: Myrtle Beach
- Length: 7,618 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): the Roger Rulewich Group
- Year Established: 2008
- Championship(s): General Hackler Championship in 2024; the World Amateur Handicap Championship in 2024; PGA Professional Championship in 2024
Grand Dules is among the best public golf courses in South Carolina because it features a creative layout.
The course overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway, with breathtaking views of the maritime forest and the waterway.
8. The Sea Pines Resort: Atlantic Dunes
- Location: Hilton Head Island
- Length: 7,010 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): David Love III
- Year Established: 2016
- Championship(s): NKF Golf Classic in 2024
The Sea Pines Resort: Atlantic Dunes is one of the most celebrated golf and leisure retreat centers.
The course features a challenging layout befitting a championship course.
9. True Blue Golf Club
- Location: Pawleys Island
- Length: 7,126 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Mike Strantz
- Year Established: 1998
- Championship(s): the World Am (every year); the Golfweek Program Challenge Tournament from 2011
This golf course represents the class of expansive golf offerings on the famous Waccamaw Golf Trail.
It is an ideal place because it is just a few miles south of central Myrtle Beach.
10. Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
- Location: Pawleys Island
- Length: 7,031 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Jack Nicklaus
- Year Established: 1989
- Championship(s): the Under Armour Junior Tour in 2024; the 2024 Men’s and Ladies Derby Tournaments
This golf course complements the stunning natural beauty of the surroundings with a complex design that rewards bold play.
11. Kiawah Island Golf Resort: Osprey Point
- Location: Kiawah Island
- Length: 6,902 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Tom Fazio
- Year Established: 1988
- Championship(s): Ryder Cup (1991) World Cup (1997, 2003) PGA Professional Championship (2005) Senior PGA Championship (2007) PGA Championship (2012, 2021); The 6th Annual City Tour Championship in 2020
This is another beautifully designed golf course on Kiawah Island.
During its launch, it was the third 18-hole course to appear in the prestigious Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
12. The Heritage Club
- Location: Pawleys Island
- Length: 7,121 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Dan Maples and Larry Young
- Year Established: 1986
- Championship(s): the US Am Tour in 2024; the SCGA Forty Plus Series Finale in 2023
This is another premier golf course in the Myrtle area.
We included it in this list of the best public golf courses in South Carolina because of its spacious, rolling fairways and undulating greens.
13. The Dunes Golf and Beach Club
- Location: Myrtle Beach
- Length: 7,450 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Robert Trent Jones and later Rees Jones
- Year Established: 1948
- Championship(s): the PGA Tour Champions season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship from 1994 to 1999; the PGA Tour Q-School Finals in 1973; the 1962 U.S. Women’s Open; the 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club is one of the premier courses in Myrtle Beach that offers scenic beauty.
The course is within an oceanfront property and features challenging holes and spectacular design.
14. May River Golf Club at Palmetto Bluff
- Location: Bluffton
- Length: 7,171 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Jack Nicklaus
- Year Established: 2005
- Championship(s): Male National Club Championship in 2020; PGA Club Championship in 2022
This golf course meanders through the May River Forest, offering fantastic views and prestige.
Besides this, it features inviting fairways with strategic bunkers.
15. Prestwick Country Club
- Location: Myrtle Beach
- Length: 7,000 yards
- Par: 72
- Designer(s): Pete and P.B. Dye
- Year Established: 1989
- Championship(s): the AIG Women’s British Open Championship in 2024; the 8th Carolinas Net Amateur Championship in 2018; the Myrtle Beach World Amateur in 2016
Despite being open to the public, Prestwick Country Club looks and feels like a private course.
We also believe it is among the best public golf courses in South Carolina due to its prime location in Myrtle Beach.
In fact, it is only a few miles from the airport.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For Georgians and Carolinas, the best golfing time can be from March through June as well as October through December.
The hot and humid months in this region are July and August.
Keep in mind that the further south you go, the hotter and more humid it gets.
Popular destinations in the state, such as Myrtle Beach, have over 100 golf courses.
In total, it has about 393 golf courses, of which 267 are public.
That is why the state tourist board has ranked South Carolina as the top golfing state in America.
South Carolina is popular for golf, thanks to its 350 plus fantastic golf courses.
So, you should grab your clubs and explore the golf scene for yourself.
Even if you are not there to play, you can be a spectator at some of the PGA tournaments hosted in the state.
Final Thoughts
For most golfers, the question about considering a golf tip to South Carolina is not about whether they should go but when.
Despite its small size, the state boasts a lot of fantastic destinations with distinct offerings.
Of course, the popular one is Myrtle Beach. There are also fantastic courses throughout the state, including Kiawah Island Golf Resort (The Ocean Course).
Barefoot Resort & Golf: Dye Course, TPC Myrtle Beach, and True Blue Golf Club. We hope you will enjoy exploring these wonderful golf courses and destinations.
Most of the best public golf courses in South Carolina combine nice beaches and relaxing vibes with strong golf.
All we can say is that each destination is worthy of a trip because of their unique offering.
Also, keep in mind that there are plenty of fantastic restaurants and nice hotels to choose from throughout the state.
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