Myrtle Beach is a big golf destination. With names such as Nicklaus, Palmer and Norman, it may feel daunting to be a beginner golfer in the area. But Myrtle Beach has courses for golfers of every skill level and we've found five friendly courses to get you started.
Just a 40 minute drive north of Myrtle Beach and tucked along the border of South and North Carolina is Meadowlands Golf Club with its gently sloping fairways. The oversized greens also give golfers the opportunity to go after more green and gives plenty of room for error on nearly all of the par 4s and 5s. A serene setting also makes this a pretty and relaxing course to play.
1000 Meadowlands Trail
Calabash, NC 28467
(888) 287-7529
Green Fees: Starting around $39
The nine holes at Tupelo Bay's Par 3 feature a range of yardage, perfect for honing developing skills and for a round of family golf. The cup size is 8 inches, making putting more fun and easier. Hazards include sand traps throughout and water on the longest hole. It's also lit for night play.
1800 Business 17 South
Garden City, SC 29576
(800) 657-2680
Green Fees: Contact for more information
West Course at Myrtle Beach National
With a great mix of distance, doglegs, sand and water, This Arnold Palmer design plays at 6,100 yards for most. It's a very playable course, so don't let the hazards and challenges listed fool you. The description for hole number four says it all: No secrets here. On the West Course, you'll be able to get in a good round of gimmick-free golf that allows you to challenge yourself a bit.
4900 National Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(877) 283-2122
Green Fee: $37 - $66
The Palmetto Course at Myrtlewood Golf Club
This course offers a nice smooth play throughout with little in the way of elevation change. It starts with three par 4's and nothing more than 389 yards for the first five holes. Much of this relaxing play is attributed to the original 1966 design, a time when mid-level courses weren't tightly packed in. With only a handful of holes that can be seen from another, you can focus on the task at hand.
48th Avenue North
Myrtle Beach, SC 29578
(877) 283-2122, (843) 913-4516
Green Fees: $45 - $71
Advertising itself as the "Friendliest Course on the Strand," Possum Trot plays to its strengths. Hazards are easier to avoid with conservative play and the landing zones off the tee are wide. Here, the straightforward design and conditions are crafted for the high handicapper. Possum Trot has a high-quality teaching facility as well.
1170 Possum Trot Road
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(866) 901-5958
Green Fees: $54 - $68
