Golfing Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

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Myrtle Beach, SC -
You know that Myrtle Beach is America's premier golf destination. You know that spring and fall are the best times of year to golf Myrtle Beach. What you don't know, what you keep getting conflicting information on, is which courses to golf?!

King's North at Myrtle Beach National is a course for the serious golfer, whether beginner or seasoned pro.

Well, that's why we're here. To sort through the hundreds of golfing options in Myrtle Beach and give you the best recommendations we can. And so here they are...

Let's start with the course who's par-3 3rd hole, with its island green and "SC" shaped sandtraps, is the signature hole for Myrtle Beach. King's North at Myrtle Beach National is a course for the serious golfer, whether beginner or seasoned pro.

It's kind of unusual, in that most other Grand Strand golf courses emphasize the scenic splendor of their courses, while at times sacrificing playability in the process. Not so at King's North. The holes here vary in difficulty, from relatively easy to absolutely challenging.

Six sets of tees means that every skill level can play the course, which has several spectacular holes. The emphasis at King's North is playability, though, so the course was laid out with a craftsman's eye. It's bentgrass greens approach perfection. The par-5 6th hole is known as "the Gambler" after the Kenny Rogers song of the same name. With an island fairway that offers a short-cut to an eagle at the green, "the Gambler" is a make-or-break gutsy call.

King's North was re-designed in 1996 by Arnold Palmer and associate Ed Seay. They went to great trouble, expanding lakes, changing the greens and adding bunkers. And the results are more than worth their efforts. King's North at Myrtle Beach National is a duffer's dream course.

Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, out on Pawley's Island, shares one thing with King's North - an excellent reputation. Other than that, the two courses couldn't be more different.

Caledonia is built on a portion of an old (18th Century old!) rice plantation originally owned by Dr. Robert Nesbit and the former Elizabeth Pawley (whose family name the island takes). Caledonia - the old Roman name for Scotland - has maintained more than just its name from its first "developers.".

Gigantic live oaks, dripping with Spanish Moss, line the avenue up to the clubhouse. These ancient giants add a stately elegance to an already refined scene.

The Mike Strantz-designed course was given 4.5 stars by Golf Digest, while Golf Magazine rated it in the top 30 courses in the country that can be played by anyone, and Golf Week listed it among America's 100 Best Modern Courses.

Be forewarned - sitting just behind the par 4, 377-yard 18th hole is Caledonia's magnificent antebellum clubhouse. Here, those golfers who've already finished the course gather around cool beverages and watch as the following groups attempt the 18th. Awareness of the audience adds a entirely new dimension to the game... it's almost like playing in a pro tournament!

Another former rice plantation that's now a golfer's paradise is exclusive Litchfield Country Club. While only a limited number of visitors play the course, those that do are awed by this magnificent course.

Litchfield opened in 1966, one of he initial eight courses built in the Myrtle Beach area... even if it's difficult to believe today that could ever have been so few courses on the Grand Strand! Litchfield's stately live oaks, sparkling lakes and gently rolling greens adorn a course difficult and rewarding.

Named one of the "World's 50 Best" by Condé Nast Traveler, anyone getting the chance to play Litchfield should jump at the opportunity. Golfing at Litchfield is the experience of a lifetime.

There's only been one course in the country to receive the Best New Public Course In America by "Golf Digest", and one of the top 10 new courses by "Golf Magazine," and that's Tidewater Golf Club & Plantation in Cherry Hills.

The course itself is amazing, but what most players remember is the way in which the course blends into the surrounding South Carolina "Low Country." Tidewater presents excellent vistas of the Intracoastal Waterway, the Atlanta Ocean, and saltwater marshes that ring the Club.

South Carolina's Ken Tomlinson designed the course, taking an active part in the selection of the land, to the development of the course, its routing and construction.

This devoted attention to detail is apparent in almost every aspect of the Club, including the 18,000 square-foot clubhouse.

Private meetings rooms and an "owner's only" private parlor add a sense of the old-style clubs of our grandfather's generation to this Low Country gem. Meanwhile, a full-service Golf Shop and the "Clubhouse Grille" cater to golfers needs.

Tidewater has to be seen, played, and experienced to be believed.

When you make that long-awaited trip to golf Myrtle Beach, keep these four courses in mind. They're among the best the area has to offer, and in many ways, each of them is the top of its class. The differences between them are great, but their common denominator is their excellence.