And when you get hungry after a long day on the golf course or water, Myrtle Beach has you covered. The only thing that hasn’t been kind to me since moving here has been the scale. But don’t worry. I’m going on a diet when I get back from Europe. Currently, I have no plans to go to Europe.
I live in Murrells Inlet, which is known as the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina.” And boy, does it live up to its title! If you want to prepare your own fresh seafood, you’re in luck because we have our choice of so many seafood markets. Fresh shrimp here is my favorite.
Check out the MarshWalk for great seafood restaurants, amazing views, plenty of beverages, and live music. You can’t make a bogey there. If you’re looking for me, try the back porch at Dead Dog Saloon. The locals love Hot Fish Club, and food has been served there since the 18th Century. Their fried oysters and grilled steak make for an epic combination! And if pizza is your thing, you’ve gotta go to Uncle Mikey’s. I promise you: Mikey will be there, and tell him I said “Hi!”
And, by the way, we’ve got golf in Myrtle Beach. Some 80-plus courses along a roughly 70-mile stretch of Carolina coastline. By my reckoning, that’s a little more than a course every mile. Whatever you’re in to with your golf, we’ve got you covered. From value courses to premium designs by top architects, you can find a golf setting that will make you happy.
Here are a few of my tips to make a great golf getaway package:
For winter play, look to golf courses that overseed with rye grass “wall-to-wall.” For summer play, look to golf courses that don’t overseed or that use pigment to give the course a green look in winter. And for spring or fall, you can’t go wrong with either.
If you don’t want a long commute to your course of choice, make sure to book tee times in the area you are staying. I divide the Grand Strand into three parts: South Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, and North Myrtle Beach. If you’re staying in Cherry Grove up north, you’re in for a long day if you book golf courses in Pawleys Island down south. It’s gonna take a lifetime of trips to see all that we have to offer. Play close to your accommodations so you have time to enjoy what Myrtle Beach has to offer away from the course, too. Stay and play different places on your next trip.
And finally, this is super important. To maximize your golfing enjoyment, PLEASE be realistic in choosing the tees you play. You are playing this game for fun, and playing a golf course that’s too long takes that fun away. Select a tee that allows you to hit a short-iron second shot to a par 4 when you’ve hit a decent drive. For most golfers, that’s a set of tees measuring no more than 6,000 yards. When it comes to tee selection, leave your ego at home. You’ll be glad you did.
Enjoy Myrtle Beach!