The South Strand’s Terrific 10: Pawleys Island and Georgetown Golf Courses Bring the Heat

Removed from the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach, the South Strand provides a more relaxed experience and some of the Palmetto State’s premier golf courses.

Renowned for its casual pace, Lowcountry beauty and outstanding restaurants, Pawleys Island is one of America’s Top 10 Golf Islands, according to Links magazine, and it doesn’t take players long to figure out why.

Pawleys Island is home to one of America’s premier golf course clusters – Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, True Blue Golf Club, Heritage Club and Pawleys Plantation are top 100-caliber layouts located within a Jon Rahm drive of one another.

Caledonia and True Blue, both designed by the late, great Mike Strantz, offer contrasting yet equally enjoyable experiences. Caledonia is a shotmaker’s dream, playing through stunning live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, while True Blue is one of the Grand Strand’s
“biggest” courses.

Heritage Club, a Dan Maples classic, is set on a stunning piece of land and challenges golfers with some of the area’s most creative greens complexes. At the Jack Nicklaus designed Pawleys Plantation, six back nine holes that play along a tidal marsh are at the heart of the layout’s considerable appeal. Pawleys is undergoing a greens, bunkers and clubhouse restoration project in the summer of 2023.

Founders Club at Pawleys Island is one of the area’s most creative designs, featuring elevated fairways surrounded by sprawling waste bunkers. Nearly devoid of cart paths, the course drains as well as any along the Grand Strand and is a treat to play.

Not to be overshadowed by their highly acclaimed neighbors, Pawleys Island is also home to a quartet of layouts that are representative of what makes Myrtle Beach the game’s most popular destination, delivering quality and value in abundance.

Litchfield Country Club was the first course to open in Pawleys Island and continues to thrive, offering a member for the day experience players love. Tradition Club is a Ron Garl course that pays homage to America’s parkland roots while providing a memorable, contemporary layout.

River Club is a longtime favorite, highlighted by the risk/reward, par-5 18th, which offers daring (and skilled) players the opportunity to reach the green in two. Miss and a watery grave awaits.

Willbrook has been ranked among America’s top 50 courses for women and it showcases the Lowcountry landscape Caledonia and Heritage are renowned for while delivering the type of value golfers love.

The area’s Southernmost course, Wedgefield Country Club plays along the Black River, providing memorable views and a surplus of Southern charm.

If quality golf and a casual atmosphere are a priority for your group, Pawleys Island and Georgetown are worth a look.