South Carolina golf and beaches

[TFavor]

Taking my son on a trip early august. We start in Pinehurst for at least a few days but then trying to decide what kind of adventure to go on from there. We’ve both been to Pinehurst a couple times so trying to get adventurous. 
Thinking about heading down to Myrtle Beach or Hilton head. Looking for a golf resort, or golf getaway, along with beaches and whoever knows what else. Looking for ideas 

[golfgoob]

Palmetto Dunes in Hilton Head is awesome. 3 courses. I've played the Fazio and RTJ Jr courses and both are nice. Less crowded than Myrtle Beach. 

[caniac6]

Litchfield, in the Pawleys Island area, is a nice place. The courses in that area are good. Good restaurants in Murrells Inlet. A much quieter area of the Grand Strand.

[Hstead]

Either Myrtle or HHI would be awesome.  We vacation at HHI each year.  This year my son and I played Hilton Head National, Old South, and Atlantic Dunes.  They were all great and I highly recommend each.

 

To me, HHI is more family oriented and laid back.  Myrtle has some fun things to do in the evening though.  But for my money, HHI is better.

Edited July 11, 2021 by Hstead

[TFavor]

2 hours ago, Hstead said:

Either Myrtle or HHI would be awesome.  We vacation at HHI each year.  This year my son and I played Hilton Head National, Old South, and Atlantic Dunes.  They were all great and I highly recommend each.

 

To me, HHI is more family oriented and laid back.  Myrtle has some fun things to do in the evening though.  But for my money, HHI is better.

Where would you suggest to stay

[Hstead]

We have always rented houses so I may not be much help there.

[ArtMBgolf]

Myrtle Beach is like one big resort.    You can stay at a beach hotel 
and drive to wherever you want.    
 
Which you pick might be based on your son's age.  If a teenager, he 
will probably like MB better than HH.    

[TFavor]

He is a teenager you’re right. Keep the ideas coming, really would like to make an educated decision here as I don’t get many pppurtunities to take my son on vacation.

[ArtMBgolf]

It would be easier to give you ideas if you added more criteria and 
decided on the location.   
 
In MB in August, room rates are high and golf prices are low.  
Golf will have a wide range of rates, between premium courses 
and lower cost courses.   You probably want to avoid the 
cheapest courses.     A golf course condo may be cheaper than 
a room at a beach hotel.   

[TFavor]

1 hour ago, ArtMBgolf said:

It would be easier to give you ideas if you added more criteria and 
decided on the location.   
 
In MB in August, room rates are high and golf prices are low.  
Golf will have a wide range of rates, between premium courses 
and lower cost courses.   You probably want to avoid the 
cheapest courses.     A golf course condo may be cheaper than 
a room at a beach hotel.   

Let’s settle on MB. 
High prices don’t necessarily bother me. Like I said, I rarely get to take my son on vacation so I don’t really worry about saving, just want to get the most out of our time. 
You are right about avoiding cheap golf courses. We’re coming from Pinehurst so It should be comparable in quality. 
Please, tell me more about golf course condo options. I’m not familiar with this route. 

[PGood]

I just got back from HHI as we go for a week every year.  We stay at the Sea Pines resort as they have 3 courses( 2 Pete Dye and 1 Davis Love), great beaches, and good options for eating. Book thru them and you can get multi round discounts when you book at the same time.

[golfgoob]

In Myrtle Beach, look into playing Caledonia and True Blue. I believe True Blue has condos to rent. Both course are probably top 5 to 10 in all MB. I'm not sure how far from the beach it is.

[ArtMBgolf]

22 hours ago, TFavor said:

Let’s settle on MB. 
High prices don’t necessarily bother me. Like I said, I rarely get to take my son on vacation so I don’t really worry about saving, just want to get the most out of our time. 
You are right about avoiding cheap golf courses. We’re coming from Pinehurst so It should be comparable in quality. 
Please, tell me more about golf course condo options. I’m not familiar with this route. 

I don't go to MB in the summer, but I see the beach hotels are expensive in the
summer, due to beach vacations.    Some good names are Ocean Reef, 
Caribbean, Breakers.   Higher end are Grande Dunes Marriott and
Island Vista.   You can walk out of the hotel onto the beach.   
 
Some golf course condos like Legends, Myrtlewood, Barefoot, World Tour, are
common condos, that still may be cheaper than on the beach.  Higher end
off the beach are Grande Dunes Marina Inn and Barefoot Yacht Club.      
  
This is a good golf packager:   [email protected] 
844-706-7503   
 
Top courses:   The Dunes (Private, Need Brain to book it), 
Caledonia, True Blue, Tidewater, TPC, Grande Dunes, Kings North, 
Barefoot Dye, ....     Golf rates are down in the summer.   
If your son is under 17, some have reduced or free for under 17 with
paying adult.     
 
MB is spread out, so if you stay central, it can be 45-60 minute drives to 
far north/south courses, but you can find enough with short drives.   
 
The south end around Pawleys is away from all the entertainment, but if 
you only care about golf, eating + beach, you might like that to be away from
crowds and traffic.    In this case, play Cal, TB, Heritage, TPC, Willbrook.       

[DoubleorQuits]

I recommend the following:

 

The Dunes 

Tidewater

Caledonia 

True Blue 

[MattC555]

Art has excellent info.  I use Brian to book my yearly trips.  He does a great job.  It's worth spending more on golf.  My favorites are:  Caledonia, True Blue, Barefoot - Love/Dye/Fazio, Kings North, and The Dunes. 

 

Tidewater is also excellent.  I'm heading that way in September.  We are playing Caledonia, True Blue, Pawleys Plantation, and Heritage.  Staying in a True Blue condo.  I prefer Murrell's inlet.  It's low key.

[tboh]

If I was taking my son on an adventurous golf jaunt to Myrtle I would stay below MB proper ... just a younger vibe IMO

 

Also if it was just the 2 of us $$ no object I would get up one morning drive the 3 hours (ish) & play Kiawah OR just stay there for 2 days

 

Just saying ... he is your son he deserves Kiawah

[chippa13]

I'd go the other way and hit North Myrtle. Tons of stuff at Barefoot Landing and you can't go wrong playing the Barefoot courses.

[sheppy335]

I go to MB in the summer just got back from it. Houses, Condo's and Hotels are higher priced but still not outrageous. Beaches will be busy but not terrible, Golf courses will be busy in morning and less busy after 1pm. Eating out will be nuts, tons of people in summer and low volume of workers right now causing delays and busyness. 

I will say this, it is hot but so nice in the summer. You get rain sometimes daily for 30 mins besides that sun. Everything is super nice and bars are busy from open to close. I stay in the Murrells Inlet area, which isnt super busy but close enough to things you are not in a car constantly. You have a minor league ball team that is fun to watch and not expensive. There are tons of things to do and tons of girls for your son to watch lol. 

[SecondandGoal]

I'm a full time resident in Murrells Inlet, and what everyone has told you so far about the area is accurate. You definitely don't want to be in MB proper. Either north or south is much nicer. I prefer the south strand myself, but that's personal taste. By the time August rolls around, all of the courses will have done aeration, and the greens will be recovered.

If you haven't finalized your dates, I've got one week left available for the summer in my beachfront condo (2 BR/2 BA), 8/28-9/5. Right on the beach, about 15 minutes to TPC, 20 to Caledonia/True Blue, a bunch of others the same time frame. PM me if you're interested.