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About Myrtle Beach:
Everything But Mountains!
For golf lovers there's no better place on earth than "Myrtle
Beach" -- or more appropriately, the Carolinas' "Grand Strand". The 60+
mile stretch between southeastern North Carolina and Georgetown, South Carolina, with the
Sun-Fun City of Myrtle Beach at the center, offers about 110 golf courses as of spring
2000, and the number is still growing. Over a dozen more are either under construction or
in the planning stages. The Grand Strand is a golfer's paradise and one of the top golf
destinations in the world -- it's no wonder it's the undisputed "Golf Capital of the
World". Whether you prefer plenty of relaxation, rejuvenation and white sandy beaches
to stroll in the evening, or a variety of activities for after-golf buddies, non-golfing
partners or family members -- "Myrtle Beach" is the ideal getaway or vacation
destination for all who love golf.
Golf Courses
From the fabulous new courses by Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Davis Love III
and Greg Norman which opened spring 2000 at Barefoot Resort, to the magnificent Tournament
Players Club (TPC) which hosts the Ingersoll-Rand Senior Tour Championship each fall, to
older but national-award-winning courses such as Tidewater and The Dunes Golf and Beach
Club, to other challenging tracks and those better suited to higher handicaps, the Grand
Strand's world-class courses are guaranteed to test your mettle and your metals.
Golf Schools
Whether you're just getting started learning the game or a scratch
golfer looking to shave even one more stroke...whatever your age or gender...full-week
school or weekend...there's a golf school in Myrtle Beach to fit your needs. Several
national schools have locations in Myrtle Beach, while others are locally owned -- but all
offer Certified Professional instruction. And several of the schools offer special youth
golf programs in the summer. Make your next trip to Myrtle Beach a "learning"
vacation.
Family Entertainment
Entertainment abounds for all ages in Myrtle Beach. Take the kids to
Family Kingdom, an amusement park featuring the legendary wooden roller coaster, the Swamp
Fox; or to The Pavilion, with the new-this-year thrilling Hurricane roller coaster, lots
of "on the boardwalk" fun and the only teen nightclub at the beach, The Attic
(supervised, no alcohol allowed). If you want to get drenched, there's Myrtle Waves Water
Park and Wild Water and Wheels. And there's fun and challenge for anyone at least 40"
tall at the NASCAR SpeedPark. See our section "Myrtle Beach Kids" for more
activities for children and teens, and the young at heart.
Theatres and Nightlife
It's always show time at Myrtle Beach, with a number of theatres
featuring
the best shows of the East Coast year round. These include the Alabama Theatre, The
Palace, Dixie Stampede, Carolina Opry, Medieval Times, Fantasy Harbour Crook & Chase,
House of Blues at Barefoot Landing, an assortment of nightclubs at Broadway at the Beach,
sports bars and, of course, several fine "gentlemen's clubs" if that's your
pleasure.
If you want to dance the night away, there's a huge variety of lounges
and clubs along the Strand. And in several dance clubs, particularly in North Myrtle
Beach, you can experience "the shag" which originated there in the 40s when
vacationers trying to dance the jitterbug tended to slow things down a good bit because
they'd had a bit too much libations. The shag is South Carolina's official State Dance.
More to Do!
The sandy beaches are some of the widest in the world, and while the
waves can't hold a candle to Hawaii, there is some surfin' goin' on. Rent a sailboat, take
a fishing charter, or enjoy relaxing surf or pier fishing. The Grand Strand hosts the
longest pier on the East Coast at Apache Campgrounds in North Myrtle Beach. If you like
professional baseball, you can catch a game at the new stadium which hosts the Atlanta
Braves Class A team, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. And a little culture is good for everyone.
The accomplished Myrtle Beach Symphony has several productions each year, and a visit to
Myrtle Beach is not complete without a visit to the famed Brookgreen Gardens, home of the
largest outdoor sculpture exhibit in the world.
Events
With a number of golf tournaments including the DuPont World Amateur
Championship which grows in popularity and participants each year, numerous festivals
including the famous Sun-Fun Festival each June, to Harley-Davidson Biker Week each May,
the winter festival of lights and much more, there's always something special going on at
Myrtle Beach. One of the biggest events takes place each March, when Myrtle Beach lays
down the red carpet for its friends from Canada. The Canadian-American Days Festival, or
Can-Am Week, is Myrtle Beach's answer to New Orleans' "Mardi Gras" -- there are
spectacular celebrations, parades and more all week long to entertain the Canadians and
other visitors from all over. If you come, do try to squeeze in a little golf!
Shopping
Forgot a club? Broke a club? In addition to on-course pro shops, Myrtle Beach has a number
of golf and sports shops including several mega stores with several locations on the
Strand. For a variety of unique and boutique shops in one place, visit Broadway at the
Beach in central Myrtle Beach, the area's newest entertainment, dining, and shopping mega
complex -- or Barefoot Landing, a similar complex in North Myrtle Beach. Several outlet
parks offer a number of brand-name factory stores where really great bargains can be
found; there are several large malls as well. And even if you're not staying on the South
Strand, you might want to drive down to Pawley's Island to the Original Hammock Shop for
one of their world-famous rope hammocks to take back home.
Dining
From the biggest juiciest hamburgers to sumptuous local seafood to excellent
international cuisine -- it's all available on The Strand. Tiny Calabash, NC, just above
the NC/SC state line, is world-famous for numerous seafood restaurants featuring
"Calabash shrimp", called "popcorn" shrimp in some areas. But these
are better... much better. Because they're local. And fresh. Battered and lightly deep
fried. And no tails. Kids love 'em. Go to Calabash and have some shrimp. And tell them
GolfLinkTravel sent you. On the South end, Murrells Inlet is also famous for seafood
restaurants; the views from many of them across the marshes are as outstanding as the
food. If you're looking for "coat and tie" dining, there are several very nice
restaurants available. Just ask your concierge. You're welcome to wear that coat and tie
if you like, but they aren't required at Myrtle Beach. And for families with small
children, the Strand offers a number of buffet restaurants with good food and good prices.
Accommodations
Though Myrtle Beach is not the Riviera, there are a number of class
accommodations available. Several "plantation" resorts on the South end near
Brookgreen Gardens and historic Georgetown offer a relaxing vacation away from the glitz
of Myrtle Beach proper, have golf on premises and are also near several of the Strand's
premium courses. Another, near Restaurant Row, offers 145 acres of private oceanfront
seclusion, yet you are near the center of dining, shopping and nightlife. Oceanfront
hotels abound from the northernmost tip of the Strand to the south end, in all price
ranges. There are also a number of cottages available for rent -- some oceanfront, though
most of these have given way to high-rise hotels, and a number on canals. And many golf
courses have on-site condos available to golf groups. If you're traveling by RV, there are
several campgrounds on both the north and south strands. "Old South" Bed &
Breakfast accommodations are available in Georgetown.
GolfLinkTravel's Myrtle Beach Golf Travel Guide is filled with
informative content, listings and links for more information on most of what you want to
know, as well as special golf course reviews by our golf travel writer who has stayed and
played at Myrtle Beach several times and always enjoys a trip back. We hope you enjoy your
tour through this section -- and also your "Myrtle Beach" golf vacation. 
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