South Carolina is one of the easiest states to build a golf trip around because it has several distinct golf destinations. Kiawah Island brings oceanfront championship golf, Hilton Head offers Lowcountry resort golf, and Myrtle Beach gives travelers a deep public-course lineup. The best South Carolina golf trips can feel coastal, strategic, scenic, and relaxed all at once.
This top 10 is a practical must-play shortlist for golfers who want courses they can realistically plan around. Access, rates, resort requirements, and seasonal maintenance can change, so always confirm current booking details before building a trip.
If a South Carolina course already means something to you, South Carolina golf course map prints can turn that course memory into a display piece for a home, office, den, or golf room.
1. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is the state's most famous public-access golf experience. Designed by Pete Dye, it is known for wind, coastal exposure, demanding strategy, and major championship history. It is a course where conditions can change the challenge from one day to the next.
The Ocean Course is must-play because it feels like a true event. Golfers go for the setting, the test, and the sense of walking a course that has mattered on the biggest stages. It is not a casual warm-up round, but it is unforgettable.
2. Harbour Town Golf Links
Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island is one of the most recognizable Pete Dye designs in the Southeast. Created with Jack Nicklaus as design consultant, it is known for narrow corridors, small greens, strategic angles, and the famous lighthouse finish.
Harbour Town is must-play because it asks for precision more than power. Many holes reward placement, patience, and smart club selection. It is also central to the Hilton Head golf experience, making it a natural anchor for a Lowcountry trip.
3. The Dunes Golf and Beach Club
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design and one of the Grand Strand's most respected courses. It combines classic resort golf with coastal character, water, mature trees, and a strong closing stretch that has tested generations of visiting players.
It belongs on this list because it gives Myrtle Beach travelers a course with history and stature. The area has many public options, but The Dunes stands out as a course that feels like more than a vacation round. It is a serious stop for a serious itinerary.
4. Caledonia Golf and Fish Club
Caledonia Golf and Fish Club in Pawleys Island was Mike Strantz's first solo design and remains one of South Carolina's most beloved public courses. Live oaks, Lowcountry beauty, strategic bunkering, and a memorable closing hole give the course a strong sense of place.
Caledonia is must-play because it feels intimate, artistic, and different from standard resort golf. It rewards thoughtful shotmaking and creates a strong visual memory. For many golfers visiting the Myrtle Beach area, it is one of the first courses to book.
5. True Blue Golf Club
True Blue Golf Club sits near Caledonia in Pawleys Island and gives golfers another Mike Strantz experience. It is bigger, bolder, and more expansive, with wide fairways, large greens, waste areas, and dramatic visuals. The course encourages creativity without feeling ordinary.
True Blue is a must-play because it pairs so well with Caledonia while offering a different personality. Playing both shows the range of Strantz's work in the same area. For groups, the contrast makes a Pawleys Island golf day or weekend especially memorable.
6. Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III
Atlantic Dunes at Sea Pines Resort gives Hilton Head visitors a polished modern resort option. Redesigned by Davis Love III, the course uses dunes, lagoons, pines, and coastal vegetation to create a Lowcountry feel that is more relaxed than Harbour Town but still engaging.
It earns a place because it helps round out a Hilton Head trip. Not every round needs to be as demanding as Harbour Town. Atlantic Dunes gives golfers scenery, resort quality, and a strong sense of place while keeping the experience accessible for more players.
7. Heron Point by Pete Dye
Heron Point at Sea Pines Resort is another Pete Dye design in Hilton Head, with lagoons, bunkers, angles, and shaping that create plenty of decisions. It is a useful companion to Harbour Town and Atlantic Dunes for golfers staying at Sea Pines.
Heron Point is must-play for travelers who want a deeper Hilton Head itinerary. It gives players a Dye-flavored test without needing to repeat Harbour Town. For resort guests, it creates a strong three-course destination within one property.
8. TPC Myrtle Beach
TPC Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet is a Tom Fazio design and one of the stronger public options in the Grand Strand area. It offers a polished layout, tournament-style presentation, water, bunkering, and enough challenge to interest low-handicap golfers while remaining playable for visitors.
It is a must-play because it gives Myrtle Beach travelers a course with a more upscale, championship-style feel. The area is known for volume, but TPC Myrtle Beach provides structure, conditioning, and a serious golf atmosphere.
9. Tidewater Golf Club
Tidewater Golf Club in North Myrtle Beach is known for scenic marsh views, Intracoastal Waterway moments, and holes that use coastal landforms effectively. It gives visitors a different visual experience from inland Myrtle Beach courses and often becomes one of the most remembered rounds of a trip.
Tidewater earns its place because setting matters in South Carolina golf. The course gives players views, strategy, and a strong sense of location. It is a good choice for golfers who want a round that feels connected to the coast.
10. Grande Dunes Resort Course
Grande Dunes Resort Course in Myrtle Beach offers wide corridors, elevation changes, water views, and a polished resort atmosphere. It is a strong public option for golfers who want a modern course that can handle group trips, vacation rounds, and a range of playing abilities.
It rounds out the top 10 because it adds variety to the Myrtle Beach side of the list. Grande Dunes is useful for travelers who want a course that feels spacious and scenic without being as severe as some championship venues. It fits naturally into a multi-round Grand Strand trip.
How to Plan a South Carolina Golf Trip
South Carolina golf trips are easiest when organized by destination. Choose Kiawah for the Ocean Course, Hilton Head for Sea Pines and Lowcountry resort golf, Myrtle Beach for a deep public-course lineup, or Pawleys Island for the Caledonia and True Blue pairing.
Travel time matters because the best courses are spread across the coast. A trip that tries to combine Kiawah, Hilton Head, and Myrtle Beach in a short window can feel rushed. Pick one base or build in enough time to move comfortably between regions.
How to Choose Your First Three Courses
If you can only play three South Carolina courses, choose different styles. The Ocean Course gives championship coastal drama, Harbour Town gives strategic Lowcountry precision, and Caledonia or True Blue gives artistic Pawleys Island character. That mix creates a strong first impression of the state.
For a Myrtle Beach-focused trip, start with The Dunes, Caledonia, and True Blue or Tidewater. For Hilton Head, choose Harbour Town, Atlantic Dunes, and Heron Point. The best combination depends on where you are staying and how much travel you want between rounds.
Turn South Carolina Golf Memories Into Artwork
A South Carolina golf trip can become more meaningful when the course has a place beyond the scorecard. A map print can mark a bucket-list round, family vacation, buddies' trip, or annual coastal getaway. It works well in an office, den, golf room, or hallway.
Browse the South Carolina collection for ready-made options, or create a custom golf course print if the course you want is not listed. For broader browsing, the golf course prints collection is a useful starting point.
FAQs About South Carolina Golf Courses
What is the most famous golf course in South Carolina? The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is usually the most famous because of its coastal setting and major championship history.
Is South Carolina good for public golf? Yes. South Carolina is excellent for public and resort golf, especially around Kiawah Island, Hilton Head, Pawleys Island, and Myrtle Beach.
What South Carolina golf destination should I choose first? Choose Kiawah for a bucket-list championship round, Hilton Head for resort golf, Myrtle Beach for variety, or Pawleys Island for Caledonia and True Blue.
Final Thoughts
The best South Carolina golf courses show the state's range: oceanfront championship golf, strategic Lowcountry resort golf, artistic Mike Strantz designs, and a deep Myrtle Beach public lineup. The top trip depends on the style of golf you want most.
Whether you are planning a vacation or choosing a gift for someone who loves South Carolina golf, start with the course that carries the strongest memory. That course will usually make the best story and the best golf artwork.