South Strand: Live Oaks, Tidal Creeks, and Measured Play.
The South Strand centers on Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet, where live oaks, tidal creeks, and plantation land give Myrtle Beach golf a quieter, more historic feel than the busier North Strand. Courses here tend to be more intimate and strategic, routed through old rice fields and sandy inland ridges rather than wide open marsh vistas. This is the stretch for players who want great golf plus food and atmosphere, with cottage rentals, low-key beaches, and the MarshWalk standing in for high rises and nightclubs. It is still part of one of America’s deepest public golf destinations, but the pace shifts from party strip to lowcountry getaway.
Featured Golf Courses
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club – Pawleys Island, SC
Architect: Mike Strantz (1994)
Caledonia occupies a former rice plantation where an avenue of centuries old live oaks leads into a routing that feels equal parts golf course and garden walk. Strantz keeps the card relatively short yet demanding, using angled fairways, flanking bunkers, and compact, subtly contoured greens. Holes slip between oak canopies and marsh edges so that you alternate between enclosed corridors and broad water views, with multiple lines off the tee but clear penalties for getting too bold. The closing approach over marsh toward the clubhouse porch, where groups often watch shots come in, reinforces its reputation as a course where atmosphere and shot value are both turned up.
True Blue Golf Club – Pawleys Island, SC
Architect: Mike Strantz (1998)
True Blue takes the lowcountry canvas and blows it up in scale, with vast sandy waste areas, wide fairways, and bold green contours that invite creative, attacking golf. From the tee it looks forgiving, but preferred angles into the greens are often guarded by sand or water, so good scoring still depends on committing to a line. One of its calling cards is the fleet of electric GolfBoards, a surf and skate inspired alternative to carts that turns a round here into a ride as memorable as the scorecard.
TPC Myrtle Beach – Murrells Inlet, SC
Architect: Tom Fazio (1999)
In a region packed with strong layouts, TPC Myrtle Beach earns its spot on quality rather than branding, with tour style conditioning and shot values that many rate among the best on the Strand. Fairways thread through pines and wetlands, with water or marsh in play on many holes. Elevated, quick greens with subtle tiers place a premium on landing in the right section and controlling spin, especially late in the round when the routing tightens. It feels like a proper championship test for better players yet remains playable for mixed groups who choose sensible tees and lean on course management.
Plan Your Next Trip the Right Way
Insider Notes:
Caledonia is about slowing down; arrive early to soak in the oak lined entrance, and budget time for a drink on the back porch watching groups play into 18 rather than rushing straight to the car.
Reserve GolfBoards at True Blue in advance if your group is curious; they book quickly. Carving the sandy corridors on a board is one of the more unique ways to experience golf in the Carolinas.
TPC Myrtle Beach pairs naturally with a Murrells Inlet day; play in the morning, then head a short drive east to the MarshWalk for waterfront seafood and live music while you replay the shots that did and did not clear the wetlands.
If your itinerary is essentially Caledonia, True Blue, and one or two nearby courses, you can base in Pawleys or Litchfield and get by with short rideshares or shuttles between golf and lodging; once you start mixing in central Myrtle or more spread out tracks, a rental car quickly becomes the smarter move.
For lodging vibe, Pawleys and Litchfield suit groups that want quieter beaches and good dinners, while staying closer to central Myrtle or Surfside makes more sense if part of the group plans to chase late night Grand Strand energy after golf.
Airport Access:
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club: ~40 minutes
True Blue Golf Club: ~40 minutes
TPC Myrtle Beach: ~30 minutes
Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club: ~1 hour 45 minutes
True Blue Golf Club: ~1 hour 45 minutes
TPC Myrtle Beach: ~1 hour 30–35 minutes
Driving Times:
Caledonia Golf & Fish Club: ~45 minutes
True Blue Golf Club: ~45 minutes
TPC Myrtle Beach: ~30 minutes
Murrells Inlet MarshWalk: ~20 minutes
Pawleys Island: ~45 minutes
Charleston: ~2 hours 5 minutes
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