What’s new for golfers in Myrtle Beach

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Canadian pro golfer Roger Sloan was being interviewed by local television shortly before his fellow countryman Ben Silverman was hitting the shot of the day at the 18th hole at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

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That was the scene last month during the first round of the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic on the PGA Tour.

There is no guarantee that your rounds on the course on a trip to this golf mecca will be quite as successful as Sloan and Silverman, who shot 67 and 66 respectively that day, but the new tournament is just one of a number of exciting additions to the sports scene of an already golf-crazed area.

More than 40,000 spectators attended the tournament over the week and the addition of the Myrtle Beach Classic to the PGA Tour seems long overdue as there are few spots in the U.S. with deeper ties to the game of golf.

“This high-profile sporting event not only enhances our area’s reputation as the golf capital of the world but also reinforces the strong community spirit that defines the Grand Strand,” said Karen Riordan, president and CEO of Visit Myrtle Beach. “It’s been remarkable to see everyone, from local families and volunteers to visitors of all ages, come together to make this inaugural event a standout success.”

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Canadians have been flocking to Myrtle Beach for generations, and before heading to the PGA Tour event I had the opportunity to play the course that started it all, Pine Lakes Golf Club. Affectionately nicknamed The Granddaddy, Pine Lakes opened in 1927 and helped kick-off the area’s emergence into a prime golf destination.

Pine Lakes underwent a comprehensive greens and bunker restoration project in 2021 and the course was playing great for our group. The greens and overall conditioning were both wonderful, and rental sets made up of a full bag of the latest Qi10 TaylorMade clubs only added to what was a great golf experience. And make sure you spend some time in the pro shop where they have a the great selection of hats, my favourites being a block letter GRANDDADDY hat that I picked up for a Father’s Day gift, and the classic rope hat that I’ve been wearing on the course since I returned.

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Of course, there is no shortage of golf course choices for a trip to Myrtle Beach with nearly 100 courses to choose from.

Off the golf course, there is a good chance plenty has changed since your last trip to the South Carolina destination. Myrtle Beach has seen a major growth in population over the past decade and with that has come major investment in the entertainment sector.

Needless to say, the beachfront life is still a major draw, but during my trip the only sand I stepped on came inside of bunkers because there was no shortage of things to do after leaving the course.

One popular attraction in recent years has been the addition of Topgolf. It may seem like going out to hit golf balls is a strange way to spend an evening after a round of golf but the reality is it’s a great place to have some food and beverages, and a very different vibe and demographic than the normal game of golf. Plus, as we all know, golfers are sickos for the sport. With no Topgolf facilities in Canada, there is a good chance many Canadians haven’t experienced the gamified driving range, and it’s certainly worth the trip. One thing that surprised me was the elevated catered-style food choices available. If you’re bringing a larger group to Topgolf, that’s certainly something to keep in mind.

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Even newer to Myrtle Beach is PopStroke, the Tiger Woods’ venture that can be described as mini-golf on steroids. The slogan for the golf legend’s new business is Eat. Putt. Drink. and that is a pretty good description, although they could add Fun because I was pleasantly surprised.

Mini-golf isn’t really my thing but Popstroke is really nothing like the old game I remembered. There isn’t a windmill or clown face in sight at Popstroke, but what you’ll find at the Myrtle Beach location are two 18-hole courses of varying difficulty that feature incredible terrain and visuals and will have you feeling almost like you’re inside a video game.

There are also televisions on the fully-lit outdoor courses to keep tabs on whichever game is on that night, as well as the ability to order drinks from the Popstroke app to be delivered on the course. Besides the golf, there is a full-blown sports bar scene inside for between rounds.

Another spot we hit on our Myrtle Beach adventure was Big Chill Island House, a brand new restaurant near Topgolf that had only been opened for a few weeks when we arrived. It was clear when stepping inside that no expense was spared in creating a great restaurant scene.

Whether you’ve been to Myrtle Beach before or are thinking of making the trip for the first time, there are plenty of new things waiting for you at one of golf’s most famous destinations.

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