Golf Courses Around Myrtle Beach Great for Beginners and High Handicappers

Are you a golf beginner looking to take a trip to the Myrtle Beach area and want to play a few rounds?

The Grand Strand has over eighty golf courses; some are definitely NOT for newbies while others are perfect for an amateur just starting to "feel his or her oats".

For many years I have championed for Myrtle Beach and it's golf courses; aside from the great value, the atmosphere is one of fun, the golf courses are exceptional and South Carolina, in general, is a warm, sunny and welcoming place for a visit.

I have played many breathtaking Myrtle Beach golf courses and would like to share my favorites for beginners with you so, when you decide to take a Myrtle Beach vacation, you will have an idea of the lay of the land. Feel free to ask in the comments section of this golf blog about restaurants and things to do in Myrtle Beach.

Let's start with the "beach" in Myrtle Beach - there are sixty miles of soft sand along the Grand Strand and there are north, middle and southern locations to stay and play which are filled with atmosphere. Below are the main areas and a couple of golf courses I have chosen based on amenities, ease of play and just plain beauty of their surroundings.

South Strand and Pawleys Island: There are so many golf courses in the south end of Myrtle Beach, I was hard-pressed to select just a few!

Caledonia Golf and Fish Club: If you want a real taste of the south, visit Caledonia in Pawleys Island; this golf club is a Lowcountry staple, complete with towering oaks, an antebellum-style clubhouse and nature preserve teeming with wildlife. The course is difficult yet fair and, as review upon review has stated, "One of the best I have played." From the forward tees, beginners' yardage is under 5,000 - even if you don't play well on this course, you will certainly admire the scenery.

Tupelo Bay Golf Course: An executive golf course and par-3 course located just south of Myrtle Beach in Garden City, Tupelo Bay executive has the look and feel of a full-size course, and it is a great test for beginners as well as those golfers who want to ease into their stay and play vacation.

Central Myrtle Beach:

Pine Lakes Country Club: The "Granddaddy" of Myrtle Beach golf and host of many "firsts" along the Grand Strand. Between the beautiful Clubhouse (a wedding and event favorite) and the simple, aesthetic golf course design, this Pine Lakes is a "must-see" and a "must-play" along the Grand Strand.

Myrtle Beach National - West Course: Arnold Palmer stands guard at the entrance to Myrtle Beach National Golf Club, a three-course enclosed compound along the 501 corridor; King's North and Southcreek round out the triad of courses and all have different personalities.

The West Course, in particular, has been chosen for beginners and high handicappers; from the forward tees the course is about 5,200 yards, has open fairways, a traditional layout and is pretty straightforward. There is also a feeling of seclusion and natural forestry surrounding the fairways and the course is well maintained.

North Myrtle Beach:

Grande Dunes Resort Course:

I didn't place Grande Dunes Resort Course on this list because it was easy - I placed it here because of that "vacation feel" it exudes right from the entrance where you cross over the bridge through the eighteen holes. Grande Dunes plays a little over 5,300 yards from the forward tees which offers a test but also offers inspiring views to relax the mind and spirit of any level of golfer.

Hole 7, a par 5 is a tester but beginners have a better chance at moving forward using their irons so, if played smartly, the course will be fun and memorable. You can also visit Dale Ketola, Director of Instruction at the Grande Dunes Golf Performance Center, before, during or after your round...just make sure to call for an appointment!

Meadowlands Golf Club: I played Meadowlands when I was a beginner and, after reading an article by Ian Guerin recently, thought back and added this course. Just over the South Carolina border, in Calabash, Guerin states that Meadowlands, "gives players the opportunity to go after more greens with less risk. Combined with a wide-open design, and there is plenty of room for error on nearly all of the par 4s and 5s here."

Have a golf course you would like to add to this list? Place it in our golf blog comments section below and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

photos: Founders Group

Golf Advice You Should NEVER Follow #golf

You're standing behind the golf ball visualizing your next shot. Standing nearby, waiting to take his shot, your playing partner innocently (?) says, "wow, is that your 6-iron? You're never going to make it over the water with that club!"

What happens next...?

Your ball takes a splash and you grumble something under your breath.

Unsolicited advice can get inside your head, making it nearly impossible to concentrate on your own golf game. You only hear the "never" in the above sentence, much like when a playing partner says, "watch out for that bunker"...your eyes and your attention look towards the bunker and, ultimately, your ball finds its way into the sand.

What other unsolicited advice should you steer clear of during a round of golf? Golf for Beginners has put together a few tidbits - feel free to add to our list in the comments section of this golf blog!

1. "You Should Look At That Putt From A Different Angle":
     My husband is always telling me to walk around every putt in order to see how the green breaks...which is good advice, however, according to GolfDigest.com, it might not be the best advice for some golfers.

"If you're a shaky putter, bringing in another view of the line won't be constructive. If anything, it will confuse you, or cause you to see something that isn't there. Plus, this isn't the Ryder Cup."

2. Taking Tips from Pros on the Driving Range:
    According to "The Women's Guide to Golf: A Handbook for Beginners", range pros who walk up and down the line looking for potential students may be giving you tips which may not work for your swing or game. This is called, according to the book, "trade dynamiting the tees" and a pro may throw you a "barrage of advice" which will probably confuse you more than help your game....then they get to fix the problem! Politely say "no thanks" for the time you are at the range and schedule an appointment with a golf teaching pro who has your best intentions.

3. ANY advice to help you DURING your round:
     Did you know...in any USGA tournament, the Rules of Golf state that giving advice to another golfer (even with a motion) is not permitted - it's a two-stroke penalty during the round and a disqualification after the scorecard is signed.

If a pro golfer receives unsolicited advice, however, and did not initiate the conversation, no penalty is given unless advice is offered twice. "The player should take action to stop this irregular procedure." He would incur a two-stroke penalty in stroke play if he allowed such advice to be given again.

Tip: During a friendly round, skip the swing advice completely,; it won't help your game to hear that the way you are cocking your wrists is wrong or your ball is too far forward in your stance...it will just further mess with your head. Instead, here are a few golf tips to help when things just aren't going your way on the golf course!

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Photo by Fancycrave from Pexels

What to do When Things Aren't Going Your Way #golf

Whether your golf ball consistently finds the water or you are playing military golf (left, right, left, right), there are some days that you wished you never played the sport. When things aren't going your way on the golf course and you can't get into the zone, don't chuck your clubs in the pond! Here is what you need to do.

Even the tour pros have bad days and suffer from nerves or tension... which leads to a tight grip, pulled or pushed swing, the yips, and/or condescending mental attitude. One bad swing can lead to two and a round can blow up for the best of players.

Trying to hit "perfect shots" and negative self-talk can wreak havoc on your round!

Chez Reavie, a PGA Tour pro, won a tournament in his rookie season and began pushing for results instead of hitting shots one at a time. When his game began to collapse, he analyzed his thoughts - he may have been judging himself too harshly - and backed off a bit.

"I needed to realize that just because I hit this shot poorly or that it didn't go perfect, it has zero bearing on the next shot that I hit," Reavie said.

 "The next shot that I hit could be the best shot that I ever hit…It didn't matter. I started thinking about that and was like, 'Wow. I've never really looked at it that way.' I was always like, 'Oh, s---, I pulled my last 7-iron so let's try and hold this one off a bit. Well, then I'd probably hit the next one to the right. I was just chasing my tail, whereas this way, every shot was a fresh start."

If you are not playing in a tournament, this is a great time to change your mindset during the round work on your game. Turn a bad round into an opportunity to work out the kinks in your game. If you are playing in an event, take a tip from Reavie and start playing the game one shot at a time.

For the beginner, average (or better than average golfer), Golf for Beginners offers up these bullet points to remember when you see your game starting to collapse.

1. Remember that golf is a mental game - you may not be physically swinging the golf club well today but the way you talk to yourself is important - use your mind to turn your game around. Think about the good shots and keep your chin up. (Re-read Chez Reavie's quote above...every shot is a fresh start).

2. Whether or not you are in a tournament, if things aren't going your way, stop looking at your score and put the scorecard in your pocket. Instead, play each shot one at a time, stay in the present moment and don't worry about the final outcome.

3. DON'T QUIT or think of quitting - it is easy to just stop playing golf. and sulk. Always finish your round. Stop being a perfectionist and understand that golf is a game of working past bad shots.

As I read in Psychology Today, author and coach Fred Shoemaker stated, "ultimately golf is just a motion of the body, a club, a ball, an intention, and a target." Keep your highs and lows in check and you will improve your score and mental attitude during any round.

What do you do when things aren't going your way on the golf course? Share in the comments section of this golf blog and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.