Beach golf courses along the Grand Strand cost more now than before the post-pandemic boom, and golfers notice it at checkout. I compared green fees, rounds played and live tee sheets to show where the money goes. Read on to see what changed, why it changed and how you can still play well on a budget.
What Are the Myrtle Beach Golf Courses Price Trends This Year?
Prices keep climbing while strong demand holds steady. Golf Tourism Solutions reports resilient pricing across its member tee sheets, and courses now use dynamic pricing by season, day and hour. The same slot can cost very different amounts on a Tuesday and a Saturday.
Green and cart fee revenue grew about 2% in 2025, roughly $3.5 million across the network. Golfers played fewer rounds, so owners clearly raised the average ticket instead of chasing volume. A thinner tee sheet did not shrink the bill at the counter.
How Many Rounds Do Golfers Play on the Grand Strand?
Golfers played more than 2.73 million rounds on 64 member courses in 2025. That averages 42,668 rounds per course. The total slipped 2% from 2024 but still towers over pre-2020 levels.
Rounds rose about 11.5% in 2021 versus 2019, then 8%, 6% and 1% in the following years. That streak gave the market four consecutive years of growth, so the slight decline in 2025 barely dented the bigger picture. Before 2017, the Strand had gone 13 years without a yearly gain.
Why Did Rounds Slip in 2025?
Bad weather caused most of the drop. A January snowstorm closed courses for a week or more, and rounds fell 22% across January and February. Later, a tropical storm scare and a soggy Columbus Day weekend hurt October business.
Easter week landed in the third week of April, normally the busiest week of the year. Storm warnings triggered cancellations, even though the feared hurricane never arrived. Some Canadian visitors also skipped the Can-Am Days season after the tariffs dispute.
Who Fills the Tee Sheet Today?
Locals fill it. Local golfers, members and discount cards holders played nearly two-thirds of all rounds in 2025. Package rounds dropped almost 6% to nearly 600,000, and daily fee rounds fell almost 5% to nearly 325,000.
Population growth keeps feeding that local base. GTS research director Jeff Monday calls residents the lifeblood of the market, and I agree after watching weekday tee sheets fill with regulars. Destination golfers still matter, but locals now carry the volume.
How Much Does a Round Cost on the Grand Strand Today?
Listed rates for October 30, 2026 show a wide spread. Colonial Charters listed $53 to $68, Crown Park $57 to $64 and Aberdeen $51 to $71. Blackmoor and Burning Ridge sat between $70 and $88.
Top courses charge far more, with TPC Myrtle Beach at $140 to $200 and Thistle at $129 to $198. Tidewater listed $205 to $213. That leaves a gap of more than $150 between the cheapest and priciest round on a single day.
Are Published Price Lists Accurate?
They help with planning, but they lag behind live rates. The Beachwood price list gives rate ranges and warns that numbers change by season, tee time and booking platform. Confirm with the course before you pay.
That list put Arcadian Shores at $60 to $80, yet live listings showed $95 to $115 for October 30. It put Glen Dornoch at $60 to $90, while the same listing showed $148 to $174. Gaps like these prove how fast prices move, so I treat every list as a starting point.
How Much Do Premium Courses Charge?
Premium resort courses now charge roughly $145 to $215 per round. Barefoot Resort listed $150 to $194 across its four courses, Grande Dunes $146 to $191 and Caledonia $201 to $216. Those premium courses deliver scenery, service and prestige at a steep price.
Older lists priced Barefoot Resort at $100 to $150, so the direction clearly points upward. Casual players should budget for one such round, not five. I pick a late slot for these championship layouts, because late rates drop noticeably.
Which Designers Shape the Premium Tier?
Famous architects drive premium pricing. Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Davis Love III and Greg Norman each shaped a course at Barefoot Resort, and the Love course features recreated plantation-style ruins. Jack Nicklaus designed Pawleys Plantation, while Robert Trent Jones drew the Dunes Golf & Beach Club.
Gary Player built Blackmoor, Rees Jones shaped Arcadian Shores, and Tom Doak designed Heathland at Legends. Raymond Floyd created Arrowhead, Arthur Hills reworked PineHills, Dan Maples drew Oyster Bay, and Moorland adds P.B. Dye’s bold touch. Big names carry big price tags, but they rarely guarantee a better day.
Where Can Golfers Still Play Under $100?
Golfers still find under $100 rounds. A veteran forum poster lists Azalea Sands, Beachwood Golf Club, Crown Park, Diamondback, Meadowlands and the Hackler Course as mostly below that mark. These value courses deliver the best value on the Strand.
The same poster warns that many courses that once cost less than $100 now charge $100 to $125. Bang for your buck therefore means smart timing, such as midweek play. I would rather play a friendly layout twice than a famous one once.
When Do Prices Rise and Fall During the Year?
Prices peak in spring and fall, then dip in summer and winter. Peak season brings the highest rates, while off-peak months bring flexible deals. March prices stay lower until about the 15th, when spring rates start.
October offers 65 to 75°F temperatures, fewer crowds than summer and recovered turf, so many golfers call it the best month. Summer cuts rates 30% to 50%, though heat and thunderstorms come with the discount. Winter costs the least, yet January and February temperatures can sink to 40 to 55°F.
Are Weekday and Weekend Prices Different?
Yes, most courses charge more on weekends. Weekday rates run lower, and forum advice points to midweek, Monday through Wednesday, as the cheapest stretch. Weekend tee sheets fill faster and cost more.
Green Fee Tracker lists Twin Valley at $25 on weekdays and $36 on weekends, while Sandpines charges $84 on both. Weekend premiums clearly vary by course. I check both days before I lock in tee times.
Do Twilight and Afternoon Tee Times Save Money?
Often they do. Twilight and late afternoon slots cost less at many courses, and Eagle Nest listed $55 late against $72 earlier on October 30. PM rates vary, though, because a few courses charge more after noon.
Daylight Saving Time begins in March, so sunsets reach about 7:15 to 7:30 p.m. A 2:30 start still finishes before dark, according to forum golfers. Early morning slots cost more at some courses, so compare both before you book replay rounds at neighboring clubs.
Are Golf Packages Worth It?
Yes, for four or more rounds. Golf packages bundle lodging with several rounds and save 20% to 40% against the rack rate. Most hotels on the Strand join these programs.
Green Fee Tracker says a four-round stay at mid-tier courses costs a fraction of comparable trips elsewhere. Heritage Club adds breakfast and lunch, which stretches your dollar further. I still price single rounds separately to confirm the bundle really wins.
How Do Snowbirds and Locals Save Money?
They buy in bulk. Snowbird golfers use seasonal memberships, discount cards and repeat-play deals to lower each round’s cost. Beachwood sells an Eagle Club Card for that purpose.
Residents also play the city’s only municipal course, Whispering Pines, which reopened September 1, 2025 after a roughly $1.5 million renovation. The project added ultradwarf Bermudagrass greens, new fairways turf, rebuilt bunkers and a full irrigation overhaul. I would test it first during a month-long stay.
Which Renovations Improved Course Conditions?
Several courses reinvested in their layouts. Renovations at Whispering Pines, the Hackler Course and Sea Trail show how owners reinvest extra revenue. Better course conditions help justify higher rates.
The Hackler Course added a grand clubhouse and learning center, and Maples guests at Sea Trail check in at the Byrd and Jones clubhouse before a shuttle ride. Eagle Nest does not overseed its fairways, so they play brown in early spring. Some courses closed, too: River Oaks shut on November 30, 2025, and the former Carolina Shores course will become housing.
What Should Seniors and Beginners Choose?
Choose forgiving, player-friendly layouts. Seniors, beginners and high handicappers enjoy wide fairways, short walks and gentle bunkers. Beachwood Golf Club fits that description in North Myrtle Beach.
Gene Hamm designed Beachwood, and the property offers a driving range and a Clubhouse Grill for after the round. Check the scorecard and course reviews before you book. Families can ask about the Kids Play Free program that Myrtle Beach Golf Trips lists.
Which Areas Along the Grand Strand Cost Less?
Courses outside the busiest resort zones often cost less. Conway, Longs and Calabash host several cheaper rounds, such as Crown Park and Meadowlands. North Myrtle Beach mixes value and premium choices.
Little River, Sunset Beach, Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island add scenery such as the Intracoastal Waterway, Lowcountry marsh and live oaks. Links-style layouts feel different from tree-lined parkland tracks. Forum golfers estimate 75 to 90 minutes from North Myrtle Beach to Willbrook Plantation and Heritage Club.
What Hidden Costs Raise the Bill?
Extras add up fast. Check whether your quote includes cart fees, range balls and club rentals. Meals, dining and transportation also stretch a budget quickly.
Courses marked call to book do not publish rates online, so phone them directly. A free Quick Quote from Myrtle Beach Golf Trips compares options, and the site advertises guaranteed best rates. It also lists a Top Tracer range if you want to warm up.
How Does Myrtle Beach Compare With Scottsdale and Pebble Beach?
The Strand costs less for multi-round trips. A four-round package at mid-tier courses costs a fraction of what the same rounds cost in Scottsdale or Pebble Beach, according to Green Fee Tracker. Florida markets price similarly but offer fewer marquee layouts.
More than 90 courses sit along the 60-mile Grand Strand, with listed fees from $30 to $200 or more. That density creates competition, and competition keeps many rates reasonable. I count this variety as the region’s biggest edge.
Which Mid-Range Courses Cost Around $100?
Many good courses cluster near $100. A veteran poster places Myrtlewood, Sandpiper Bay, Arrowhead, Crow Creek, Shaftesbury Glen and Leopard’s Chase in that band. Founders Club, International Club, SouthCreek and Wachesaw East also fit when you play later in the day.
Man O’ War and Wizard, both Mystical Golf layouts, listed $103 on October 30, while Long Bay and World Tour ranged from $84 to $116. Prestwick, Pine Lakes and Wild Wing ranged from $81 to $134, and Pine Lakes carries the nickname Granddaddy. King’s North reached $131 to $176, so I save it for a special round.
What Makes a Course Worth Its Price?
Design and setting justify a price when they create memorable holes. Island greens at Oyster Bay, waste areas at Founders Club and elevation changes at River Hills give golfers something to remember. Flat, forgettable layouts rarely earn premium rates.
Eagle Nest shows off wildlife, including bald eagles, while Myrtle Beach National West runs through tall pines and hardwoods without houses. Aberdeen offers a Scottish feel with three nine-hole loops. I value scenery, but I value smooth conditions even more.
Is Tidewater Worth Its Top-Tier Price?
It rewards golfers who want one marquee round. Tidewater won Golf Digest and Golf Magazine’s Best New Public Course honor in the same year, and it listed $205 to $213 for October 30. Its marsh views and strong challenge justify the number, though not for every budget.
Most visitors should play it once, ideally late in the day, rather than build a week around it. A cheaper Colonial Charters or Aberdeen round balances the bill. I follow that mix: one splurge, then value rounds that keep the trip affordable.
What Do Forum Golfers Recommend?
Forum golfers focus on timing and fit. One British group of four, with a handicap range from 10 to 28, plans three weeks in March and wants gentle openers, a few premium rounds and value rounds between $50 and $120. Local posters steered them toward River Hills, Willbrook Plantation and Heritage Club.
Others praised Tradition Golf Club, River Club, Litchfield and Brunswick Plantation, though one poster called Litchfield the least interesting of that group. Rivers Edge has a memorable par 5 on number nine and usually slower greens. Another golfer even recommended the Wellman Club in Johnsonville, a long drive away.
What Will Prices Do Next?
They will likely stay firm. Rounds booked by mid-January for the rest of 2026 ran 7% ahead of the same point in 2025. Strong demand and dynamic pricing point to steady rates.
Big events keep the market busy, including the Myrtle Beach Classic, the World Amateur Championship and Darius Rucker’s Monday After the Masters tournament at the Dye course. The Classic parted ways with its sponsor ONEflight this October, so watch that story. I book tee times early for spring.
How Should I Plan a Trip Around These Prices?
Plan around timing, tiers and tee sheets. Book one premium round, two mid-range rounds and one value round, then shop midweek slots first. Check golf packages and lodging together before you pay for either.
Track rates for a week before you book, because dynamic pricing moves them daily. Ask each course about discount cards, seasonal memberships and twilight deals. Then lock your tee times, and save one flexible afternoon for weather delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does Golf Cost in Myrtle Beach?
Most mid-range rounds cost $50 to $125, while premium rounds reach $140 to $215. Listed rates for October 30, 2026 ran from $51 at Aberdeen to $213 at Tidewater. Always confirm the final number with the course.
When Is Golf Cheapest in Myrtle Beach?
Winter and summer cost the least, and midweek afternoons beat weekend mornings. January and February temperatures can sink to 40 to 55°F, while summer brings heat and storms. October and November balance weather and price well.
Are Golf Packages Cheaper Than Single Rounds?
Usually yes, once you play four or more rounds. Golf packages save 20% to 40% against the rack rate, according to Green Fee Tracker. Compare each bundle with single-round prices before you commit.
Is Beachwood Golf Club Good Value?
Many golfers say yes. The Beachwood price list estimates $40 to $80, though Beachwood Golf Club sits outside the GTS totals. Check live rates because prices change by season and demand.
How Many Golf Courses Sit on the Grand Strand?
More than 90 public and semi-private courses sit along the 60-mile Grand Strand from Little River to Pawleys Island. That makes it the densest destination for public courses in the United States, according to Green Fee Tracker. Pick a few by price tier first, then book around the weather and your own schedule.
