Better Than Ever: 2 of Myrtle Beach's Best Courses Thriving After Renovations
Story by Chris King
(Photos by Golf Tourism Solutions)
Founders Group International, owner of 21 Myrtle Beach area golf courses, has made reinvestment in its courses a priority, and at the top of the forward-thinking company’s list were two of the South’s premier public layouts, Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club and Grande Dunes Resort Course.
Both layouts are renowned for their natural beauty - Pawleys features six holes that play along a saltwater marsh, while Grande Dunes is home to five holes that bring the Intracoastal Waterway into play - and both now offer a new experience for golfers, following comprehensive greens, bunkers and clubhouse renovation projects.
The Myrtle Beach golf community has been buzzing since the October 2 reopening of Pawleys Plantation. Following the directives of 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus, the course’s architect, the greens at Pawleys were restored to their original specifications and the bunkers were completely reimagined.
The restoration of the greens netted an additional 40,000 square feet of putting surface, dramatically increasing the number of pinnable positions on each hole. The changes to the bunkers were even more dramatic as the sprawling traps on holes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 18 were replaced by smaller fairway bunkers, native areas and expanded fairways, enhancing the course’s playability for mid to high handicappers without reducing the challenge for more skilled players.
Pawleys also opened Palmetto Jacks, a new clubhouse restaurant featuring an expansive deck overlooking the 18th green and the marsh that helps define the unforgettable layout.
Grande Dunes enjoyed an overhaul in the summer of 2022 and is in spectacular condition. The greens are among the Myrtle Beach area’s best, challenging players to hit creative approaches on the large, undulating surfaces. The bunkers at Grande Dunes also had their original shape and contours restored, significantly improving their visual appeal, and the course cumulatively expanded its fairways by eight acres, providing more leeway off the tee.
As part of the effort, Grande Dunes opened Terrazza 19, a new clubhouse restaurant that has redefined the post-round experience. With an expansive menu and outdoor seating, golfers relish the opportunity to enjoy lunch and a couple cold drinks after concluding play on a course that has been ranked among the nation’s top 100 public layouts.
Golfers are flocking to Pawleys Plantation and Grande Dunes to enjoy new experiences on two of the area’s most highly regarded designs.
What are you waiting for? Check out the array of packages offered by MBN.com and start planning your next trip.
Special Limited Time Promo Code Offer For CGA Members!
Save an additional $10.00 per person per round on this already discounted 2 or more round special for 21 courses including Grande Dunes and Pawleys Plantation.
Enter Promo Code “CGA” at Checkout, Must Use the Button Below, Offer Expires 12-31-23