<img decoding="async" alt="Arcadian Shores Golf Club" src="/media/images/Ian_Guerins_Starter_courses_600x300.png" style="width: 600px;height: 300px" />
Story by Ian Guerin
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. | A million different lists will tell you a million different things about the Grand Strand golfing mecca’s 90 courses.
From the most scenic to the smallest greens, sheer distance to the ones next to the Intracoastal Waterway. They all have their place.
But what about when you really want to know which courses could help you flirt with your personal best round? The ones that are perfect to start a buddy’s trip? A few options that may help you get back at it after a long layoff?
This list is for you.
Whether you’re still getting your golf legs or just want a round that won’t kick your butt, give these five a try and know you’ll be ready for the big boys that much sooner. These aren’t necessarily in line with what the USGA slope meter will tell you. But they’re what my decade of visiting them in a professional capacity tells me.
Because I’m a nice guy, I put them in descending order for you.
5. LITCHFIELD COUNTRY CLUB
This is one that won’t make a lot of lists, thanks to its 128 slope from the white tees. However, as many have found out over the years, get through the first five holes at <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/litchfield-country-club">Litchfield</a> and you can absolutely sail through the rest of the round unencumbered without so much as touching your driver.
First timers may not recognize that, but plenty of south-end players who’ve made Litchfield part of their regular rotation do so with the mindset of fine-tuning their short game. The dogleg-happy design is tailor-made for it.
4. ARCADIAN SHORES GOLF CLUB
Much like Litchfield, <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/arcadian-shores">Arcadian</a>  (pictured above) front-loaded the first few holes, albeit in a different way. On the opener and No. 3, you’re going to find both of the Par 5s the front nine has to offer. Yeah, most of us aren’t exactly in a rhythm yet to flirt with a birdie but avoid a seven or a snowman on those two, and you’re going to be just fine.
Five of the next six holes are Par 4s measuring no longer than 373 yards, and that means you can take your pick depending on your comfort level at that exact time.
3. MEADOWLANDS GOLF CLUB<img decoding="async" alt="Meadowlands Golf Club" src="/media/images/MEAD1.jpg" style="height: 165px;float: right;width: 330px" />
<a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/meadowlands-golf-club">Meadowlands</a> (pictured right) would definitely appear on the UGSG list, and it’s no big surprise why. The standard (Egret) tees measure a relatively paltry 6,080 yards, the fairways are more often than not straight as straight can be and &#8211; despite a small number of houses and some oversized patches of Pines &#8211; the sight lines are clear as day.
You’re going to notice ample landing zones and no forced carries. If you’re not feeling the short irons, bump-and-run is a great back-up option that will help you keep it safe around the greens.
2. MYRTLEWOOD GOLF CLUB, PALMETTO COURSE
When Gloria Estefan sang about how the rhythm is gonna get you, she might as well have been talking about <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtlewood-golf-club-palmetto">Palmetto</a>. Maybe no course around the Myrtle Beach area gets you into yours quite like it.
Five of the six holes here aren’t just pretty smooth; they’re easy in comparison to the course’s own handicap system. By the time you move into the final two-thirds of Palmetto, then, you’re stretched out and have maybe snuck in a few pars. The confidence will pay dividends for the rest of the way.
1. MYRTLE BEACH NATIONAL, WEST COURSE
When I’m looking for “easy”, this is the end-all, be-all. The <a href="https://www.mbn.com/courses/myrtle-beach-national-west-course">Arnold Palmer layout</a> includes a lot of bells and whistles, but they’re mostly for show.
Perfect example: The Par-4 No. 3 presents a bevy of problems. There is a large pond to fly off the tee, a massive waste bunker up the right side, a slight bend to the left in the final yards and a handful of greenside bunkers. But play it even mildly straightforward and you’re looking at an easy par. It’s the same for most of the course.
Ian Guerin is a DJ and freelance writer based in Myrtle Beach. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/iguerin?lang=en">@iguerin </a>and Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IanGuerinWriter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facebook.com/IanGuerinWriter/</a>

Golf Writer Ian Guerin’s Five Favorite ‘Starter’ Courses

Courses in this Article

West Course at Myrtle Beach National

Myrtlewood Golf Club - Palmetto Course

Meadowlands Golf Club

Litchfield Country Club

Arcadian Shores Golf Club

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