Myrtle Beach vs. Pinehurst: Which Golf Destination Should You Choose?

Myrtle Beach vs. Pinehurst: Which Golf Destination Should You Choose?

You've got a long weekend coming up, the guys are ready to go, and someone needs to pick where we're playing. In the Carolinas, that usually comes down to two options: Myrtle Beach or Pinehurst.

I've done both trips more times than I can count. My credit card statement would probably prefer I pick a hobby closer to home, but here we are. The truth? They're completely different experiences. Picking between them isn't about which one is "better" – it's about what kind of trip you want.

Let me break down what you're actually getting with each.

The Vibe: Party Town vs. Golf Mecca

Myrtle Beach feels like Vegas met a golf course and decided to hang out by the ocean. You've got 60 miles of coastline, about a hundred golf courses, and enough seafood buffets to feed a small country. After golf, you're hitting Broadway at the Beach, grabbing drinks at a tiki bar, maybe catching a show. It's loud, it's busy, and that's kind of the point.

Pinehurst is the opposite energy. This is where golf nerds go to be around other golf nerds, and I mean that in the best way possible. The whole town exists because of golf. You're not going to find a massive arcade or a dozen nightclubs. What you will find is people who want to talk about course design over bourbon and actually mean it.

If your group wants to golf hard and party harder, Myrtle Beach wins. If you want to play historic courses and actually remember the back nine, Pinehurst is your spot.

The Courses: Quantity vs. Quality

Here's where it gets interesting.

Myrtle Beach has somewhere around 90 courses depending on how you count. That's not a typo. You could play a different course every day for three months. Some are fantastic. Some are... fine. The variety means you can find something for every skill level and budget.

My go-to Myrtle Beach courses:

• Caledonia Golf & Fish Club – Best course in Myrtle Beach, and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise
• True Blue – Right next to Caledonia, same ownership, equally good
• Dunes Golf & Beach Club – Classic Robert Trent Jones design, ocean views
• TPC Myrtle Beach – Solid layout, always in good shape
• Barefoot Resort (all four courses) – Good variety, well-maintained

The challenge with Myrtle Beach isn't finding a course. It's picking which ones to play when you've only got three days.

Pinehurst has nine courses on the resort property. Just nine. But these aren't just courses – they're basically golf history lessons you get to play.

The Pinehurst lineup:

• Course No. 2 – If you play one course in your life, play this one. U.S. Open venue, Donald Ross design, those waste areas that look easy until you're in one
• Course No. 4 – My personal favorite. Less crowded than No. 2, just as good
• Course No. 8 – Designed by Tom Fazio, beautiful but will absolutely eat your lunch
• Course No. 1 – The original, still fun, way more forgiving
• The Cradle – Short course that's stupid amounts of fun. Play it at sunset.

Plus you've got Pine Needles, Mid Pines, and Southern Pines right in the area. All classics.

Myrtle Beach gives you options. Pinehurst gives you pedigree. Pick your priority.

The Price Tag: Budget-Friendly vs. Bucket List

Let's talk money because it matters.

Myrtle Beach is the value play. You can find decent courses for $60-100 in the off-season. The premium courses (Caledonia, True Blue, Dunes) run $100-200 depending on when you book. Hotels are everywhere and compete on price. You can do a solid long weekend for under $500 per person if you're smart about it.

Pinehurst costs more. Period. Course No. 2 is $300-500 depending on season and whether you're staying at the resort. The other courses are cheaper, but you're still looking at $150-300 per round. Resort rooms aren't cheap either, though staying off-property can save you money.

My typical Myrtle Beach trip (3 nights, 4 rounds): $600-800 per person My typical Pinehurst trip (3 nights, 3 rounds): $1,200-1,800 per person

Both include hotels and golf. Neither includes the damage we do at the 19th hole.

Best Time to Visit Each

Myrtle Beach:

• Spring (March-May): Perfect weather, courses are packed, prices are high
• Summer (June-August): Hot as hell, afternoon thunderstorms, but rates drop
• Fall (September-November): My favorite time. Weather's great, crowds thin out after Labor Day
• Winter (December-February): Cheapest rates, can be chilly, some courses overseed

Pro tip: Book Myrtle Beach for late October or early November. Weather's still good, rates are down, and you're not fighting for tee times.

Pinehurst:

• Spring (March-May): Peak season, especially April. Book early.
• Summer (June-August): Hot but manageable, slightly lower rates
• Fall (September-November): Second peak season, gorgeous weather
• Winter (December-February): Surprisingly playable, way cheaper

I've played Pinehurst in February with a jacket on. Was it ideal? No. Did I still have a blast? Absolutely.

Course Conditions: What to Expect

Myrtle Beach conditions vary wildly. The top courses (Caledonia, True Blue, Dunes) are always in great shape. The budget courses can be hit or miss. Sometimes you're playing on pristine fairways, sometimes you're wondering if they own a mower.

The inconsistency is part of the deal. You're paying less, so you're taking your chances. Read recent reviews before booking.

Pinehurst courses are maintained to a standard that borders on obsessive. Course No. 2 looks exactly like it did on TV during the U.S. Open. The attention to detail is ridiculous. You're paying for that consistency.

Even the "lesser" Pinehurst courses are in better shape than 90% of what you'll find elsewhere.

The Atmosphere: Casual vs. Traditional

Myrtle Beach doesn't care what you're wearing. Shorts, golf shirt, maybe a hat. Nobody's checking if your socks match. The starter might be wearing cargo shorts. It's golf, but it's also the beach, so everybody's pretty relaxed about it.

After golf, you're probably changing into a t-shirt and flip-flops and hitting a seafood spot where they dump shrimp on a table covered in butcher paper. Perfect.

Pinehurst has a dress code and actually enforces it. Collared shirts, no denim, proper golf shoes. The clubhouse at the main resort looks like old money and smells like it too. You're not rolling up in flip-flops.

This isn't snobbery – it's tradition. Some people love it. Some people find it stuffy. Know yourself before you book.

Getting There and Getting Around

Myrtle Beach is stupid easy. Fly into Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) and you're 20 minutes from your hotel. Most courses are within 30 minutes of each other. Rent a car, throw the clubs in, go.

Driving? It's right off 95 and 17. Easy access from Charlotte, Atlanta, DC.

Pinehurst is a bit more involved. Closest airports are Raleigh-Durham (RDU) or Charlotte (CLT), both about 90 minutes away. You're driving through some nice country, but it's still 90 minutes.

Once you're there, everything's close. The whole Village of Pinehurst is walkable. The courses are all within a few miles of each other.

Food and Nightlife: Options vs. Quiet

Myrtle Beach has every restaurant chain you've ever heard of, plus a bunch you haven't. Seafood is everywhere and mostly good. My spots:

• Hook & Barrel (upscale seafood)
• Sea Captain's House (right on the beach)
• Croissants Bistro & Bakery (breakfast)
• Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse (if you need meat)

Nightlife? You've got everything from sports bars to nightclubs to karaoke joints. If you want to find trouble, Myrtle Beach will help you find it.

Pinehurst has good restaurants, just fewer of them. The resort has several solid options. The village has some nice spots. It's quality over quantity.

• Ryder Cup Lounge (resort bar, good for post-round drinks)
• Dugan's Pub (Irish pub in the village)
• The Carolina Dining Room (fancy resort restaurant)
• Ashten's (upscale, reservations needed)

Nightlife is basically sitting at a bar and talking golf. If that sounds boring, Myrtle Beach is calling your name.

Which One Should You Pick?

Choose Myrtle Beach if:

• You want variety and options
• Your group has different skill levels
• Budget matters
• You want activities beyond golf
• Someone's significant other is coming and doesn't golf
• You want a party atmosphere
• You're playing 36 holes a day and need options

Choose Pinehurst if:

• You want to play historic, championship courses
• Course conditions matter more than price
• You appreciate golf tradition and history
• You want a quieter, more focused golf experience
• You've been talking about playing No. 2 since you started golfing
• You don't need much beyond great golf
• You're celebrating something (milestone birthday, bachelor party for golf nerds)

My Honest Take

I love both for different reasons.

When I want a guys' trip where we play a bunch of different courses, try every seafood restaurant, and probably make questionable decisions, that's Myrtle Beach.

When I want to check something off the bucket list, play courses I've watched on TV, and focus purely on the golf, that's Pinehurst.

Last year I did both. Myrtle Beach in October with college buddies – played five courses in three days, barely slept, had a blast. Pinehurst in April with my dad – played No. 2 and No. 4, ate dinner at 7 PM, in bed by 10, remembered every shot.

Both trips were perfect. They were just perfect for different reasons.

The Compromise Solution

Can't decide? Do this:

Fly into Myrtle Beach. Play Caledonia and True Blue (they're 90 minutes from Pinehurst). Drive up to Pinehurst for two nights. Play Course No. 2 and No. 4. Drive back to Myrtle Beach for the last night and fly out.

You get the best of both worlds. Your buddies who want to party get Myrtle Beach. The golf purists get Pinehurst. Everybody's happy.

Shipping Your Clubs (Because You're Not Dragging Them Through Two Airports)

Wherever you decide, ship your clubs ahead. Both Myrtle Beach and Pinehurst receive club shipments constantly. The pro shops know the drill.

I ship my clubs to arrive two days before I get there. They're waiting for me when I check in. I fly with a carry-on, skip baggage claim, and I'm at the bar while my buddies are still waiting for their clubs at carousel 7.

Cost? Usually $60-80 each way. About the same as airline baggage fees, except my clubs actually show up.

For Pinehurst especially, shipping makes sense. You're paying $400+ per round – you really want to play with rental clubs because Delta lost your bag?

Planning your Carolina golf trip? We ship clubs to Myrtle Beach, Pinehurst, and everywhere in between. Your clubs arrive before you do, and you fly light.

Fairway Freight – Real people, real service, real-time tracking.

Questions? Call or text: 918-900-2572