Golf in Paradise:
Pawleys Island Golf Courses
Tucked between the tourism meccas of Myrtle Beach and Charleston, Pawleys Island offers a quiet, laid-back coastal experience defined by unspoiled scenery, rich history, and abundant recreation — especially golf.
That combination of beauty and playability has earned Pawleys Island national recognition from top industry publications, many of which highlight the award-winning designs, scenic beauty, and vibrant mix of restaurants, accommodations, and attractions.
All the golf courses are located on the mainland of Pawleys Island. The historic island boasts vacation homes, two historic inns, and a laid-back atmosphere. For golf and restaurants, visitors and locals head across the causeways to the mainland.
The Big Three
A trio of Pawleys Island courses has consistently garnered attention and accolades over the years. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, widely considered the area’s crown jewel, was among Golf Digest’s 2025–26 ranking of the Best Golf Courses in South Carolina.
Designed by the late, renowned architect Mike Strantz as his first solo project, Caledonia boasts fairways framed by the marsh and centuries-old live oaks along South Carolina’s Hammock Coast. In addition to praising how the design is “ordered and composed, twisting low through the heavy tree canopy while setting up classic hole strategies into angled greens,” Golf Digest urges readers not to miss the club’s beloved clam chowder or a drink on the club’s porch behind the 18th hole.
Golf Digest also recognized True Blue Golf Club, another Strantz design located just 2.7 miles from Caledonia. “What it lacks in scenery, it makes up for in volume,” the magazine noted. “Everything at True Blue is bigger and more heroic. Greens erupt out of sand barrens, fairways are 60 to 90 yards wide, and holes take on the form of ambling caterpillars.”
Another standout, Heritage Club, designed by Dan Maples, continues to earn national and regional accolades. Golfweek recently ranked it No. 16 on its list of Top Public Golf Courses in South Carolina, while Golf Digest lauded its “classic Lowcountry layout that blends natural beauty, history, and playability.” The course winds through ancient oaks and marshland, with several holes framed by the remnants of 18th-century rice plantations along the Waccamaw River.
Hammock Coast Golf Trail
While Caledonia, True Blue, and Heritage Club often steal the spotlight, they’re just a few of the exceptional courses that make Pawleys Island a golfer’s paradise. Many are connected by the Hammock Coast Golf Trail, which stretches through neighboring coastal communities, Litchfield Beach and Murrells Inlet. Along this trail, 11 courses showcase the region’s natural splendor — tidal rivers, moss-draped oaks, and rolling fairways built on centuries-old plantation lands.
Among the other Pawleys Island mainland highlights is Tradition Golf Club, a Ron Garl design unveiled in 1996. Built on a 16th-century rice plantation, the 6,800-yard, par-72 course features a full driving range, spacious chipping green, and a multi-level putting surface. With a layout that balances challenge and accessibility, Tradition delivers a rewarding experience for golfers of all skill levels.
In the mid-2000s, architect Thomas Walker transformed the Pawleys Island landscape to create The Founders Club, moving more than a quarter-million cubic yards of earth to introduce rolling fairways, natural sand areas, and striking elevation changes. Its wetlands, oak and pine groves, and a Lowcountry-style clubhouse overlooking the 18th green create one of Pawleys Island’s most visually dynamic courses.
The Pawleys Island Classics
The area’s first course, Litchfield Country Club, opened in 1966 and remains a Hammock Coast classic. While the Willard Byrd-designed course has evolved over the years, it has maintained many of its original features, including player-friendly green complexes. It has also retained its distinctive Southern charm, including a stately plantation-style clubhouse surrounded by magnolias, camellias, and live oaks draped in Spanish moss.
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club, designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus, is another must-play. Unveiled in 1988, the par-72 course stretches for 7,031 yards and features a front nine that meanders through hardwood forests and lakes before opening to the dramatic marshland back nine. Along this stretch, several holes extend out into the windy saltwater marsh, and an ancient moss-draped oak dubbed “Jack’s Tree” sits in the middle of the fairway on hole number 14, creating a tough hazard.
The River Club, a Tom Jackson design from 1985, presents a different kind of challenge. Consistently one of Golf Digest’s highest-ranked “Places to Play” and named among South Carolina’s “Top 25 Layouts,” the course, built on a former rice plantation, features over 100 sand traps and numerous water hazards. Two holes are particularly notable, including the par-3 14th and the demanding par-5 18th, which skirts water along its entire left side.
Willbrook Plantation, also designed by Maples, was named one of Golf Digest’s Top 50 Courses for Women. Opened in 1988, the course traces the contours of an 18th-century plantation and features interpretive markers highlighting its history. The layout winds through marshes and oak forests inhabited by deer, hawks, and alligators — an immersive Lowcountry experience with well-marked water hazards and generous landing areas.
A Convenient Getaway for Golfers and Beach Lovers Alike
If you’re planning a golf trip, traveling to Pawleys Island is easy. The community lies about 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), which offers nonstop flights to roughly 50 U.S. destinations, while Charleston International Airport (CHS) is about 80 miles to the south. For those arriving via private or charter aircraft, the Georgetown County Airport (GGE) is a convenient public-use option, located just south of the city, that can accommodate smaller planes and jets. The island itself — less than four miles long — is accessible via two scenic causeways from U.S. Highway 17, also known as Ocean Highway.
Visitors can stay in accommodations ranging from historic inns to modern beachfront vacation rentals. The Sea View Inn (built in 1937) and The Pelican Inn (1858) offer a glimpse into Pawleys Island’s storied past, while a range of beachfront and marshfront homes provide direct access to the sand and water.
Once you’ve settled in, it’s easy to explore multiple courses during your stay, allowing you to enjoy numerous rounds. And when you’re not on the links, you can stroll the island’s welcoming mainland, visit local boutiques, dine at incredible restaurants, or unwind amid pristine beaches, maritime forests, and scenic wetlands.
Whether you’re chasing birdies or simply savoring the beauty of the South Carolina coast, Pawleys Island delivers a golf experience that’s both world-class and wonderfully relaxed — a true blend of sport, scenery, and Southern charm.
