Myrtle Beach is actually part of a larger area called the Grand Strand. This area extends from the southern part of North Carolina down past Pawley's Island and boasts over 120 golf course.

There are three sub-areas to the Grand Strand that are useful to know when planning your trip. Nothing is worse than having to drive over an hour to get to a course at 6 am after a long night out. These areas are:

• North Myrtle
• Central Myrtle
• South Myrtle

For the most part, traveling between two areas should take no longer than 30-40 minutes which we feel is an acceptable drive for great golf. It is not recommended to book courses in North Myrtle if you are stay in South Myrtle. The drive can be over an hour.

For most of us, a trip to Myrtle Beach means a lot of golf in a short amount of time. The best way to do this is with Replays as your second 18 of the day. A Replay is a second round in same day at the same or an affiliated course at a discounted rate. Many times, this rate is over 50% off. With this in mind, you should only book one round a day with your package. Replay rates can only be obtained that day at the course. Because of this, it is a good idea to select resorts with multiple courses like Wild Wing, Barefoot, True Blue/Caledonia, Myrtle Beach National, Bay Tree, Ocean Ridge Plantation, the Glens courses, etc.

36 holes a day is a LOT of golf. Remember that when you are planning your trip.

The best conditions for golf are in the Spring and Fall in Myrtle Beach. Most courses perform maintenance, e.g. aeration, in late May and late September / early October. Make sure you have your golf package provider check to make sure this isn't occuring during your trip.

Purchasing golf and accomodations together in a package will save you and your group a significant amount of money vs. purchasing each separately.

For the least expensive rates, play your most expensive courses Monday - Wednesday. Midweek rates are lower than weekend rates.

The Grand Strand has many different options for dining. For a lot of options all at once, try Barefoot Landing or Broadway at the Beach. These are two large retail and entertainment complexes that offer a number of various types of restaurants.

Naturally, Myrtle Beach has golf themed restaurants. One of the most popular is Greg Norman's Austrailian Grille. It is one of the best fine dining experiences in Myrtle Beach. A popular misconception is that The Masters is also a golf themed restaurant. Don't be fooled by the name, this is not a family establishment.

For great seafood, be sure to check our the Murrell's Inlet area. There are some great restaurants here that, in our opinion, offer the finest dining in all of the Grand Strand. Be sure to check out The Hot Fish Club, Bovine, and Divine Fish House.

The nightlife in Myrtle Beach is hit or miss during the prime golf season. Your best bet is to go to Barefoot Landing or Broadway at the Beach. Both locations offer a number of bars and restaurants that will be the most likely places to have a decent crowd. Specifically, you should always check the schedule at Barefoot's House of Blues to see if any bands are playing that you like during your stay.

If you are a little further south, your best bet is Murrells Inlet. Here you should check out the Dead Dog Saloon and the gazebo at The Hot Fish Club. Both offer great views of the inlet and a lively crowd.

For those of you who are going to be down in Myrtle Beach for a bachelor party or guys-only weekend, there are plenty of "those" types of places for you. You won't need our help finding them.

The Myrtle Beach Airport is located in Central Myrtle and has numerous courses nearby. It's a good idea to pick a course near the airport on your way in or out of town to make sure you get enough golf while in town.