Golf Travel Guide To Waccamaw Golf Trail - Pawleys Island, South Carolina

Looking to plan the perfect golf trip to Waccamaw Golf Trail, Pawleys Island, SC? Planning a buddies trip or a romantic golf getaway can be a full time job not to mention pressure filled to deliver a memorable experience. Below is an interview with John Rusher, Executive Director of Waccamaw Golf Trail who shares some insider information about golfing and traveling to Waccamaw Golf Trail, Pawleys Island, SC, must play courses, a sample itinerary and where you can go for more planning tools.

Give our readers an overview of your destination and why they should consider it for their next golf trip?
If your quest is to play some of the best courses in America, then head for the Waccamaw Golf Trail. Located just south of Myrtle Beach, SC, and about an hour north of Charleston, the Waccamaw Golf Trail is located along the historic Hammock Coast, one of the oldest resort destinations in America. The area was once home to some of the world's largest producers of rice and indigo. Today, it offers visitors a combination of beautiful beaches, award-winning restaurants and some of the top-ranked golf courses in America.

Within a 10-mile radius, vacationing golfers have a choice of twelve highly-acclaimed courses, most built on former plantations, accented with ancient moss-draped oaks, magnolias and azaleas, set along the banks of the scenic Waccamaw River.

Among the featured courses are several that are ranked among the 100 Greatest Resort Courses in America, one of only three courses receiving 5 Stars in Golf Digest's "Guide to Best Places to Play", and two or three that have been ranked among the Top 50 in America for Women.

What are the must play courses in Waccamaw Golf Trail, Pawleys Island, SC?

Blackmoor Golf Club
It is the only Gary Player signature course in the Myrtle Beach area, and, just as you would expect, it is a player-friendly layout that rewards good shots and often forgives the occasional stray shot. It is built upon the old Longwood Plantation that is tucked along the banks of the Waccamaw River.
www.blackmoor.com
800-952-5555
6100 Longwood Drive
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
Designed by one of modern golf's most gifted architects, the late Mike Strantz, Caledonia traverses a magnificent 18th century plantation and is ranked among Golf Digest's list of "100 Greatest Public Courses in America" and GOLF Magazine's list of "Top 100 Courses You Can Play in America." The setting is serene, with ancient moss-draped oaks nestled against former rice fields and a tidal river. It is regarded by many as the #1 course on the Grand Strand.
www.fishclub.com
888-483-6800
369 Caledonia Drive
Pawleys Island, SC 29585

Founders Club of Pawleys Island
The southern most course on the Waccamaw Golf Trail, Founders Club immediately impresses you with the striking beauty of the 9th hole as it runs parallel to the Ocean Highway 17. In 2011, Founders earned the distinction of being named "Golf Course of the Year" by the Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association, a distinction that is well deserved for design, condition and service.
www.foundersclubpawleysisland.com
877-283-2122
7829 Ocean Highway
Pawleys Island SC 29585

Heritage Club
A perennial Top 100, the Heritage Club's marshfront setting is breathtaking, and the consistently high quality and condition have earned national acclaim, including 4.5 stars in Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play." This is s stunning Dan Maples design that never disappoints.
www.heritageclub.com
888-530-1875
478 Heritage Drive
Pawleys Island, SC 29585

Litchfield Country Club
Established in the early 1960s, Litchfield Country Club is the oldest course on the Grand Strand, and still maintains a private membership, so tee times are limited and highly coveted. It is a Willard Byrd design that just keeps getting better with age.
www.litchfieldgolf.com
888-466-7884
Highway 17 South
Pawleys Island, SC 29585

Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
This gem is located on the south end of the Waccamaw Golf Trail, the focal point of Pawleys Plantation is its award-winning Jack Nicklaus signature golf course, featuring several holes that literally extend out into the saltwater marsh. Great golf, a golf school, onsite dining, accommodations and meeting facitlities are all available at Pawleys Plantation, recently ranked one of the top golf meeting destinations in the Southeast by Convention South.
www.pawleysplantation.com
888-466-7884
70 Tanglewood Drive
Pawleys Island, SC 29585

River Club
This award-winning Tom Jackson design boasts a 4.5-star rating in "Best Places to Play." It features water on practically every hole, which fortunately does not, or maybe we say, "should not" come into play. The par-5 18th is one of the most thrilling finishing holes at the Beach, offering an excellent opportunity for birdie or eagle.
www.playriverclub.com
888-466-7884
11 Pine Drive
Pawleys Island, SC 29585

True Blue Plantation
True Blue is another highly acclaimed Mike Strantz layout, True Blue has earned national notoriety for its beauty and challenge. It recently moved up the rankings on GOLF Magazine's list of "Top 100 Courses You Can Play in America." This is another 4.5-star layout that is a must play on your next visit.
www.fishclub.com
888-483-6801
900 Bluestem Drive
Pawleys Island, SC 29585

Tournament Players Club of Myrtle Beach
This stadium course was created as a collaboration of Tom Fazio and Lanny Wadkins, intended to provide a major event venue in Myrtle Beach and to offer vacationing golfers the experience of playing a PGA TOUR caliber course. In addition to hosting the prestigious Senior Tour Championship in 2001, TPC Myrtle Beach has earned a perfect 5-star rating from Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play."
www.tpcmyrtlebeach.com
888-466-7884
1199 TPC Boulevard
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Tradition Club
Another member of the "Course of the Year" club, Tradition Club is a Ron Garl design that has earned a 4.5 star rating and is recognized for special design considerations that make it friendly to the women golfers, as well as the men.
www.traditionclubmyrtlebeach.com
888-466-7884
1027 Willbrook Blvd.
Pawleys Island, SC 29585

Wachesaw Plantation East
Five-time tournament host of the LPGA and 2007-08 Myrtle Beach Golf Course of the Year, Wachesaw Plantation East is a Clyde Johnston design that offers challenge and reward at every turn.
www.wachesaweast.com/
800-882-2614
Hwy. 17 South
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Willbrook Plantation Golf Club
Accomplished course architect Dan Maples calls it "One of my best," and those who play it agree. Situated on the site of two 18th century plantations, it easy to see why this course has earned a 4.5-star rating in "Best Places to Play."
www.willbrookgolf.com
888-466-7884
Highway 17 South
Pawleys Island, SC 29585

What is the hidden gem and/or best value course?
If you are looking to add some adventure to your round, check out the new Golf Boards at True Blue Golf Club. They are available, same as a golf cart, and a lot more fun. Check them out! Popular for all ages.

After golf, what are the "must do" things or attractions to see?
Off the course, the Hammock Coast area offers an abundance of places to see and activities to enjoy. You'll find a complete list at HammockCoastSC.com.

You'll discover some of the most pristine beaches on the entire East Coast, and one of South Carolina's most coveted state parks, Huntington Beach State Park, that is nestled against the Atlantic Ocean. Bike trails and walking paths provide up-close-access to birds, deer, alligators and other indigenous wildlife.

Just across the way is Brookgreen Gardens, a showplace of art and nature developed in the 1930s by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington on the site of four colonial rice plantations. Over 550 pieces of America's finest 19th and 20th century sculptures, by artists such as Frederic Remington, Daniel Chester French and Mrs. Huntington, are exhibited among 2,000 species of plants.

Numerous other historic points of interest include museums and 18th Century Plantation, with even more historic attractions just an hour south in nearby Charleston.

The Hammock Coast also offers a mouth-watering selection of restaurants, many set along the scenic Marshwalk of Murrells Inlet, one of the most popular seafood districts on the East Coast.

What is the best time to travel?
The Waccamaw Trail and Hammock Coast welcome visitors year-round. Family vacationers prefer the summer to enjoy the beaches, but empty nesters and golfers tend to prefer the fall and the spring, when the temperature is milder and the beaches and restaurants a bit less crowded.

While travailing, not looking to endure the hassle of lugging golf clubs? May want to consider renting premium golf clubs from www.clubhub.com.

Where can golfers go for more information to research and plan their trip?
To learn more about the golf, dining and accommodations on the Waccamaw Golf Trail, including seasonal specials, golf rates and available tee times, visit online at www.WaccamawGolfTrail.com or call (888) 293-7385.