How to book a golf trip to Myrtle Beach’s best courses for under $1K per person

Myrtle Beach, S.C. is a golfer’s paradise, with over 80 fantastic courses to choose from. With a vibrant beach, restaurant and nightlife scene, it’s also the perfect locale for a buddies golf weekend.

One of my favorite things about the area is that variety abounds in every category, from super-low-budget to high end, and it’s all good fun.

Here’s how to take a four-player Myrtle Beach buddies trip for less than $1K per person.

You won’t find any direct flights from the west coast into MYR, the local Myrtle Beach airport, but if connections make you grit your teeth, you can try finding a flight to Charleston. Unfortunately, you’ll be looking at a two-hour drive to Myrtle Beach when you land, so I think it’s worth the potential stress of a connection to get nice and close to your ultimate destination.

On Expedia, Spirit Airlines can get you to MYR from LAX for $275 with a layover, while LGA and ORD have direct flights on Spirit for $161-$171.

TOTAL AIRFARE: ~$200/person x 4 =$800

With four people traveling with clubs, you’ll need the biggest car you can get to travel comfortably. A standard SUV from Budget will set you back $175 for a long weekend (price via Expedia).

Rental car: $175/4 people = $43.75/person

TOTAL COST: $200 + $43.75 = $243.75

There are TONS of independent hotels and resorts that have some truly impressive rock-bottom prices advertised on Expedia, but on a trip like this, knowing what to expect is nice, and there’s comfort in familiar chains. For that reason, I recommend the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes. It’s about 15 minutes removed from the “scene” of downtown Myrtle Beach, but still easily drivable — and it’s right on the beach!

You could save a bit of money by staying elsewhere, but this Marriott will have all the expected amenities. At $161 per night per room (plus tax), $1,251 gets you a three-night stay in two rooms (complete with two beds each). The hotel tally comes out to $312.75 per person — not bad at all for beachfront digs!

TOTAL COST: $243.75 + $312.75 = $556.50

Choosing from over 80 courses in the Myrtle Beach area is super tough, but two of the undisputed best are Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Golf Club, and by booking at the special “Play Both” rate of $280, you can save about $20 per player, which feels like a steal, since both courses are ranked on GOLF’s most recent list of the Top 100 Courses You Can Play.

TOTAL SPEND: $556.50 + $280 = $836.50

In order to stay under the admittedly ambitious budget of less than $1k per person, you’re going to have to limit big-time splurges on meals. For buddy trips, I usually recommend buying some booze upon arrival to keep in the room. A $20 contribution from each person should do the trick there. Then, you can commit yourselves to the following plan:

Arrival night budget dinner: $15 each

Day 1 golf course lunch: $18 each

Day 1 splurge dinner: $50 each

Day 2 golf course lunch: $18 each

Day 2 budget dinner: $15 each

Miscellaneous breakfasts and snacks: $24

Grand dining total: $160

TOTAL SPEND: $836.50 + $160 = $996.50

And there you have it! A fantastic, three-night, two-day golf trip (playing two world-class courses) for under $1,000 a person! Ready to book? Happy travels!

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