Tidewater Golf Club

Tidewater Golf Club occupies a peninsula at the northern end of the Grand Strand, where Cherry Grove Beach juts into the Intracoastal Waterway. The site gives the course something few Myrtle Beach layouts can claim: genuine waterfront exposure on multiple sides, with holes that play along the marsh, above the Waterway, and within sight of the Atlantic. Ken Tomlinson designed the course in 1990, and the routing makes full use of the topographic and visual advantages the land provides.

The course has appeared on Golf Digest's and Golf Magazine's lists of top public courses, which is notable given the relatively modest profile of its designer. Tomlinson was not a name-brand architect in the mold of Fazio or Dye, but the work at Tidewater speaks for itself. The routing moves the player through three distinct environments: inland pine forest, tidal marsh, and elevated bluffs above the Waterway. Each transition feels natural rather than forced, and the variety of settings keeps the round from developing the visual monotony that can affect flatter Lowcountry courses.

At 7,150 yards from the back tees with a slope of 140, Tidewater plays long and firm. The bermudagrass fairways run hard in summer, adding distance to tee shots and demanding adjusted approach calculations. Wind is a near-constant factor, given the exposed location on the peninsula. An ocean breeze that merely ripples a flag on an inland course can add or subtract a full club on Tidewater's waterside holes.

The front nine opens through pine forest, with the first three holes playing in relative shelter. The 3rd, a par 5 that bends right through the trees, offers an early scoring chance for players who find the fairway off the tee. The transition comes at the 4th, where the course emerges from the woods and the marsh views open up for the first time. From that point forward, the routing weaves between sheltered and exposed holes, and club selection requires constant adjustment.

The signature stretch arrives on the back nine. The 12th, a par 3 of approximately 180 yards, plays from an elevated tee to a green perched above the Intracoastal Waterway. The shot is visually striking, with the Waterway visible beyond the green and boat traffic occasionally passing during the swing. It is a hole that photographs well, but the playing challenge is equally engaging. Wind direction determines whether the hole plays as a comfortable 7-iron or a hard-fought 5-iron. The green, slightly angled to the tee, rewards a draw that lands softly and holds the putting surface.

The 13th continues along the bluff as a par 4 that plays downhill to a fairway bordered by marsh on the left. The approach is to an elevated green with a steep falloff on the right. The sequence of 12 and 13 together is as good as any consecutive pair of holes on the Grand Strand, combining visual drama with genuine strategic interest.

Green fees range from $97 to $192, which represents one of the better value propositions in the upper tier of Myrtle Beach golf. At peak season rates in the $150 to $192 range, Tidewater competes with courses that charge $50 to $100 more for a comparable experience. In shoulder season, rates below $120 make this one of the more accessible ranked courses in the region.

The facilities are solid without being extravagant. The clubhouse offers a grill with views of the finishing holes, and the pro shop is well stocked without the premium pricing of TPC-branded operations. The practice range is adequate, with a grass tee line that transitions to mats during peak periods to preserve turf. Cart paths are well maintained, and GPS units provide accurate yardages that account for the elevation changes that GPS satellites sometimes misread on coastal terrain.

Conditioning has been consistent in recent years, with greens running at speeds appropriate for the contours Tomlinson designed. Fairways are maintained to a standard that supports clean contact, and the bunkers, while not always as precisely edged as at top-dollar facilities, provide fair lies and consistent sand depth.

Tidewater's location in North Myrtle Beach places it roughly 15 minutes from the central Myrtle Beach hotel corridor, which keeps it slightly off the beaten path for package-deal golfers focused on convenience. That distance works in the course's favor. Tee times are generally available without the weeks-in-advance booking required at Caledonia or TPC, and the pace of play benefits from slightly lower daily volume. For visiting golfers willing to drive an extra few miles north, the combination of course quality, waterfront setting, and reasonable pricing makes Tidewater one of the smarter plays on the Grand Strand.