Best for: The crown jewel of Myrtle Beach golf. Every group trip should include Caledonia. Beautiful enough for the aesthetics crowd, challenging enough for the low-handicappers.

Insider tip: The Caledonia/True Blue combo is the best one-two punch in Myrtle Beach — they share an ownership group and are literally across the street from each other in Pawleys Island. Book them back-to-back and you get the 15% multi-round discount. Play Caledonia in the morning when the light through the oaks is magical.

Best for: Golfers who want a strategic, challenging layout. True Blue is the thinking-golfer's course on the Grand Strand. Better suited for groups with lower handicaps.

Insider tip: True Blue has some of the widest fairways in the area but the greens are wildly contoured — some have 8-10 feet of undulation. The course is about position, not power. Play from the correct tees and focus on getting to the right part of the green. The practice facility is one of the best in the area — arrive 45 minutes early.

Best for: Groups who want PGA Tour-level conditioning and the TPC brand experience. The course is beautifully maintained and the clubhouse facilities are excellent.

Insider tip: TPC Myrtle Beach was redesigned by Lanny Wadkins and plays much harder than the scorecard suggests — the greens are fast and the rough is kept at Tour-standard heights. Don't let the resort-course pricing fool you into thinking it's a resort-course difficulty. Request a morning tee time — the greens are truer before afternoon foot traffic.

Best for: Groups who want memorable scenery at a reasonable price. The bluffs and waterway views are unique on the Grand Strand.

Insider tip: Holes 3-4 and 12-13 are the stars — the bluff-top holes along the Intracoastal Waterway feel like a different world from the rest of Myrtle Beach. Time your round so the sun is behind you on these holes (morning is better). The course is in North Myrtle Beach, so pair it with other North Strand courses like Barefoot Resort to minimize drive time.

Best for: Groups who want variety without leaving one property. Four distinct designs from four legendary architects. The Dye course is the most challenging; the Love course is the most fun for higher handicaps.

Insider tip: The four-course format at Barefoot is perfect for groups of 12-20 — you can split into foursomes playing different courses and rotate each day. The Love course is the most underrated of the four and often has the best availability. The Norman course offers the best value-to-quality ratio. Barefoot Landing shopping area is adjacent for non-golf entertainment.

Best for: History buffs and serious golfers. The most prestigious club on the Grand Strand with decades of tournament history.

Insider tip: The Robert Trent Jones Sr. design with the Rees Jones renovation is the most traditional 'championship' layout on the Strand. The 13th hole, 'Waterloo,' is one of the most famous holes in Southern golf — a wraparound par 5 that has decided many tournaments. Access can be tricky — confirm your tee time directly with the pro shop, not just through the package provider.