August is National Golf Month, making it the perfect time to celebrate one of the industries that has helped shape the Grand Strand into the destination it is today.
Next year marks a milestone unlike any other as the Myrtle Beach area celebrates 100 years of golf. The centennial traces back to 1927, when Pine Lakes Country Club opened its doors and forever changed the trajectory of the region. What began with a single course has grown into The Golf Capital of the World®, attracting golfers from across the United States and around the globe while supporting thousands of local jobs and businesses.
For residents, that century-long legacy is about much more than birdies and bogeys. Golf is one of the Grand Strand's largest tourism drivers, generating economic activity that benefits restaurants, hotels, retailers, attractions, construction companies, transportation providers and countless small businesses throughout the region.
Driving Our Community Forward
According to Golf Tourism Solutions (branded as Play Golf Myrtle Beach), the latest economic impact research shows golf's influence extends far beyond the fairways.
In South Carolina, golf generates $3.6 billion in total economic impact, supports more than 30,400 jobs, produces $1.7 billion in wages and contributes $370 million in tax revenue annually. Golf accounts for approximately 1 percent of the state's gross domestic product.
The Myrtle Beach area alone is responsible for nearly half of that statewide impact.
According to GTS's first comprehensive study focused specifically on the Grand Strand, golf generates:
- $1.6 billion in total economic impact
- More than 13,300 local jobs
- $482 million in wages
- $134 million in tax revenue
In fact, the Myrtle Beach area accounts for approximately 44 percent of South Carolina's total golf economy.
Those numbers translate into real benefits for local residents. Visitor spending helps sustain year-round employment, supports local businesses and generates tax revenue that helps fund public services and infrastructure.
Golf Continues to Grow
Golf is also becoming more popular than ever.
National participation has increased 41 percent since 2019, with especially strong growth among young people, women and people of color. The industry also estimates another 21 million Americans are interested in taking up the game, creating significant opportunities for destinations like Myrtle Beach in the years ahead.
That growing interest is reflected throughout the Grand Strand as new golfers discover the destination's combination of championship layouts, affordable options, welcoming atmosphere and year-round playing conditions.
The Organization Behind the Brand
Helping ensure Myrtle Beach remains the world's premier golf destination is Golf Tourism Solutions (GTS) or Play Golf Myrtle Beach.
Representing golf courses, accommodations and industry partners throughout the region, GTS works to promote, elevate and advance The Golf Capital of the World® through strategic marketing, technology, research, events and industry collaboration. Its vision is to make the Myrtle Beach region the destination of choice for golf travelers, residents, businesses, associations, charities and events.
Among its many initiatives, GTS:
- Markets the destination to golfers across North America and internationally.
- Produces innovative digital content, including The Q Myrtle Beach, which has generated more than 6.1 million YouTube views, over 4.6 million hours watched and an average watch time exceeding 45 minutes per viewer.
- Supports major tournaments and events that bring visitors during both peak and shoulder seasons.
- Invests in technology and research that helps courses better understand traveler behavior, improve operations and strengthen marketing efforts.
These efforts help keep Myrtle Beach competitive in an increasingly crowded tourism marketplace while reinforcing the area's reputation as the nation's premier golf destination.
Looking Ahead to 100 Years
Over the next year, the Myrtle Beach area will celebrate a century of golf through special events, storytelling and recognition of the people, courses and businesses that built this remarkable legacy. We'll be sure to share more information when we get it.
From Pine Lakes Country Club's opening in 1927 to today's collection of world-renowned courses, the Grand Strand has spent the past 100 years proving that golf is more than a game here. It's an economic engine, a community asset and an important part of our identity.
As National Golf Month reminds us, every tee time booked by a visitor supports local jobs, strengthens local businesses and helps ensure the Grand Strand remains one of America's premier tourism destinations for generations to come.
Getting Out On The Course
Golf isn't just for visitors. The greater Myrtle Beach area has over 80 public golf courses and throughout the year, residents have numerous opportunities to play, volunteer and support causes through some of the Grand Strand's most recognizable events.
Each spring, Monday After the Masters brings professional golfers, celebrities and entertainers to The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort for one of the region's signature charity events. Since 1994, the tournament has raised millions of dollars for the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation, supporting educational programs and children's initiatives across South Carolina while showcasing the Myrtle Beach area on a national stage.
The Play Golf Myrtle Beach World Amateur Championship is another local tradition that welcomes golfers of virtually every skill level. Held annually over Labor Day week, the event fills a field of approximately 3,000 amateur golfers from around the world, making it the largest and longest-running amateur golf tournament in the world. While competitors travel from all 50 states and numerous countries, many Grand Strand residents also participate each year, enjoying tournament play, nightly social events and the opportunity to compete on some of the area's most celebrated courses.
Residents also have the opportunity to experience the highest level of professional golf without leaving home. The ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic, the Grand Strand's PGA TOUR event, returns to The Dunes Golf & Beach Club May 13-16, 2027, bringing many of the world's top golfers to the region for four days of championship competition. Beyond the tournament itself, the event features a celebrity pro-am, live concerts, family-friendly activities and hundreds of volunteer opportunities, allowing residents to play an active role in one of South Carolina's premier sporting events. The tournament has quickly become a source of community pride while showcasing the Myrtle Beach area's golf heritage to a global audience.
Residents can also become involved by volunteering at tournaments, joining local golf associations and leagues, or supporting nonprofits such as Project Golf, which introduces children, veterans and beginners to the game through affordable instruction, youth camps and the PGA HOPE veterans program. Golfers can also mentor young players, donate equipment or volunteer with community clinics that use golf to build confidence, character and lifelong skills. Through these organizations, golf continues to strengthen the Grand Strand both on and off the course.
