North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Tidewater Golf Club is the rare Myrtle Beach public that combines breathtaking coastal scenery with a challenging, championship-caliber layout. The routing dishes up memorable water views and demanding approach shots, making it a staple for any Carolina golf trip.
Tidewater Golf Club channels big lowcountry energy—a blend of sweeping marsh vistas, waterway-framed fairways, and strategically shifting doglegs. Ken Tomlinson routed the course to squeeze maximum drama from the setting, with holes that turn and climb above the Intracoastal and marshes. Recent bunker work refreshed the layout, bringing sharper strategy and more playability, as modern liners and sand redefined the green surrounds. The full package is classic Grand Strand: challenging without being punishing, and scenic at nearly every step.
Ken Tomlinson, a South Carolina attorney-turned-architect, took the reins for his signature solo project at Tidewater, creating a course that delivers enduring regional acclaim.
A subtly daunting opener, this par 5 sets a tone of grandeur by inviting you out with marsh views beyond the first green. The hole’s broad fairway narrows near a well-defended green, making restraint and precision the smart play.
Play conservatively off the tee and set up a manageable third; aggressive drivers can flirt with trouble but risk tricky angles.
Pushes and pulls toward the marsh can punish in a hurry; beware deep greenside bunkers.
Strong daily conditioning, recently upgraded bunkers, treated greens
Fast pace for a popular public, usually under 4.5 hours
Upscale but relaxed destination atmosphere—serious fun with resort polish
Practice mid- to long-iron knockdowns; coastal gusts can make the difference between birdie and bogey.
With marsh and water lining several fairways, every swing off line risks a reload.
Green surrounds are protected—knowing pin positions will inform your approach strategy from the first tee.
Tidewater is a major draw in peak season; jump on your preferred slot to guarantee the tee time.
Course opens to national acclaim as Best New Public Course in America (Golf Digest and Golf Magazine)
Local lore has it that Rees Jones did much of the early routing before a split left Ken Tomlinson as the official architect. While unconfirmed, this rumor adds to Tidewater’s mystique and the sense that its design roots run deeper than the record shows.
On opening, Tidewater swept the two top honors for public courses: Golf Digest and Golf Magazine each named it Best New Public in America for 1990—a rare feat that cemented its instant destination reputation.
The 2024–2025 bunker renovation was rolled out with only one hole closed at a time, letting play on most of the course continue—a tricky feat that earned praise from members and daily-fee guests alike.
Any Myrtle Beach golf tripper will hear Tidewater hyped as a 'must-play.' Locals and traveling golfers alike rave about its blend of natural marshes, big-water drama, and championship shot values.
Tidewater’s scenery has earned it the nickname 'The Pebble Beach of the East' in regional circles.
The marsh and waterways come into play on at least eight holes—distance and wind management are a must.
Bunker renovation in 2024–2025 brought in new sand, improved liners, and subtle contouring for a more demanding finish.
The course was designed by Ken Tomlinson, a local attorney, not a traditional course architect.
Its Black tees play to a slope of 147—among the most challenging of any Myrtle Beach-area public course.
Dramatic Pete Dye design just minutes from Tidewater; a worthy Grand Strand companion.
Nationally ranked, moss-draped fairways—one of South Carolina’s most celebrated public-access rounds.
Strantz masterpiece—broad fairways, bold bunkering, and a maximalist style.
Arnold Palmer’s adventurous layout with risk/reward holes for all skill levels.
Tour-caliber test and former Senior PGA Tour event site, open to all.
North Myrtle Beach
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? Makes the landscape part of the experience — a familiar feeling, expressed in Mountaintop Golf Club's own setting.
Why it matches: If Tidewater Golf Club is your kind of course, Diamond Creek is worth a look because it makes the landscape part of the experience.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. We-Ko-Pa Golf Club – Cholla shares a memorable sense of place, making it a compelling counterpart to Tidewater Golf Club.
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