Terry Massey

Matthew Killen, a senior golfer at Newberry (S.C.) College, has always dreamed of playing his favorite sport professionally.

The native of England got a small taste of life as pro in the Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro-Am in North Myrtle Beach.

As the winner of a nationwide contest to play in the 18th annual tournament with Myrtle Beach golf buzz host Blair O'Neal, Killen found himself front and center among some of the biggest names in the star-studded event.

"I actually signed a few autographs and took some pictures with fans who thought I was a pro," Killen said. "I've never played...

Taking a Myrtle Beach golf trip involves making the most of your time, and that includes the occasional late night meal.

Whether your flight arrives or departs at odd hours or you are an early bird or night owl on the prowl for food, there are plenty of places where you can chow down at all hours of the night. Here are my top 5:

5. The Huddle House in North Myrtle Beach’s motto says it all: Any Meal, Any Time. The place is best known for its breakfast, but serves three squares all day. So if you want breakfast for dinner, dinner for breakfast or you get the munchies in the middle of the night,...

Set in the quiet Ocean Forest residential neighborhood, Island Vista is truly like staying on an island, because of the absence of oceanfront development in either direction. Guests feel like they have the beach to themselves on a Myrtle Beach golf trip.

After undergoing recent renovations that upgraded the hotel to luxury resort status, Island Vista offers excellent accommodations for parties of any size. Large indoor/outdoor pools, hot tubs, a lazy river and an exercise room give guests the choice of spending their spare time at the resort, especially with the upscale Cypress Room, an on-site...

True Southern charm and hospitality await if your next Myrtle Beach golf trip takes you to Litchfield Beach & Golf Resort in Pawleys Island, which is just a short drive but a world away from the bright lights of Myrtle Beach.

Located in a lovely lowcountry setting, Litchfield Beach features first-class accommodations that can fit any sized party's needs, offering suites, villas, condos and even houses. Enjoy all the creature comforts of home, along with special amenities you won't find in your own backyard, such as an enormous pool deck area, tennis and, of course, golf.

Litchfield Beach Golf &...

Ocean Creek Resort in North Myrtle Beach is a 57-acre paradise for individuals looking to get away from it all; but, it's also located in the heart of one of the Grand Strand's most active scenes for those who want to explore.

Featuring fine accommodations that range from hotel-style suites to villas and beach homes and offering such amenities as a large pool deck, game room, tennis and other activities, it’s a perfect base for a Myrtle Beach golf trip.

While Ocean Creek has a plethora of options onsite, given the array of things to do and see just a short drive away, you'll want to get out...

Accommodations on a Myrtle Beach golf getaway don’t get much better than a stay at Kingston Plantation, which is an island to itself amid a sea of some of the Grand Strand's best layouts.

With a wide range of accommodations to suit your needs and top-notch amenities that include its own water park and other recreational facilities, as well as four on-site restaurants and grills and three bars, one could spend a week at Kingston Plantation without leaving.

But with some of the best Myrtle Beach golf courses and hot spots just a short drive away, you'll want to explore your surroundings. Here are...

Located in Sunset Beach, N.C., just over the Carolina border from North Myrtle Beach, Oyster Bay offers one of Myrtle Beach golf’s most relaxing settings, but players need to be prepared for strong test of golf

Designed in 1983 by Dan Maples, Oyster Bay features the coastal terrain of maritime forests, marshes and inlets that surround island greens and water hazards. But the beauty of the course is also what makes it so deceptively challenging.

Measuring 6,685 yards from the tips, Oyster Bay requires more brains than brawn. The expansive bunkers and undulating greens of the par-70 layout...

What's better than playing 18 holes at a Myrtle Beach golf course? Playing 27.

With 100+ courses on the Grand Strand, only a handful are 27-hole facilities that offer players their choice of combinations to play without having to drive anywhere but the fairways and the cart paths.

Eight Myrtle Beach layouts boast three nines - Aberdeen Country Club, Arrowhead, Heather Glen, River Oaks Golf Plantation, Sandpiper Bay, Thistle Golf Club, World Tour and Wild Wing Plantation.

Aberdeen features three nines - Highlands, Meadows and Woodlands - designed in the Scottish tradition by Tom Jackson. The...

The official title says it’s the International Club of Myrtle Beach, but it's technically located in Murrells Inlet, an historic fishing village just 20 miles south of the Sun Fun City.

But International Club seems like a world away from the bright lights and big city. The natural beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry combined with the spotlessly maintained links makes it a favorite tee time among Myrtle Beach golf courses.

Tucked away amid acres of woodlands and wetlands, International Club offers golfers the opportunity to play one of the Grand Strand's most popular and impeccably...

Golfers travel from all over the world to tee it up in Myrtle Beach. Many choose to go the extra mile by playing and staying at a North Strand golf resort.

Extending from just north of the Myrtle Beach city limits to beyond the North Carolina border, the North Strand offers all the great accommodations and amenities of the Sun Fun City in a more laid-back setting. The North Strand is also home to some of the top courses and resorts in the Southeast.

If you're looking for a quiet place to unwind after a long day on the links, oceanfront resorts like North Beach Plantation and Kingston...

Many players take a Myrtle Beach golf vacation to escape the hustle and bustle of home. Others escape the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach at a South Strand golf resort.

Stretching from Surfside Beach to Georgetown, the South Strand has all the great accommodations of Myrtle Beach in a more laid-back environment.

Whether you're looking for an oceanfront hotel or a country club-style resort, the South Strand has it all in a serene, South Carolina Lowcountry setting.

In addition to being home to some of the Southeast's best courses, the South Strand is far less developed than the city of...

Don't let the name fool you.

The Witch Golf Club may sound like something golfers don't want to touch with a 10-foot driver, but it's a great course for those who want a good challenge on their next Myrtle Beach golf vacation.

Just as in the classic movie "The Wizard Of Oz," there are good witches and wicked ones. The Myrtle Beach golf course has a bit of both in its split personality - natural beauty that can cast a spell on golfers while also providing some challenging shots.

Opened in 1989 and located on 500 wooded acres of wetlands between Myrtle Beach and Conway, the scenery is perfectly...

Playing a round at Pine Lakes Country Club is like taking a walk back through time, while experiencing Southern charm and a true test of golf.

Designed by famed Scottish architect Robert White in 1927, Pine Lakes was the first Myrtle Beach golf course. Despite its age, it remains one of the most prominent.

Located in the heart of Myrtle Beach, Pine Lakes was originally constructed as the course for the Ocean Forest Hotel, which was eventually demolished to make room for more modern accommodations.

The course survived and thrived, enticing golfers from around the country to take Myrtle Beach...

There are a countless reasons to take a Myrtle Beach golf vacation, but here are the top five. Whichever reason brings you to the beach, be sure to enjoy them all:

5) Attractions: From the new 190-foot tall SkyWheel and the surrounding Boardwalk along the downtown oceanfront to the entertainment complexes like Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing, there's plenty to keep golfers going long after the 18th hole.

4) Bars: There are plenty of 19th holes around the Grand Strand. Whether it's outdoor and oceanfront fun at Ocean Annie's Beach Bar, the more traditional pubs like Flynn's Irish...

With almost 100 Myrtle Beach golf courses to choose from, all the big-name designers have built links on the Grand Strand.

Names like Nicklaus, Fazio, Dye and Palmer, just to name a few, have all left their marks on the Myrtle Beach golf scene.

But perhaps none left their fingerprints along the Grand Strand more than Tom Jackson, who has had a hand in designing six courses on the Grand Strand.

One doesn't have to look hard to find Jackson's handiwork, a craft he honed while working for such legendary architects as Robert Trent Jones and George Cobb.

Learning from some of the best during his...