Caledonia Golf and Fish Club

Caledonia is one of the best public courses in all of America. Don’t take our word for it. Ask the folks at Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Golfweek, all of whom rank Mike Strantz’s first solo design among the nation’s top 100 public courses.

A round at Caledonia is an unforgettable experience, and it begins the moment golfers pull on to the property and drive through the nearly ½-mile long alley of oak trees. The entrance is as memorable as any in golf and sets the tone for a bucket-list round.

The design, which made Strantz a star, is equal parts art and architecture. Shoehorned into less than 120 acres of land, the course flows seamlessly, building in drama throughout the round.

By the time the back nine begins with the par-5 10th hole, players understand they are in the midst of a true one-of-a-kind experience. The 11th hole, a par 3 with a creek that winds from tee to green, is among the area’s best and the par-4 14th, which features a green nearly surrounded by sand, is unforgettable. But the highlight at Caledonia is the 18th hole.

The par-4 closing hole requires players to carry water on the approach to a green that resides in the shadow of an antebellum-style clubhouse that is often packed with golfers. Spectators cheer with delight when golfers hit the green and moan with disappointment when they come up short in the water, adding to the drama.

Does a day at Caledonia cost a little more than the average round? Yes, but this is a splurge you have to make. A trip to Caledonia is a must for all Myrtle Beach golfers, and it’s a round you will be talking about for years to come.