Nestled along South Carolina’s coastal belt, popularly known as the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach is not just an epitome of stunning beaches and amiable folks, but also a golfer’s dream. While the city’s love for golf is palpable in its over 90 golf courses, there is more to it. The juxtaposition of golf with a splendid rendezvous of natural beauty dating back to the 18th century and beyond is Myrtle Beach’s hidden gem—its plantation and gardens. Welcome, fellow golfers, as we unveil this trove.
Brookgreen Gardens
When talking about gardens in Myrtle Beach, the conversation starts and ends at the Brookgreen Gardens. This historical landscape garden, which is also the country’s largest outdoor sculpture garden, stretches across 9,100 acres. Initially part of four colonial rice plantations, Brookgreen Gardens today displays art and culture beautifully intertwined with nature.
What makes it a golfer’s desirable visiting spot, you ask? The serene environs of the garden, distinguishable histories of each sculpture, and the calming trails would instantaneously diffuse your tournament pressure.
Hobcaw Barony
Remnants of 13,500 acres of rice plantations textiles the Hobcaw Barony, a privately owned historical and nature preservation land. If you appreciate historical architecture, the Hobcaw House, an Italian Renaissance-style structure, will catch your eye.
Why should golfers not miss it? It’s a rare opportunity to break from your strict practice and competition schedule and delve into a deep connection with nature; maybe, find your inner balance right before that crucial tournament!
Brookgreen Plantation
Although part of the Brookgreen Gardens, the Brookgreen Plantation deserves a special mention. It physically represents the inception of the British Colonial period, with rice plantations kept alive – just as they were. The plantation offers a riveting insight into the economic structures of yesteryears and their evolution.
As golfers, why should this matter to you? Well, if a solemn walk across this tract of land doesn’t inspire your cognitive prowess for making strategic shots, we don’t know what will!
The Caledonia Golf & Fish Club
At the heart of what was once a thriving rice plantation, lies Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, a distinctive reminder of Myrtle Beach’s historical plantation culture. Incorporating an old avenue of oaks and ponds cherishing 18th Century rice field irrigation systems, it’s an enigmatic blend of history and modern golfing excellence.
What makes it a golfer’s heaven? The club offers a golfing experience like no other in the South, with sweeping fairways and precise greens permuted through natural obstacles. It rightly tests your skill-set in invigorating surroundings.
True Blue Plantation
Yet another golf course set on a former indigo and rice plantation is the True Blue Plantation. Its wide fairways and expansive greens echo Myrtle Beach’s robust golfing culture.
Why should you, as a Golfer, visit? Because it embodies golf’s essence – a challenge married with tranquillity. And what better way to prepare for a game than embracing and understanding its essence!
In conclusion, Myrtle Beach stands testament to the notion that a place of historic relevance can joyously cohabit with the modern sport of golf. The fusion of golf courses with the region’s plantations and gardens is perhaps the best representation of this. Whether you are an avid golfer or a golf enthusiast, mapping these plantations and gardens on your Myrtle Beach itinerary could deeply enrich your understanding and love for the sport.