Myrtle Beach vs Orlando for Golf
Two of the great American golf escapes, and two very different holidays. Myrtle Beach is golf by the gallon, more than 80 courses strung along the South Carolina coast in a town that lives and breathes the game. Orlando is resort golf wrapped in a family holiday, with theme parks, luxury hotels and a few genuinely elite courses. Here is the head to head, verdict first.
Photograph: Myrtle Beach National, Myrtle Beach National, via Google
The verdict
For a pure golf trip, Myrtle Beach wins comfortably. Nowhere in the United States offers as much golf in one place, with more than 80 courses inside an hour, a culture built entirely around the game, and stay and play packages that make a week of good golf astonishing value. If the brief is to play as much as possible with your friends, this is the place.
Orlando wins when golf is part of a bigger holiday. It has roughly 200 courses across central Florida, a handful of them excellent, led by Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill, plus Streamsong within reach, the Ritz-Carlton course at Grande Lakes and the resorts of Reunion and ChampionsGate. Crucially it pairs golf with theme parks, world class hotels and everything a non golfing partner or family could want. Choose Myrtle Beach for volume and value, Orlando for polish and a holiday that is about more than the golf.
Head to head
| Myrtle Beach | Orlando | |
|---|---|---|
| Courses nearby | More than 80 along the Grand Strand, most within an hour | Around 200 across central Florida, from bargain to elite |
| Signature courses | Caledonia, The Dunes Club, True Blue, TPC Myrtle Beach, Tidewater, the Barefoot resort courses | Bay Hill, Streamsong within reach, Grande Lakes (Ritz-Carlton), Reunion, ChampionsGate |
| Green fees | Indicative 2026: marquee rounds such as Caledonia around 160 to 220 dollars; many good courses far cheaper, especially in packages | Indicative 2026: bargain rounds from around 70 to 80 dollars; Bay Hill around 105 dollars in summer to 475 dollars in winter peak |
| Best season | Spring and autumn, March, April, September and October; hot and humid in summer | Dry winter, January to April; hot with afternoon storms in summer |
| Beyond golf | Beaches, seafood, a lively strip; golf is the main event | Theme parks, dining, shopping and luxury resorts; a full family holiday |
| The vibe | Relaxed, golf first, value driven; the classic American buddies trip | Polished, resort centred, family friendly; golf as one part of the day |
| Who it suits | Buddies trips and golf societies wanting maximum rounds for the money | Families and couples who want golf alongside parks, pools and resorts |
Course facts and indicative fee ranges verified June 2026; fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Myrtle Beach if
The trip is about golf, and plenty of it. You want a dozen good courses within easy reach, a stay and play package that keeps the cost down, and a town where every restaurant has a tee sheet on the wall. You are travelling with golfing friends, you measure a great trip in rounds played, and the beach and a cold drink afterward are all the extras you need.
Plan a Myrtle Beach golf trip · Best courses in Myrtle Beach
Pick Orlando if
Golf shares the holiday with other things. You are bringing family, you want theme parks and a resort pool in the mix, or you want a luxury base and a handful of standout rounds rather than a marathon. You value a wide range of courses from bargain to elite, you like the idea of teeing it up at Bay Hill, and warm winter golf suits your calendar.
Plan your Florida or Carolina golf trip
Myrtle Beach, Orlando or a wider southeastern tour. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, transfers and base, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Myrtle Beach vs Orlando questions
Is Myrtle Beach or Orlando better for golf?
For a pure golf trip, Myrtle Beach wins. It has more than 80 courses packed along one stretch of South Carolina coast, a town built around golf, and the best value stay and play packages in the United States. Orlando is the better choice if golf shares the trip with family, theme parks or a luxury resort base, and it holds a handful of elite courses led by Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill. Choose Myrtle Beach for volume and value, Orlando for resort polish and a wider holiday.
Is golf cheaper in Myrtle Beach or Orlando?
Myrtle Beach is generally better value, with marquee courses such as Caledonia indicatively around 160 to 220 dollars and a deep field of good courses far cheaper, especially in packages. Orlando spans a wider range, from bargain rounds near 70 to 80 dollars up to Bay Hill, which runs indicatively from around 105 dollars in summer to 475 dollars in the winter peak. Both are indicative 2026 figures that move with season, so always confirm directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Myrtle Beach or Orlando?
They run on opposite calendars. Myrtle Beach is best in spring and autumn, with March, April, September and October offering warm, dry golf; summer is hot and humid and winter is mild but cooler. Orlando peaks in the dry winter from January to April, while its summer is hot with daily afternoon thunderstorms. Pick spring or fall for Myrtle Beach and winter for Orlando.
Which is better for a buddies golf trip, Myrtle Beach or Orlando?
Myrtle Beach is the classic American buddies trip: dozens of courses within a short drive, golf focused accommodation, easy packages and a lively strip of bars and restaurants. Orlando works for a buddies trip too, especially around ChampionsGate and Reunion, but it shines when the group wants more than golf. For golf morning to night, Myrtle Beach is hard to beat.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.