Heron Point Golf Club

Tucked away in quiet residential areas of South Myrtle Beach, Heron Point Golf Course may be one of the Grand Strand’s best-kept golfing secrets. A nature preserves doubling as a golf course, this Willard Byrd designed course features a lot of water hazards along with fox, turkey, eagles, deer, hawks and the occasional alligator.

It’s a winding course that cuts through a pine forest with lots of bunkers and generally narrow fairways that can turn the slightest hook or slice into a golfing tragedy. Heron Point’s signature hole is the par-5, 546-yard No. 9, with water down both sides of the fairway.

A recipient of Golf Magazines “Best Bang For Your Buck” award, this par 72 is relatively short at 6,500 yards from the back tees to 4,700 yards from the women’s tees. Amenities include a clubhouse with a pro shop and snack bar along with a driving range and putting green.