A Year in the Golf Capital of the World: Myrtle Beach’s Top Stories of 2025
The old saying about the days being long but the years being short has never seemed truer as 2025 comes to a close. It feels like yesterday we were watching Rory McIlroy slip on the long coveted green jacket, and now we are just weeks away from the PGA Tour’s West Coast swing.
Before we say goodbye to 2025, we wanted to look back at the biggest stories along the Myrtle Beach golf scene over the course of the year.
No. 1 – Completion of the King’s North Renovation
We’ve talked a lot about this, so we won’t belabor the point, but King’s North has long been one of the area’s most recognizable layouts, and the two-year, two–part renovation led by Brandon Johnson has reinvigorated the course. This will be a must-play layout going forward. (King’s North 8th top photo)
No. 2 – Myrtle Beach Classic Produces Playoff Drama
Any recap of the year must include the Myrtle Beach Classic, which produced one of the PGA Tour’s best finishes in 2025. Playing at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club, Ryan Fox chipped in for birdie on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to beat Mackenzie Hughes and Harry Riggs. The victory was Fox’s first on the PGA Tour, setting the stage for his win in the Canadian Open a month later.
No. 3 – Sea Trail Renovation Continues
Sea Trail Golf Resort, a 54-hole property just across the state line in Sunset Beach, N.C., continued its transformation with the overhaul of the Maples Course. TifEagle Bermudagrass was installed on greens that were restored to their original size and specifications while the course’s bunkers were overhauled as well. The renovation of the Maples Course (pictured below) is part of a three-year plan that saw the Byrd undergo similar work in 2024, while the Jones Course is slated for a 2026 renovation.
No. 4 – Thistle Continues Overhaul
While the work isn’t as substantial as that at Sea Trail, Thistle Golf Club, a 27-hole property, installed new greens and stacked sod bunkers on the MacKay nine in the summer of 2025, following similar work on the Cameron nine in 2024. The Stewart nine is on deck in 2026 as the popular property sets itself up for the future.
No. 5 – PGA Tour Honors ‘The Q at Myrtle Beach’
Golf content creators have exploded in popularity, but bringing many of them together to compete for real stakes is still a relatively new concept. That idea came to life through The Q at Myrtle Beach, an 18-hole shootout where the winner earned a sponsor exemption into the Myrtle Beach Classic, in 2024. The concept proved to be revolutionary, and the PGA Tour recognized The Q with its “Best-in-Class Element” award in January. While the Internet Invitational dominated headlines later in the year, the trail was blazed right here at TPC Myrtle Beach.
As we look ahead to 2026, expect more excitement – including your trip – in the Golf Capital of the World.
Photos for this feature from MyrtleBeachGolfTrips Instagram Account
