2025 Myrtle Beach Classic: Course Preview and Field Insights

Although most eyes will be tuned into Philadelphia for the Truist (née Wells Fargo), there are quite a few decent golfers in this week’s alternate-field event in South Carolina. The Myrtle Beach Classic takes place May 8-11, 2025, at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 

Course Information: Dunes Golf and Beach Club

• Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
• Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1948), with updates by Rees Jones
• Par and Yardage: Par 71, 7,347 yards
• Course Type: Coastal parkland with oceanfront holes
• Key Features:
  • Layout: The course blends strategic design with scenic ocean views, featuring tree-lined fairways, large bunkers, and water hazards on 14 holes. Notable holes include the par-5 13th (“Waterloo”), a risk-reward hole with water along the entire left side, and the par-3 11th, demanding precision over water.
  • Greens: TifEagle Bermuda, averaging 6,500 square feet, with subtle breaks and moderate speed (11-12 on the Stimpmeter). Greens are well-guarded by bunkers and runoffs.
  • Fairways: Bermuda, relatively wide but tightened by trees and doglegs. Average fairway width is 32 yards, rewarding accuracy off the tee.
  • Hazards: 72 bunkers and water in play on about a third of the holes, especially the back nine. The “Alligator Alley” stretch (holes 10-13) is particularly punishing.
  • Rough: Bermuda, expected to be 2.5-3 inches in 2025 (up from 2 inches in 2024), penalizing wayward shots.
• Conditions: Coastal weather can bring wind (10-15 mph forecast for May 8-11), impacting club selection and shot shaping. Clear skies are expected, with temperatures in the mid-80s.  This week looks like rain could affect the first and second rounds heavily.  Chances for storms are around 70-80% Thursday Afternoon through Friday.  
• History: In 2024, Thorbjørn Olesen set a course record with a 10-under 61, and Chris Gotterup won at 22-under, indicating a scorable but challenging layout.

Key Stats for Success at the Myrtle Beach Classic

1. Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: APP)
   • The Dunes’ greens are moderately sized and heavily guarded, requiring precise iron play. In 2024, Gotterup ranked top-10 in SG: APP during his win, gaining 6.2 strokes on the field. Players must stick to approach shots to avoid bunkers and water.
   • This would be a good spot to look for some splits in the Rabbit Hole for approach play in easy scoring conditions, or in weak fields to see who’s been able to tear apart a resort course lately.
2. Driving Accuracy/Distance from the Edge 
   • While the fairways are wider than at venues like Innisbrook, the thicker rough (2.5-3 inches) and tree-lined doglegs punish errant drives. Gotterup hit 68% of fairways in 2024, above the field average. Holes like the 13th and 18th demand positioning off the tee.
   • Distance from the Edge of the Fairway is nice to look at since it’s not so binary, showing not just misses, but by how much.
3. Strokes Gained: Putting
   • Bermuda greens with subtle breaks reward strong putters. Gotterup gained 4.8 strokes putting in 2024, and Olesen’s record-setting round leaned on hot putting. The field averaged 1.6 putts per GIR last year, so converting birdie chances is key.
4. Par-5 Scoring
   • The course has just three par-5s (8 will play as a par 4 for this tournament), but they still yielded a ton of birdies in 2024. The par-5 13th (“Waterloo”) is a pivotal scoring opportunity if players avoid the water. Top finishers, including Gotterup, averaged 4.5 strokes on par-5s.
5. Proximity to Hole (150-200 Yards):
   • Many approach shots come from this range due to the course’s length and par-5 layups. The field averaged 34 feet from 150-200 yards in 2024, but leaders like Gotterup were closer to 28 feet.