The FairwayPal Blog
Scottsdale vs Myrtle Beach for a Golf Trip: Which One Actually Wins?
By the FairwayPal Team — built by golfers who've organised too many trips across too many WhatsApp threads.
Updated
The group has two camps. One wants Scottsdale — desert luxury, TPC, the whole thing. The other wants Myrtle Beach — 100 courses, cheap rounds, party atmosphere. Here's the honest comparison so you can stop arguing and start booking.
Quick Verdict
Choose Scottsdale if you want premium courses, consistent weather, and a high-end experience. Budget ~$1,600–2,200/person for a 3-night trip.
Choose Myrtle Beach if budget matters and volume of golf is the priority. Budget ~$900–1,500/person for a 3-night trip.
The courses
This is where Scottsdale pulls ahead for golf purists. Scottsdale offers some of the most technically impressive and visually spectacular desert golf in the world — TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa. These are courses people travel specifically to play. The quality ceiling is higher.
Myrtle Beach offers volume. 100+ courses within a short drive. Caledonia Golf & Fish Club is genuinely world-class. TPC Myrtle Beach is an excellent test. Pawleys Plantation is underrated. But the range is wider — for every Caledonia there are ten tourist-trap track layouts that exist to fill tee sheets.
Scottsdale
- +TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa
- +Dramatic desert scenery
- +Consistent playing conditions
- +High quality floor
- −$150–350/round
- −Fewer options under $100
Myrtle Beach
- +100+ courses
- +Caledonia and TPC are legitimate
- +$40–150/round typical
- +More rounds per day possible
- −Quality range is wide
- −Some layouts feel like glorified pitch-and-putts
The cost
This is Myrtle Beach's strongest argument. The green fee gap is real and it compounds across a 3-day trip for a group.
| Cost item | Scottsdale | Myrtle Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Green fees (avg/round) | $185–250 | $70–130 |
| Hotel (per room/night) | $150–300 | $100–200 |
| Flights (from Midwest) | $250–400 | $200–350 |
| Food & drink (per day) | $80–120 | $60–90 |
| Total per person (3 nights, 2 rounds) | $1,400–2,200 | $900–1,500 |
On a 6-person trip, that cost difference — ~$500/person — is $3,000 total. Real money. If budget is a constraint, that's the conversation to have before you pick a destination.
The weather
Scottsdale wins on reliability. October through April, you're looking at 65–85°F with almost no rain. You will not lose a round to weather. The only caveat: avoid June through September when it exceeds 110°F.
Myrtle Beach is playable year-round but with more variability. Spring and fall are the sweet spots (65–80°F). Summer is hot and humid — playable with an early tee time but uncomfortable by noon. Winter is mild compared to most of the US but not as reliable as Scottsdale. Rain is more likely at any time of year.
The non-golfer angle
If your group includes non-golfers, Scottsdale has the edge — but Myrtle Beach holds its own.
Scottsdale's Old Town is genuinely excellent: art galleries, restaurants, spa resorts (Joya, Well & Being), wine trail, Desert Botanical Garden, hot air balloon rides. A non-golfer can fill three days in Scottsdale without ever feeling like they're making the best of a bad situation.
Myrtle Beach's advantage is the ocean. A non-golfer who wants a beach holiday has everything they need: watersports, fishing, long stretches of Atlantic coastline, and decent food along the boardwalk. Broadway at the Beach adds shopping and entertainment. It's not as curated as Scottsdale but it works.
See our full guide on planning a golf trip with non-golfers for more detail on both destinations.
The vibe
These are genuinely different trips.
Scottsdale is desert luxury. Upscale hotels, strong restaurant scene, a nightlife district that skews older-money rather than frat-house. The default mode is expensive and polished. It rewards planning and a decent budget.
Myrtle Beach is more casual and unabashedly fun. Golf in the morning, beach or pool in the afternoon, boardwalk in the evening. There's no pretension. The vibe is accessible and high-energy rather than premium and restrained.
Neither is better. They're different trips for different groups.
Three questions that settle it
Is budget a real constraint?
If yes, Myrtle Beach. The $500/person saving is substantial across a 6–8 person group.
Are you going for the golf or for the trip?
If the courses are the point and you want to play somewhere memorable, Scottsdale. If golf is the activity and fun is the point, Myrtle Beach.
Are there non-golfers in the group?
Both work. Scottsdale edges it on partner activity quality. Myrtle Beach wins if partners prioritise beach access.
Still undecided? Read our full breakdowns: Scottsdale destination guide and Myrtle Beach destination guide. Or just answer five questions and let FairwayPal build the itinerary for whichever you pick.
Pick a destination. We'll plan the rest.
5 questions. Dual itinerary — golf and partners. One link for the group.
Common Questions
Scottsdale vs Myrtle Beach FAQ
Is Scottsdale or Myrtle Beach better for a golf trip?+
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Is Myrtle Beach good for non-golfers?+
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