1 Apr Hammock Coast golf courses make the grade in USA Today/10 Best contests Golf on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast is once again garnering national attention – as evidenced by two courses being named among the best in America. The venerable USA Today/10 Best Readers Choice Awards has completed another edition of contests to name the best in golf, and Caledonia Golf and Fish Club in Pawleys Island came in at No. 8 in the United States in the “Best Public Golf Course” contest. The True Blue Grillroom at True Blue Golf Club in Pawleys Island placed 5th for the “Best Golf Course Restaurant.” There were 20 semi-finalists for each contest, and the top 10 winners were decided by the public in online contests. Both Caledonia and True Blue are part of the Hammock Coast Golf Trail, a collection of 11 public courses in Georgetown County, spanning from Pawleys Island to Murrells Inlet. Caledonia Golf and Fish Club, one of the most popular and most beautiful courses on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast, has been named one of the Top 10 public courses in the United States by USA Today/ 10 Best. (Photo courtesy of Caledonia Golf and Fish Club) The USA Today 10Best contest for “Best Public Golf Course” says that “the best public golf courses are impeccably maintained, set amongst gorgeous scenery, and most importantly, are well-designed with challenging layouts and unique features that make for a rewarding round. These 20 courses — nominated by an expert panel as the best public golf courses in the nation — fit that bill and beyond, with many even having hosted prestigious golf tournaments.” Beth Stedman, president and CEO of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, said she’s excited that two Hammock Coast golf courses have received national accolades and urges people to visit these golf clubs. “We are proud that Caledonia and True Blue caught the attention of USA Today editors to be nominated in these contests, and the fact that they were chosen by the public in their respective categories is just icing on the cake,” she said. “We are happy that they have been showcased in this national contest.” This aerial shot of Caledonia shows the amazing design by the late Mike Strantz. (Photo courtesy of Caledonia Golf and Fish Club) About Caledonia Caledonia Golf and Fish Club is located on the mainland of Pawleys Island and is already an award-winning course. In January 2026, GolfPass named it the best golf course in South Carolina. Consistently ranked on top public course lists including Golf, Golf Digest and Golfweek Magazines since opening in 1994, Caledonia is a 6,526-yard, par-70 course recognized for its design and incredible beauty. It impresses visitors with its contrasting topography, including towering oaks, deep greens, and curving streams that provide a welcome challenge to golfers. Caledonia was the first solo design of the late, great golf course architect Mike Strantz, who considered himself as an artist rather than an engineer. Caledonia’s rates are seasonal and is open year-round. About True Blue Grillroom The contest for “Best Golf Course Restaurant” states that “whether you’re looking for a light lunch before teeing off, indulging in a luxurious dinner after a rewarding round of golf, or simply there to enjoy the picturesque views, golf course restaurants are prime spots for top-notch dining experiences.” True Blue Grillroom is a casual grill at True Blue Golf Course, also located on the Pawleys Island mainland and a Hammock Coast golf star. The restaurant overlooks the glimmering lake on the 18th hole, so diners can watch as rounds finish up and players are just a few steps away from refueling with a refreshing cocktail, handhelds, and local seafood. True Blue Grillroom overlooks the glimmering lake on the 18th hole. (Photo courtesy of True Blue Golf Course) The other nine courses on the Hammock Coast Golf Trail are the Litchfield Country Club, Pawleys Plantation, the Founders Club, Willbrook Plantation Golf Club, Tradition Club, and the River Club, all in Pawleys Island; and Wachesaw Plantation East, the Tournament Players Club (TPC) and Blackmoor Golf Club, all in Murrells Inlet. Expert Panel The USA Today/10 Best contest used an expert panel to determine the 20 semi-finalists in each contest. Here’s a look at who made up the panel: America’s Golfing Couple Danny and Alice Scott are known as “Couple of Travelers” and “America’s Golfing Couple,” while globetrotting the world and rediscovering America with a mission to bring alive the best of all destinations. They are award-winning writers contributing to magazines, newspapers, websites, tourism guides and ghost writing for a PGA pro. They also appear on radio shows to banter about their escapades and consider themselves the “mature voice of Instagram” with over 74,000 followers @americasgolfingcouple. You’ll find Alice in Wine Land along with Danny in Distilleries, on golf courses, waterways and beyond. Dale Leatherman As a freelance travel writer (and past president of the Society of American Travel Writers), Dale Leatherman has written about golf, adventure, equestrian sports and the Caribbean for more than 40 years. He says he’s fortunate to have completed a bucket list of extraordinary places and experiences, including swimming with humpback whales and whale sharks, rafting legendary whitewater rivers, playing the world’s most famous golf courses, discussing horses with HRH Princess Anne, and riding in a racecar with Paul Newman. He’s a former private pilot and an avid scuba diver. “Courting Danger,” his collaboration with tennis star/WWII spy Alice Marble, is under option to Maven Pictures. Learn more about Leatherman at Going Places with Dale Leatherman. Larry Olmsted Larry Olmsted is an award-winning travel and food writer, and The New York Times bestselling author of “Real Food, Fake Food: Why You Don’t Know What You’re Eating & What You Can Do About It.” He is the Great American Bites food columnist for USA Today and contributes regularly to many high-profile magazines. He is a frequent guest expert on television and news shows, a TEDx Talk lecturer, and teaches creative writing as a visiting professor at Dartmouth College. His specialties are culinary and active travel, especially skiing, cycling, hiking, golf and adventure, from safaris to exploring ruins. Michael J. Solender Michael J. Solender writes about travel and golf from his adopted hometown of Charlotte, N.C. His golf features have appeared in Ocean Home Magazine, PGA Magazine Travel Guide, Carolinas Golf Magazine, Connect Magazine, Ballantyne Magazine, SouthPark Magazine, the Charlotte Observer, The Miami Herald, DC Refined, and others. He is an active member of the Society of American Travel Writers. Read more from him at https://michaeljwrites.com. Rick Limpert Rick Limpert has been named the No. 1 Sports Tech Writer in the United States on two occasions. He loves to bring the hottest sports tech gadgets on TV in Atlanta and on iHeartRadio. He has hosted the Tech of Sports’ podcast for almost 10 years and has authored three books. He also covers and runs media centers at sports and fitness events all over the country. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @RickRoswell and check out his daily product review site at http://www.wirelesswednesday.live 10BEST Editors USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the United States and around the world. —– In related news, the Hammock Coast golf courses aren’t the only Hammock Coast attractions currently in a USA Today/10 Best contest. Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet is also in a contest for Best Botanical Garden. By Clayton Stairs, tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast 0 Hammock-All
