Score Big In Myrtle Beach: Your Guide To Sports and Recreation
When people think of sports in Myrtle Beach their initial thought may be about golf — and rightfully so. We are, after all, the Golf Capital of the world with more than 80 great courses to play across the area.
But golf is just the start. There's much more when it comes to Myrtle Beach sports and recreation options, with tons of opportunity for physical activity ranging from exciting watersports adventures to a great system of trails, parks and recreation centers perfect for walking, jogging and working out.
There's also a variety of great ways to engage in your favorite sports while you visit The Beach. Check out the options below for how to best enjoy some of your favorite activities in the Myrtle Beach area.
Golf
Myrtle Beach is home to more than 80 different golf courses including seven area golf courses that were named among the top 200 resort courses in the U.S. by GolfWeek. With more than 2 million rounds player per year here, there's no doubt this is a golf Mecca, with courses of all styles and price points available for your playing enjoyment.
Depending on your skill level you can take on some of our best courses for beginners or if it's scenery you're looking for you'll find some golf courses with amazing views here as well.
Miniature Golf
If you prefer something with a shorter duration, Myrtle Beach is also the "Mini Golf Capital of the World" with more than 30 fun courses you can play. This is a great way to practice your short game and enjoy time with the family as you putt through some exciting themes including courses filled with pirates, dinosaurs, jungle creatures and out-of-the-world encounters. There are tons of great options — we even have a FREE Myrtle Beach Mini Golf Trail where you can earn fun prizes as you play.
Disc Golf
Round out your "off course" golf fun with a round of disc golf at one of the area's many challenging courses. Some local favorites include Splinter City, built on an old Air Force base near the airport, the Swashbuckler, a short waterfront Par 3 course in the heart of Myrtle Beach and Socastee (aka Soca-"tree"), a challenging and heavily wooded course near the Intracoastal Waterway.
Pickleball
A craze that has spread across the United States is available in many facilities across the area. In Myrtle Beach, you'll find an active pickleball community with open play and regular events happening at Midway Memorial Park on South Kings Highway. Outdoor couOther options include indoor facilities such as Pepper Geddings Rec Center, South Strand Rec Center and J. Bryan Floyd Community Center to just to name a few.
Kayaking, Jetskiing & Watersports
It’s no wonder that the Grand Strand is full of water sports, considering its landscape between the beach, Intracoastal Waterway, and inlet marshes. You can find nearly everything from high-intensity impact sports to a smooth, laid-back activity.
If you’ve always wanted to try surfing, you can sign up for lessons at the Surfside Pier. Or maybe you want to know how to ride a jet ski or try taking a sailboat out for an afternoon. Another possibility is taking a kayak sunset tour to admire the local ecosystem and go seashell searching.
Regardless, if you are a water fanatic, you are going to fall in love with the city and discover its many watersports that you can take part in every day – these ones are only touching the surface!
Cycling & Mountain Biking
This beach city has several bike paths that offer amazing scenery, whether it’s cruising down the boulevard or trying a mountain trail on The Hulk. The Beach Bike Shop is one of the local stores that does good quality bike rentals for the whole family. They even provide locks, baskets, helmets, and a map laying out the best bike-friendly roads and paths to guide you to the Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. Come prepared with a bag full of snacks for your journey or stop by one of the many restaurants you will pass to try the local cuisine.
Running & Jogging
If you're looking to keep your training schedule going while on vacation, the answer may be as easy as simply hitting the beach and jogging along the sand to enjoy the oceanfront views. If this is your plan we'd recommend hitting the beach early when the temperatures aren't as warm and the beaches are less populated. If you're running during the day and looking for shade, some great options include the East Coast Greenway (near the Claire Chapin Epps YMCA in Myrtle Beach), the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway (near Huntington Beach in Murrells Inlet) or the Hulk Bike & Run Park in Carolina Forest. If you're looking to run with a group, you can find group runs and other events by checking out the Grand Strand Running Club or stopping by local shops like Black Dog Running Company near the Market Common or Fleet Feet in Myrtle Beach.
Beach Volleyball
There's few sports that scream "Beach" more than a game of volleyball on the sand with some friends. One of the area's best facilities is the City of Myrtle Beach Volleyball Courts, located downtown in the heart of Myrtle Beach, just steps from the boardwalk and the ocean. Here you get amazing views of the ocean and have various restaurants and sites to see once you finish up your game. Many of the local resorts also have private courts, or if you rent or bring your own equipment, you can set up a net yourself right on the sandy beaches. For more info on beach volleyball locally, contact the Myrtle Beach Volleyball club.
Fishing
There are tons of ways to fish in the Myrtle Beach area, including from one of our many piers, from the shore or via a fishing boat or charter. Piers such as Cherry Grove, Myrtle Beach State Park and Surfside Pier all offer great fishing options, including inexpensive day passes. If you'd like to devote a day to the sport you can opt for a charter spend a full 12 hours outside in the ocean or choose a shorter trip of four hours. Various companies run daily trips back and forth including Fish Finder Fishing Charters, Captain Smiley Fishing Charters, Voyager Deep Sea Fishing, and Dolphin Cruises, amongst others. To ensure you have the best possible time on the ocean, be sure to pack lots of sunscreen and water to stay protected and hydrated while waiting for your catch!
Skateboarding
If you are coming to The Beach and feel you are going to miss riding your skateboard around for a few days, don’t worry. There are a few great places to ride here including the oceanfront boardwalk and the long-running Matt Hughes Skatepark. Located near the Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium and Pepper Geddings Rec Center in the heart of Myrtle Beach, the 10,000 square foot park features quarter pipe ramps and multiple street elements like rails, ledges, and stairs, as well as a new bowl feature which opened in early 2024. Also, if you want to pop over to some local skate shops, check out Daville Skate Shop in Myrtle Beach or Trunkplayer Surf and Skate in North Myrtle Beach.
Baseball & Softball
If you're in town for a baseball or softball tournament and looking for some extra practice or just can't get enough of America's pasttime, you'll find several spots on the Grand Strand to up your game. Some popular spots for the locals are Harbor Light Ball Yard, HitTrax Batting Cage, and the massive Ripken Experience — a complex devoted to baseball tournaments, camps and training. Each has its own pricing and time slots. Also, if you love baseball but prefer to watch, be sure to catch a game at the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
Parks & Other Recreation Options
If you prefer to do a sport yourself like soccer, or make runs around the track, you may enjoy one of Myrtle Beach’s parks. If we look closely, many green spaces are around the city. The Market Common has a great setup with huge fields for sports, a hockey rink, a larger playground and a path around a lake for a nice morning or afternoon jog. At North Myrtle Beach Sports and Recreation Complex, there are open fields for nearly every sport, plus hiking trails, picnic tables, and a dog park. Another option is the Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium and Ned Donkle Sports Complex in Myrtle Beach. Here you can catch one of the regional track meets to watch competitors face off in sports like high jump, javelin, pole vault, etc., or take your family next door to spend some hours at the park watching a local softball game.
