Myrtle Beach tourism officials unveil ‘miniature golf trail’ project

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Capitalizing on its reputation as “golf capital of the world,” Visit Myrtle Beach is marketing a light-hearted version of the sport as part of a new tourism effort.

The Myrtle Beach Mini Golf Trail highlights more than 30 courses along the Grand Strand, each boasting a mobile check-in that lets players accumulate points for prizes including stickers, T-shirts and water bottles.

“This trail not only highlights the unique charm and imaginative design of our miniature golf courses but also reinforces our status as the ‘Mini Golf Capital of the World,'” Visit Myrtle Beach president and CEO Karen Riordan said.

The initiative comes days after a record-breaking weekend for golf, with more than 40,000 patrons attending the Myrtle Beach Classic –making it the successful inaugural event in PGA Tour history.

But mini golf also has a storied reputation in Myrtle Beach. James “Poddy” Bryan, dubbed by Sports Illustrated as the “father of miniature golf,” designed nearly 20 courses in the region.

His final design in Myrtle Beach was Mt. Atlanticus, which opened in 1998 and is featured on the trail.

Digital passes can be found online at visitmyrtlebeach.com/minigolf.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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