Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach

Golf shapes a stay at Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, a waterfront resort beside the Grande Dunes marina in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The 18-hole Grande Dunes Resort Course is the focal point, with a resort shuttle making the short journeys between hotel, course, beach and tennis centre straightforward. There are 183 rooms and suites, and the setting gives the stay a relaxed rhythm, with the Intracoastal Waterway, marina and course all close at hand. The hotel has held AAA Four Diamond recognition since opening.

Designed by Roger Rulewich and completed in 2000, Grande Dunes Resort Course makes particularly good use of its waterside ground. Seven holes sit on bluffs above the Intracoastal Waterway, bringing wide views and a sense of exposure that changes with the breeze. This is a course where the setting remains part of the round rather than a backdrop, and the shuttle means there is no need to organise transport after a day on the fairways.

Grande Guest Rooms measure 435 sq ft and have private balconies, with views towards either the waterway and course or the poolscape and marina. For extra space, the 680 sq ft Mediterranean Club Suites include a separate sitting area, sofa bed and full kitchen. Studio Deluxe Mini Suites face the waterway and course, combining a king bed, fireplace and jetted whirlpool bath. Waterscapes Restaurant, Reflections Kitchen & Bar, 357 RAW and Reflections Coffee cover meals and drinks on site, while indoor and outdoor pools, two outdoor Jacuzzi tubs, spa treatments and a 24-hour fitness facility fill the time between rounds. Seasonal beach service includes transport, chairs, umbrellas, towels, food and drink service, plus changing and shower facilities.