04/19/2026
Golf Course Conditions and Drought Update: Grand Strand
Current assessment of the drought conditions affecting the Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand regions as of April 2026.
OVERVIEW OF DROUGHT CONDITIONS
Horry and Georgetown counties are currently experiencing a significant precipitation deficit, with approximately 100% of the area under moderate to severe drought conditions. This follows one of the driest winter periods on record, resulting in a year-to-date rainfall deficit of nearly 6 inches.
CURRENT COURSE CONDITIONS
While the greens and tees remain high priorities for irrigation, players can expect the following adjustments across Myrtle Beach courses:
• Firm and Fast Fairways: Due to water conservation efforts, many courses are reducing irrigation on fairways. This often results in a "firm and fast" playing surface, which some golfers prefer for the extra roll, though it may lead to some browning in non-critical areas.
• Dormant Roughs: Maintenance crews are largely allowing rough areas to go dormant to save water for more critical turf like greens. You may see a distinct color contrast between the irrigated corridors and the surrounding rough.
• Low Water Hazards: Many irrigation ponds and lakes have not been fully replenished after the driest March on record. You may noticecritically low water levelsin these hazards, sometimes exposing pond liners or dry beds.
• Hand-Watering: Expect to see more maintenance staff manually "spot-treating" greens with hoses. This precision watering helps maintain the health of the putting surfaces without the waste of large-scale sprinkler systems.
OUTLOOK FOR THE SEASON
The National Weather Service notes that the region has arainfall deficit of nearly 6 inchesfor the year. While some relief is expected from late-April showers, the transition into warmer May temperatures will increase "evapotranspiration" (water loss from plants and soil), meaning drought conditions could persist or even worsen without consistent, soaking rains.
Player Etiquette Tips
Given these conditions, courses are asking golfers to be particularly mindful of:
• Cart Path Rules: Even though conditions are dry, stick to paths where requested to avoid further stressing brittle turf.
• Pitch Marks and Divots: Turf recovery is slower during drought stress. Repairing ball marks and using provided sand for divots is more critical than usual to prevent permanent damage to the greens and fairways.
IMPACT ON GOLF COURSE LAKES AND IRRIGATION
• Low Water Reserves: Many irrigation ponds have not been replenished due to the lack of winter rainfall, leading to critically low levels.
• Maintenance Priorities: Courses are prioritizing the irrigation of greens and tee boxes. You may notice fairways receiving less water and rough areas being allowed to go dormant to conserve supplies.
• Operational Adjustments: Increased nighttime irrigation and manual hand-watering are being utilized to minimize evaporation and maintain turf health.
WATER RESTRICTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
While there are currently no mandatory municipal water restrictions in Myrtle Beach, voluntary conservation is highly encouraged. Recommended actions include:
• Limiting irrigation to early morning or late evening.
• Repairing leaks in outdoor hoses and spigots.
• Delaying the planting of high-water-need vegetation.
OUTLOOK
While some relief is anticipated from forecasted late-April showers, consistent rainfall is needed to stabilize soil moisture and pond levels for the upcoming summer season.
