Around 25 million people play golf in the United States. Golf is a great way to have fun, especially when you’re on vacation. This means it’s only natural that you will want to play golf when visiting Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.

If you are in a wheelchair, it’s important to find a wheelchair-accessible golf course. Of course, you’ll probably also want to know how to play golf in a wheelchair. We want to help you with that.

At Freedom Mobility Center Inc., we offer a variety of products and services to help make activities such as wheelchair golf more accessible. Let’s learn about how to play golf in a wheelchair, and about wheelchair-friendly golf courses in Myrtle Beach.

How to Play Golf in a Wheelchair 

Golf is the type of sport that is easy to adapt for any age or ability. This means that there are ways to make wheelchair-accessible golf courses available to use.

For people using wheelchairs, one of the most difficult obstacles is finding the angle they need to swing their club. There is also sometimes a concern about how to move across the green. More and more golf courses have created solutions to help those in a wheelchair play golf easily.

Single-rider golf carts are a great solution for people looking to play wheelchair-friendly golf. These carts have a design similar to a regular golf cart and can move players across the green easily. They drive themselves, and the cart is designed so that users can carry their clubs.

Since it is difficult to swing a golf club from a seated position, single-rider golf carts allow the user to maneuver into a standing position. These carts help the user up into a standing position for more range to swing the golf club. Users both move across the green and stand to swing, making the single-rider cart a great option.

Keep in mind that you do not have to stand up if you are not comfortable, or you are not able. Certain wheelchairs can also be adjusted so users sit on the side, keep one hand on the wheel for stability, and use their other hand to swing their golf club.

Measuring Playing Ability

Golf courses will measure a golfer’s handicap based on the number of strokes played on a course. The higher the number, the more amount of assistance a golfer may need. The lower the number, the more skilled the golfer is.

To calculate a golfing handicap and assess ability, you’ll need to look at the net score of the golfer on a course. Each hole has a certain number that is considered a good number of strokes for that hole, also known as Par. As you play a course, take note of how many strokes each golfer took, and compare it to the number the course was assigned.

Afterward, subtract the course rating from your score from the 18 holes. The average slope rating for a golf course is 113, so multiply that number by whatever your score is. Then divide this number by the slope rating of your course and round it to the nearest tenth.

Measuring a player’s ability helps to create a fairer game for all players. It helps to add the correct accommodations to players who need more help and creates competition between players of different levels of skill. This is a great way to include all levels of ability your next time golfing.

Best Type of Courses for Wheelchair Golf

You want to find a golf course with well-paved roads and a maintained green so you can easily move your wheelchair around. Golf courses should remove any trees or rocks that make it difficult for golf carts to move across the green.

A golf course should be open to you using a wheelchair instead of one of their golf carts. Many golf courses are even beginning to offer single-rider golf carts for golfers. Golf courses are becoming more and more accessible for people who are in wheelchairs, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding one.

Wheelchair Friendly Golf Courses at Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach has several beautiful golf courses. While there are many options to choose from, we’ve created a list of some of the best wheelchair-friendly golf the area has to offer.

River Oaks Golf Plantation

River Oaks Golf Plantation has undergone a renovation that has cleared the green in a way that makes it very playable and accessible for those in wheelchairs.

The course is 800 acres over beautiful golfing along the Atlantic Intercostal Waterway. There are 27 holes, comprised of three nine-hole courses. This is a great course for younger golfers with its “juniors play for free” initiative.

Burning Ridge Golf Club

Burning Ridge Golf Club is located outside of Myrtle Beach in Conway, South Carolina. The 18-hole course was renovated to remove any bunkers and trees. This renovation has made Burning Ridge a course that is easy to move around and play on.

The course is challenging and enjoyable. The clubhouse offers a variety of activities to do after you finish golfing.

Myrtle Beach National South Creek Course 

Myrtle Beach National South Creek Course is one of three courses owned by Myrtle Beach National. Of the three courses, this is the shortest.

This course has great turf to play on. There are water and bunkers to keep the golfing interesting, but they are placed in a way that isn’t too challenging.

Find the Right Golf Course for You

There are great options available for those playing wheelchair golf. Myrtle Beach has many wheelchair-friendly golf courses that you can enjoy on your vacation.

With technology such as the single-rider golf cart, any person using a wheelchair will be able to navigate golf courses in the area. You’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful golf courses that Myrtle Beach has to offer.

Take a look at our website for more information on products, services, and resources that we offer to those needing help with their wheelchair. Contact us today with any questions you have.